Olympic roster speculation

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Nucks (all these are locks)

Canada: Luongo

Sweden: Sundin, Sedin, Sedin, Ohlund, Edler

Finland: Salo

Slovakia: Demitra

USA: Ryan Kesler

Not Locks:

Canada: Bieksa (has shown up as the 7th or 8th D man on some pundits picks (Red Fischer as one))

Austria (If they can qualify) Michael Grabner

Denmark (if they can qualify) Jannick Hansen

Detroit:

Sweden: Kronwall, Lidstrom, Samuellson, Zetterberg, Franzen, Holmstrom, Lilja(maybe)

USA: Rafalski

Russia: Datsyuk

Finland: Fillpula

Slovakia: Hossa, Kopecky

Czechs: Hudler(maybe)

That is up to 13 maybe!!! WOW!

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

If I am Brian Burke (As GM of the USA Team for the Olympics) I go with:

Wings: Gionta, Parise, D. Brown, Kane, Cole, Guerin, Tkachuk, Pominville, Mueller, Kesler, Dubinsky, P. Stastny.

Centers: Gomez, Drury, Umberger, Kessel, Modano

D Men: Liles, Rafalski, Corvo, Wiesneski, Gilbert, Komisarek, Suter, Whitney,

Tenders: Miller, Thomas, DiPietro

Kane----Gomez-------Guerin

Parise---Drury--------Tkachuk

Brown---Kessel-------Stastny

Kesler---Modano-----Pominville or Dubinsky

Rafalski----Whitney

Liles------Komisarek

Suter----Gilbert or Corvo

All 3 tenders are good to go imho, and I'm not a USA Hockey fan.

That team may not compete on the top end skills level just yet (As most of them are quite young, but there are some Gems on the D Line)

I may be forgetting someone, and I might drop one of the three fossils in Tkachuk, Modano, or Guerin (probably Guerin of those 3)

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Canada will be sick though, could probably ice two teams that should medal on paper.

My team is:

Crosby-----Lecavalier-----Iginla

Nash--------Thornton---Heatley

Gagne------Richards-----Carter

E. Staal-----Getzlaf-------Doan

-------------Toews---------------

Niedermayer---Webber

Green----Boumeester

Boyle-----Regehr

Spare: Burns

Goalies: Luongo > Brodeur > Mason

For the record Pierre Maguire chose the following:

Brodeur-Luongo-Price

D:

Boumeester, Niedermayer, Phaneuf, Weber, Burns, Green, Boyle

FW's:

Crosby--Lecavalier--Iginla

Heatley- Getlaf-Nash

Carter-Thornton-Gagne

Morrow-Richards-Doan

---------Savard---------

[Chadd 916]

If I am Brian Burke (As GM of the USA Team for the Olympics) I go with:

Wings: Gionta, Parise, D. Brown, Kane, Cole, Guerin, Tkachuk, Pominville, Mueller, Kesler, Dubinsky, P. Stastny.

Centers: Gomez, Drury, Umberger, Kessel, Modano

D Men: Liles, Rafalski, Corvo, Wiesneski, Gilbert, Komisarek, Suter, Whitney,

Tenders: Miller, Thomas, DiPietro

Kane----Gomez-------Guerin

Parise---Drury--------Tkachuk

Brown---Kessel-------Stastny

Kesler---Modano-----Pominville or Dubinsky

Rafalski----Whitney

Liles------Komisarek

Suter----Gilbert or Corvo

All 3 tenders are good to go imho, and I'm not a USA Hockey fan.

That team may not compete on the top end skills level just yet (As most of them are quite young, but there are some Gems on the D Line)

I may be forgetting someone, and I might drop one of the three fossils in Tkachuk, Modano, or Guerin (probably Guerin of those 3)

If Connolly is healthy I would throw him in the mix and Drury on a wing in place of Guerin.

I could even see Stuart, Mara, Martin or Ballard on the back line if you're looking for more grit on the blue line instead of so many guys that aren't all that great in their own end.

Up front guys like Cole, Legwand, Langenbrunner, Callahan, Pavelski or Malone could easily play their way onto the team or be selected to fill a particular role.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

agreed Chadd except on Legwand and Callaghan who are plugs at best IMHO, however I think the States will need all the firepower they can get if they want a legitimate shot to compete for the Bronze medal (the best I think they can hope to achieve in an upset over the third favorite team in no particular order including Sweden, Canada, and Russia.)

