TSN - Preliminary Team Canada Olympic Roster

[moon]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Hard to see where Iggy can figure in unless he's really lighting the lamp. I do think familiarity is a key thing in a short tournament...I'd love to see Lucic over Sharp or Richards. Maybe a Lucic-Bergeron-Iginla line could produce like the Sharks line did last time.

Lucic on international ice and international rules would be a disaster. Plus he was a healthy scratch for his team this year. I know people like to talk about he "steps up his game" in the play-offs but unless he improves a ton and changes his game in the next 4 months he shouldn't be anywhere close to this team.

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Won't be winning with that roster, but at least it doesn't include Hall, RNH and Eberle.

That roster (as always) looks miles better than anybody's else's roster.

Sweden or US will have a chance if Quick or Lundvist play crazy, Russia at home and with one game eliminations have a chance as well but Canada should be the favorites with that roster or any roster they send over.

[Roof-Daddy]

St. Louis ---- Crosby ---- Stamkos
E. Staal ----- Toews ---- Nash
Tavares ----- Bergeron -- Giroux
Thornton ---- Getzlaf ---- Perry

Extras - Duchene, Hall

Keith ------ Seabrook
Doughty --- Weber
Boyle ------ Pietrangelo

Extras - Letang, Subban

Luongo
Crawford/Price/Bernier/Smith

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

Benn - Crosby - Duchene
St Louis - Stamkos - Giroux
Staal - Toews - Bergeron
Tavares - Getzlaf - Perry

I think this is the roster I would go with, baring injuries and other player stepping up during the season.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

If Bergeron isn't a staple in the lineup each game, I'll flip! The guy is such a big game performer. Clutch as can be.

I'm sort of looking at 2014 as the passing of the torch so to speak. Lots of new guys on the international stage. It'll be interesting to see who is Olympic material and who isn't. Can't wait.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

2010 guys that should be back:

1. Crosby
2. Toews
3. Getzlaf
4. Perry
5. E. Staal
6. Nash
7. Bergeron
8. Thornton

Plus forwards that should go this time:

9. Stamkos
10. Tavares
11. Giroux
12. St. Louis
13. Duchene
14. Hall

2010 forwards that should be replaced IMO:

Iginla
Morrow
Heatley
Marleau
M. Richards

2010 defense that should be back IMO:

1. Doughty
2. Weber
3. Keith
4. Seabrook
5. Boyle

Plus defense that should go this time:

6. Peitrangelo
7. Letang
8. Subban

2010 Defense that won't be back:

Niedermayer
Pronger

Goalies that should be in the conversation:

1. Luongo
2. Price
3. Crawford
4. Bernier

Bernie's in net seems like a somewhat bold call, given his résumé seems a little light right now

[memphusk]

Any way you look at it, that's a soft Canadian lineup that's been recommended. Unless everybody buys into " do as I say, and not as I do" that teams ####ed.

[Roof-Daddy]

To be fair, I've got Bernier at #4 on my list. It's not like I penciled him in as the starter. I think he's got the pedigree, and if he takes the starter role he's finally been given and runs with it, he should get a long look.

[Erick Estrada]

Rick Nash over Jamie Benn? The ship has sailed on Nash. He hit his ceiling years ago and Ben is up and coming. I really think they have to find a place for Tavares on the roster as well. I would take him over Staal for sure.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

To be fair, I've got Bernier at #4 on my list. It's not like I penciled him in as the starter. I think he's got the pedigree, and if he takes the starter role he's finally been given and runs with it, he should get a long look.

I would list the following Canadian goalies ahead of Bernier:

Smith, Holtby, Reimer, Price, Crawford, Luongo, Fleury, Dubnyk

Elliott, Brodeur, Emery, Allen are toss ups.

[nightfx]

Am I the only one who thinks Cam Ward is one of Canada's best goalies? He's big game performer and should be given a look.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

That's not preliminary, that's TSN's half-assed projections.

[trackercowe]

Gotta agree on Nash. Hard to really explain why TSN/CBC have always had a hard-on for both Richards and Nash over the years. Possibly the two most overrated players in the league, they deserve to be on the same team.

Thornton should be there too imo. He has proven the last few years that he is capable in showing up in all games, both regular season and playoffs. It's not his fault that the Sharks have yet to win a cup. Couture should garner much consideration as well.

[Oil Stain]

Taylor Hall was the best left winger in the NHL last season. I'm not sure why yôu would play 4 guys out of position on that wing and leave him at home if he starts this season like his last.

I think sometimes team Canada gets too cute trying to put 7-8 centers on the forward roster. They have enough depth to take a forward core of players playing their natural positions.

Goaltending looks like the clear weak link. Wasn't long ago that Canada had an embarrassment of riches there. Now it just looks a little embarrassing.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Taylor Hall was the best left winger in the NHL last season. I'm not sure why yôu would play 4 guys out of position on that wing and leave him at home if he starts this season like his last.

I think sometimes team Canada gets too cute trying to put 7-8 centers on the forward roster. They have enough depth to take a forward core of players playing their natural positions.

Goaltending looks like the clear weak link. Wasn't long ago that Canada had an embarrassment of riches there. Now it just looks a little embarrassing.

Because everyone on the roster is better than Hall? I knew you would be here eventually and I could have almost predicted word for word what your post would be.

Hall is a great player but he still has a ways to go to being a truly top player for Canada.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Rick Nash over Jamie Benn? The ship has sailed on Nash. He hit his ceiling years ago and Ben is up and coming. I really think they have to find a place for Tavares on the roster as well. I would take him over Staal for sure.

I can't agree more, Nash = overrated.

[sa226]

Nash will probably be a tough one. Based on performance he is in tough to make it.

But he was one of the best forwards in 2010 and he is still youngish/former team captain and has that international experience.

He will be there.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Kaine

Because everyone on the roster is better than Hall?

Well that's just not true

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Well that's just not true

From what I can recall, Hall wasn't that great the last time on international ice. But I guess that may not matter. Hall has great speed and skill.

However, beyond goaltending ofc, this could potential be the best team Canada roster ever.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

I would list the following Canadian goalies ahead of Bernier:

Smith, Holtby, Reimer, Price, Crawford, Luongo, Fleury, Dubnyk

Elliott, Brodeur, Emery, Allen are toss ups.

Bernier is unproven - agreed. But the guys in bold are just as unproven. Dubnyk? What has he proven? Reimer is overrated because he plays in TO in my opinion but I guess we will see this season. Crawford and Fleury are also questionable because of how inconsistent they are. After Price, Smith, Luongo and Ward, I'd be hard pressed to rank any of the others. There's nothing that really differentiates them enough.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by sa226

Nash will probably be a tough one. Based on performance he is in tough to make it.

But he was one of the best forwards in 2010 and he is still youngish/former team captain and has that international experience.

He will be there.

Nash was great in 2010...he was a force on the forecheck...if he plays like he did then, I truly hope he makes the team