Team Canada invitees

[Chadd 916]

http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/news_story.asp?id=129234

Quick list for those too lazy to read the article. Some of the guys were obviously invited because they played this past year in the WC, but likely don't have a good chance of making an olympic squad.

Goaltenders:

Martin Brodeur

Roberto Luongo

Jose Theodore

Marty Turco

Defence:

Rob Blake

Jay Bouwmeester

Dan Boyle

Eric Brewer

Adam Foote

Scott Hannan

Ed Jovanovski

Scott Niedermayer

Chris Phillips

Chris Pronger

Wade Redden

Robyn Regehr

Forwards:

Shane Doan

Kris Draper

Simon Gagne

Dany Heatley

Jarome Iginla

Vincent Lecavalier

Mario Lemieux

Kirk Maltby

Patrick Marleau

Brenden Morrow

Rick Nash

Michael Peca

Keith Primeau

Brad Richards

Joe Sakic

Ryan Smyth

Martin St. Louis

Alex Tanguay

Joe Thornton

Steve Yzerman

[kosydar 0]

Interesting they invited Yzerman. I wonder if its more of a formality than a genuine invite. Has he even played since last May? Still no McCabe, either.

[JGraz15 53]

Am I the only one that thinks Paul Kariya should have at least been invited?

[kosydar 0]

I can see why he'd be left off. They already have a lot of "soft" forwards in Gange, Sakic, St. Louis, and Tanguay. Its nice to know Canada has realized that a team full of straight up all stars isn't as good to have as one with guys like Maltby and Draper.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Honestly, they seem to pick worse teams everytime, or in this case "invitees". Although they are getting worse, I think if they pick the BEST players listed, they'll be able to play for Gold, if not, I honestly believe there D will be too soft and they won't have enough depth on forward.

[chippa13 1844]

First, how can any team have soft D with Pronger, Foote, and Blake? Second, that list of forwards will give you one of the deepest squads Canada can make.

[sherwood21 0]

Bouwmeester being rushed again, I see.

I realize he held his own in the last WC, but come on, let him develop. I can't wait for him in his prime, obviously the Canadian Brass can't either, but I think they should let him take his time. He's not even 21 yet is he?

Can't see Peca or Primeau making the grind line with Maltby, Draper and Doan there either. Gagne is interchangeable with that line, but he played amazing with Thornton and Nash (or vice-versa) at the WC so I think he'll be a 1st liner. Maybe he will finally show Hitchcock that he deserves some offensive creativity.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Assuming all 3 make it, they could go with a different group, more of a WC type of D core. Of all the D listed, I believe 5 are capable of playing well in the Olympics. Of the forwards, your looking at 7 "Scorers" and the rest either are, or will play grinder roles. They invite guys because they feel they should, but know they won't be able to play. I mean they invite Morrow and Maltby, but neither were good enough to see time at the World Cup. This team should be even stronger. Why not give Kariya another shot, hell invite Bert and give these guys, who if they bounce back could be the top players in the NHL or tourney.

[chippa13 1844]

Forwards:

Shane Doan

Kris Draper

Simon Gagne

Dany Heatley

Jarome Iginla

Vincent Lecavalier

Mario Lemieux

Kirk Maltby

Patrick Marleau

Brenden Morrow

Rick Nash

Michael Peca

Keith Primeau

Brad Richards

Joe Sakic

Ryan Smyth

Martin St. Louis

Alex Tanguay

Joe Thornton

Steve Yzerman

7 scorers????? Iggy, Lecavalier, Lemieux, Nash, Sakic, St. Louis, Thornton, Yzerman, Heatly. By my count, that's 9 guys who can either put the biscuit away or feed a scorer. And that's leaving Richards and Smyth off the list.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Thornton will play a checking role like the World Cup, I'd like to see him get a bigger role, but don't see it happening. I don't believe Lemieux will be effective, nor will Yzerman.

My List was: Iggy, Vinny, Nash, Sakic, Heatley, St.Louis and Richards.

[chippa13 1844]

Lemieux with room to operate would be great. Plus, I think with his performance at the Worlds, Thornton will be given a scoring line duty.

[Chadd 916]

Maybe he will finally show Hitchcock that he deserves some offensive creativity.

That's a good one, Hitchcock allowing a player to be creative offensively. When Roenick, Amonte and Gagne went on a tear in the first half of last season he split them up and harped about them not playing enough defense.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I hope you're right, but I don't think he will. I think him and Doan will be kept in a "lesser" role. If I had it my way the team would be

Iggy - Sakic - St. Louis

Healtey - Lecavalier - Bertuzzi

Richards - Thorton - Nash

Draper - Primeau - Doan

Pronger - Blake

McCabe - JoVo

Bouwmeester - Redden

EF - I would've liked to have seen Kariya and Marleau

ED - Nieds, Aucoin, Stuart

Subtle differences, but I don't see the point in having some of the names there.

[sherwood21 0]

Maybe he will finally show Hitchcock that he deserves some offensive creativity.

That's a good one, Hitchcock allowing a player to be creative offensively. When Roenick, Amonte and Gagne went on a tear in the first half of last season he split them up and harped about them not playing enough defense.

Why don't they (Philly management) realize that hitch can b**** and moan all he wants about D, but he can't teach a player how to score 30 goals in the show. If they let Gagne do things on his own terms I could see him being a top 10 scorer in the league IMO.

Edit: Eazy Nieds as an extra d?? He's probably the best all around D-man in the game (aside from Pronger)

[Chadd 916]

I hope you're right, but I don't think he will. I think him and Doan will be kept in a "lesser" role. If I had it my way the team would be

Iggy - Sakic - St. Louis

Healtey - Lecavalier - Bertuzzi

Richards - Thorton - Nash

Draper - Primeau - Doan

Pronger - Blake

McCabe - JoVo

Bouwmeester - Redden

EF - I would've liked to have seen Kariya and Marleau

ED - Nieds, Aucoin, Stuart

Subtle differences, but I don't see the point in having some of the names there.