Realistically the States chances will come next Olympics. They are just too young at the moment.

They will be in that slightly second tier of teams with the Czech's (who are also eon's old) Slovaks and Fins.

I will predict a (Considering the tourney is going to start approximately 1 year to the day from now...)

Gold :Canada - nobody is as talented and deep like Canada and it is on "home ice"

Silver: Sweden - the only team that can claim to be as deep with supreme NHL talent with similar punch at the top end to Canada scoring wise

Bronze: States- I think they will use their youth to their advantage and get solid tending to upset the Russians in the Bronze Medal Game

4th: Slovakia

5th: Fins

6th: Czechs

[Chadd 916]

Both can skate though and everyone is going to have to skate for them to have a chance. Again, they would have to do something to play their way onto the team. I'm not saying they will, but an eye should be kept on how they are doing just in case they do something special.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Russia would look something like

Offence (juggernaut)

Ovechkin - Malkin - Semin

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Kovalev

Frolov- Fedorov - Radulov

Zherdev- (victor)Kozlov - Artyukhin

*insert plug here*

Defense

Gonchar, Markov,

Tyutin, Grebeshkov,

(danny)Markov, Volchenkov,

Kalinin

Goaltending

Nabby, Kabbi, and Varlamov

although it should be noted that Kabbi does not want to play, so that'll be a bit diff.

Lines 1 and 2 are downright scary. Opposing tenders should wear diapers. The weakspot is obviously their Defense. They lack a large pronger-like nasty Dman, but i feel like Danny Markov could assume that role.

Watch out Canada.

[hellaavangard 33]

Russia would look something like

Offence (juggernaut)

Ovechkin - Malkin - Semin

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Kovalev

Frolov- Fedorov - Radulov

Zherdev- (victor)Kozlov - Artyukhin

*insert plug here*

Defense

Gonchar, Markov,

Tyutin, Grebeshkov,

(danny)Markov, Volchenkov,

Kalinin

Goaltending

Nabby, Kabbi, and Varlamov

although it should be noted that Kabbi does not want to play, so that'll be a bit diff.

Lines 1 and 2 are downright scary. Opposing tenders should wear diapers. The weakspot is obviously their Defense. They lack a large pronger-like nasty Dman, but i feel like Danny Markov could assume that role.

Watch out Canada.

Don't forget KHL players; Aleksey Morozov will probably be one of their top 2 right wingers, Sergei Mozyakin is leading the KHL in points and is also likely to be a top 3 liner. You will also probably see several other guys from Salavat Yulaev Ufa and AK Bars Kazan.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

The Canadian and Russian teams are going to be ridiculous. The talent in their top lines is enough to beat most teams by themselves. Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kovalchuk/Malkin is a line that would make any goaltender poop themselves.

Think Doug Weight will play for the States? I think he showed this year (before he got hurt) that he can still compete, even on a struggling team.

[Darshu 0]

I think David Booth and Ron Hainsey both have an outside chance at the Team USA roster over guys like Modano or Guerin. I definitely see Peter Mueller as a winger on the top three lines for the US if he continues to develop too.

As mentioned, Team Canada could field two, maybe three teams that would compete for a medal. It'll be interesting to see if they put together a little more balanced team with some role players over the flashier skill guys.

[RadioGaGa 162]

As mentioned, Team Canada could field two, maybe three teams that would compete for a medal. It'll be interesting to see if they put together a little more balanced team with some role players over the flashier skill guys.

Not to show any support for the Quebec separatist movement or anything...but if you put together a Team Canada of French players and a second team from the rest of the country...they'd both challenge for Gold.

[DevilsFan38 0]

If I am Brian Burke (As GM of the USA Team for the Olympics) I go with:

Wings: Gionta, Parise, D. Brown, Kane, Cole, Guerin, Tkachuk, Pominville, Mueller, Kesler, Dubinsky, P. Stastny.

Centers: Gomez, Drury, Umberger, Kessel, Modano

D Men: Liles, Rafalski, Corvo, Wiesneski, Gilbert, Komisarek, Suter, Whitney,

Tenders: Miller, Thomas, DiPietro

Kane----Gomez-------Guerin

Parise---Drury--------Tkachuk

Brown---Kessel-------Stastny

Kesler---Modano-----Pominville or Dubinsky

Rafalski----Whitney

Liles------Komisarek

Suter----Gilbert or Corvo

All 3 tenders are good to go imho, and I'm not a USA Hockey fan.

