Your Top 3 goalies for Canada's Olympic Team in 2014

[ma-skis.com]

truthfully, i don't think it's that big a deal for us as it is for other countries. We just need a goalie who isn't so bad he'll lose the tournament for us, not steal it for us. Someone consistent night in night out, I'd rather have that than roller coaster luongo or fleury. The guys in front are strong enough that they can overcome a couple goals, but not 6 or 7.

[sun]

1. Price
2. ?
3. ?

Hope Price doesn't choke or get hurt?

[GreenLantern2814]

Price is the starter as of now. He's been lights out for the last three years, and a month of meh play on a team that was playing above its head all year should not be held against him.

Luongo is there because Canada isn't taking going with three goalies who've never been there.

Third spot could be any of Smith, Holtby, even Reimer and I think they're fine. Holtby in particular is nails when it matters the last two seasons, and that shouldn't be undervalued. Fleury has played himself out of contention, and I don't think Ward is nearly consistent enough to be in the conversation either; guy has one great season every 5 years.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

complete lack of depth

the Americans have arguably 3 guys who would start for Canada

Quick/Schnieder/Anderson

Finland has 2

Rinne/Rask

Sweden has King Henrik

I would also add Miller, Thomas, Niemi, and Lehtonen as goalies that are better than anything Canada has to offer.

You can't really overlook Jimmy Howard for Canada either he was first in GAA and save percentage for Canadian goalies this season.

If we were picking today I'd probably go with Price, Luongo, and Howard.

Damn, didn't realize Howard was American; well add him to the list of goalies that are likely better than anything Canada has to offer. We're boned!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

You can't really overlook Jimmy Howard for Canada either he was first in GAA and save percentage for Canadian goalies this season.

He's American.

[d_phaneuf]

I do not understand at all the love with Ryan Miller, mostly in the media

he had one good season, a great two weeks in the olympics, but outside of that he has been average or below average every year

[Redrum]

Other than Price I would go off the board a little.They had a segment on this the other day on TSN I think and had a few names like Elliott/Crawford/Holtby that I would feel much safer with than the annual playoff chokers like Luongo and Fleury. Also Smith is extremely overrated. I know it won't happen with the old boys club mentality of Team Canada but it would be nice to see.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I do not understand at all the love with Ryan Miller, mostly in the media

he had one good season, a great two weeks in the olympics, but outside of that he has been average or below average every year

Bingo, that's the important part right there. The Americans already know that Miller should be clutch in the Olympics since he has already shown he is capable of stealing games in the same tournament in 2010.

It's not like Miller has even been terrible either; he's always had a save percentage above .915, and has played relatively well over the years for a mediocre Sabres team. I think he is very comparable to Luongo is recent years, except for the difference in play in 2010.

Now with all that being said Quick should be their starter coming in, but they can't leave Miller behind with the experience he has on his resume.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by NomNomNom

Luongo
Price
Smith

Barring injury, this is probably the 3 that will be selected. Not sure I agree, but I bet they are the ones. Let Smith start it off and if he sucks put in one of the other two. Canada's defence is ridiculous and by far the best in the tournament so it shouldn't matter too much. Most teams only have 1 1/2 lines anyways. Shut them down and Canada will win.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Bingo, that's the important part right there. The Americans already know that Miller should be clutch in the Olympics since he has already shown he is capable of stealing games in the same tournament in 2010.

It's not like Miller has even been terrible either; he's always had a save percentage above .915, and has played relatively well over the years for a mediocre Sabres team. I think he is very comparable to Luongo is recent years, except for the difference in play in 2010.

Now with all that being said Quick should be their starter coming in, but they can't leave Miller behind with the experience he has on his resume.

Luongo's had 7 seasons statistically better than Miller's 2nd best season

no comparison

[nrXic]

As with my forwards and defense lineup...I'd go with the hottest goalie 2 months prior to the Olympics.

Canada has so much talent we can debate this forever. But when it comes to performance at a specific time period, the stats are pretty clear and the debate becomes a game of splitting hairs.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I actually thought about him but it's hard to justify putting him in the 3rd spot when a guy like Dubnyk is starting for the Oilers and team Canada at the worlds in back to back years. He needs to get a starting role.

Yep. Bernier has the better skill set, he's just in a bad situation In terms of getting playing time.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Luongo's had 7 seasons statistically better than Miller's 2nd best season

no comparison

I'm not a Miller fan but he was amazing at the Vancouver Olympics.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Luongo's had 7 seasons statistically better than Miller's 2nd best season

no comparison

Yeah that's your opinion, and it's pretty off the mark.

Luongo's career numbers .919 save percentage/2.52 GAA
Miller's career numbers .915 save percentage/2.59 GAA

Miller also has better numbers in the playoffs, and was obviously superior in the Olympics. It's a lot closer then you think.

Here's a poll the NHL took in 2011 asking which goalie is the hardest in the NHL to score on. Luongo was #1, Miller #2.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/alls...t-to-score-on/

[Hockey_Ninja]

Looking at the goaltending options for Canada...Here's hoping the Flames scouting staff only looks in Europe or the US for goalies.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

I like to poke fun at Luongo as much as the next guy, being with the Canucks and all. However if I had to pick the team today he's still Canada's starter. This partly speaks to how weak Canada's goaltending situation is in general. But people shouldn't equate Luongo's "backup" status this year with a drop in his play as it has more to do with how badly the Canucks have managed their goaltending situation in general.

He's still a starting goalie in the NHL and a decent one at that. He's also delivered a gold medal in the past.

Top 3 as of today:

1) Luongo
2) Price
3) Smith

Consideration: Crawford, Ward, Bernier