I'll put money on Bertuzzi not being reinstated in time for the Olympics.

[Michael9 57]

Any one hear about if any of the other team's anounced there roster?

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Am I the only one that thinks Paul Kariya should have at least been invited?

It's because Canada doesn't like finess. He would have been the most skills player in the lineup. Seriously I'm desperate : Maltby and Draper, come on.

Go team Superskills Russia, <_<

[kosydar 0]

Maltby and Draper offer a lot more as 4th liners than a Kariya/any finess player combo. For starters, Maltby and Draper are 3rd/4th liners on the Wings so they don't have to adjust their games. A player like Kariya will have to drastically change his game on the 4th line to be as effective as Maltby and Draper. Superstars like Kariya are effective because they get premium ice time. In a situation like this, he wouldn't be getting much ice time at all. Even if he played on the 4th line in an offensive mode, he probably wouldn't score that many goals, simply because he wouldn't have the opportunity. Its not about just scoring, its also about stopping the other team from scoring, and Maltby and Draper are good at that.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Maltby and Draper offer a lot more as 4th liners than a Kariya/any finess player combo. For starters, Maltby and Draper are 3rd/4th liners on the Wings so they don't have to adjust their games. A player like Kariya will have to drastically change his game on the 4th line to be as effective as Maltby and Draper. Superstars like Kariya are effective because they get premium ice time. In a situation like this, he wouldn't be getting much ice time at all. Even if he played on the 4th line in an offensive mode, he probably wouldn't score that many goals, simply because he wouldn't have the opportunity. Its not about just scoring, its also about stopping the other team from scoring, and Maltby and Draper are good at that.

Thinking like that you are right but I mean do Canada seriously need a grind line to win? I'm not sure, imagine 4 skills line that always put others team on their toes...Others teams would totally freak and would only be on the defensive mode and it would be much spectacular hockey...

A bit off topic but here's my Russian forward lineup I would like to see...

Samsonov-Datsyuk-Kovalev

F.Fedorov-Fedorov-Mogilny

Kovalchuk-Kozlov-Zherdev

Afinogenov-Zhamnov-Yashin

[kosydar 0]

Look at your line up. What would be the only possible way of beating them? You could try to out score them, but that probably wouldn't work too well. You'd need to play solid defensive hockey and shut them down. Thats why guys like Maltby and Draper are valuable. I would feel completely comfortable sending Maltby and Draper out there against any comination of those guys. I can't say the same for Kariya.

[Chadd 916]

Look at your line up. What would be the only possible way of beating them? You could try to out score them, but that probably wouldn't work too well. You'd need to play solid defensive hockey and shut them down. Thats why guys like Maltby and Draper are valuable. I would feel completely comfortable sending Maltby and Draper out there against any comination of those guys. I can't say the same for Kariya.

Not only that, Maltby and Draper know how to play 7 minutes a game. Not every star player can adapt to only getting a couple shifts a period. Take a guy like Zhamnov who is used to getting 15+ minutes a night on a fourth line and he's not going to feel comfortable. Guys who don't feel comfortable, don't score.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I will say this again, Niedermyer is the most overrated D in international play. I don't watch him enough in the NHL to comment on his play, but he constantly gives the puck up, pinches at the wrong times and goes into dangerous zones. Watch him closely, he sure looks nice, he'll show up a bit on the scoreboard, but he costs his team on the ice. Whether its directly a goal, or giving up chances which bolster the other team.

[sherwood21 0]

Maltby and Draper offer a lot more as 4th liners than a Kariya/any finess player combo.  For starters, Maltby and Draper are 3rd/4th liners on the Wings so they don't have to adjust their games.  A player like Kariya will have to drastically change his game on the 4th line to be as effective as Maltby and Draper.  Superstars like Kariya are effective because they get premium ice time.  In a situation like this, he wouldn't be getting much ice time at all.  Even if he played on the 4th line in an offensive mode, he probably wouldn't score that many goals, simply because he wouldn't have the opportunity.  Its not about just scoring, its also about stopping the other team from scoring, and Maltby and Draper are good at that.

Thinking like that you are right but I mean do Canada seriously need a grind line to win? I'm not sure, imagine 4 skills line that always put others team on their toes...Others teams would totally freak and would only be on the defensive mode and it would be much spectacular hockey...

A bit off topic but here's my Russian forward lineup I would like to see...

Samsonov-Datsyuk-Kovalev

F.Fedorov-Fedorov-Mogilny

Kovalchuk-Kozlov-Zherdev

Afinogenov-Zhamnov-Yashin

Is it just me or does it seem weird seeing Fedor on the second line. His chemistry with Sergei must be great, but I think a line of:

Kovalchuk-Fedorov-Mogilny would be dynamite.

Or Kovalchuk-Datysuk/Fedorov-Fedorov/Datsyuk

Hell, I don't even think Fedor is good enough to warrant himself a spot on that team. Give me Maxim Sushinsky over him any day, both play the same game but Sushinsky is a way way better scorer.

[Eazy_b97 1]

What are the chances Mogilny plays? I find it hard to have Samsonov on the first line and Kovalchuk on the third.

[sherwood21 0]

And, even if they had that lineup, would they just roll the lines a la the Leafs? I think having an abysmal (while exciting) defensive player like Kovy on the 3rd line would probably not be smart. Same with Zhamnov and Afino on the 4th. Add in Russia's questionable tendies and you have a problem.

Offensively talented? Yes.

Defensively? About as talented as the '04 Penguins.