That team may not compete on the top end skills level just yet (As most of them are quite young, but there are some Gems on the D Line)

I may be forgetting someone, and I might drop one of the three fossils in Tkachuk, Modano, or Guerin (probably Guerin of those 3)

This could be my Devils bias talking, but I'd be pretty shocked if Paul Martin doesn't make the team. I'd take him over a few of the guys you have there.

Up front, some other guys to consider are Bobby Ryan, Jamie Langenbrunner, Joe Pavelski, Blake Wheeler.

[fieldofdreams 0]

I think Tkachuk is getting a bit long in the tooth, especially as a 2nd liner. I can see him being a possible bottom-6 guy, maybe some time on the PP, but 2nd line is a reach, especially keeping up with the younger stars of Canada and Russia.

[adam14 182]

but I think the players performance next season will also have SOME impact of players who make the team, and players who dont.

[althoma1 574]

If I was managing the US team I'd definitely keep on Gomez and Drury as veterans, but I don't know about Tkachuk or Guerin at this point in their careers. Modano may even be a stretch. I know they've been with the team forever, but there are younger forwards like Blake Wheeler (really impressed me during the Young Stars competition on All Star weekend), Higgins and Pavalski that I think would add more offensive punch to the team and would allow them to better compete with Canada, Russia and Sweden. Of course as a Canadian I hope they keep all the older veterans and leave off some of the promising young talent as that'll make it far less likely Canada will be upset by the US :)

As for the Russians I don't know if Kovalev will be playing for them. He's had a poor season, plus I believe they didn't want him to play a couple years ago. He has the talent, but it'll be a question of whether he wants to play and if the people picking the team invite him to be on it...I think it's more likely guys like Morozov from the Russian elite league will take his spot on one of the top two lines.

Canada's team will be the toughest to pick since, as mentioned, with the deep talent pool they could easily ice 3 teams that could compete. I hope the staff selecting the team lean toward more speed and skill as opposed to adding role players like they have in the past (Rob Zaumner comes to mind). Of course you need guys who will block shots, kill penalties ect., but there are fast skilled Canadians who can do that and also score some goals.

[Chadd 916]

I think David Booth and Ron Hainsey both have an outside chance at the Team USA roster over guys like Modano or Guerin. I definitely see Peter Mueller as a winger on the top three lines for the US if he continues to develop too.

All of them would have to show something down the stretch and early next season to make the club. Kids like Mueller or Bobby Ryan could even play themselves onto the team.

I think Tkachuk is getting a bit long in the tooth, especially as a 2nd liner. I can see him being a possible bottom-6 guy, maybe some time on the PP, but 2nd line is a reach, especially keeping up with the younger stars of Canada and Russia.

If he's not on a scoring line, I'm not sure he should be there at all. I'm thinking not at all at this point.

but I think the players performance next season will also have SOME impact of players who make the team, and players who dont.

There will be a pre-season camp and a couple months of the season before the picks will be made final. There won't be much time to play your way on, guys will more likely be playing themselves off the team if they have a bad start.

[chippa13 1844]

Some consideration will be given to the Johnsons, Jack and Erik (no relation) for the US blueline. Rolston could be the gray-beard leader of the US squad and Kessel should be listed as a wing, he hasn't played center since his first month in the league. Brian Gionta should also be in the discussion for team USA. Schneider might get a sniff and USA Hockey has always had a soft spot in its heart for Hal Gill. There are some other guys that will get looked at if the US wants some balance in the likes of Marchant and Grier. I know one thing, Roenick better not be pissed when they pass him over this time.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Some consideration will be given to the Johnsons, Jack and Erik (no relation) for the US blueline. Rolston could be the gray-beard leader of the US squad and Kessel should be listed as a wing, he hasn't played center since his first month in the league. Brian Gionta should also be in the discussion for team USA. Schneider might get a sniff and USA Hockey has always had a soft spot in its heart for Hal Gill. There are some other guys that will get looked at if the US wants some balance in the likes of Marchant and Grier. I know one thing, Roenick better not be pissed when they pass him over this time.

Some for the vets like Modano, JR, Cheli, Schneider...if they aren't on the team...any chance USA Hockey takes them in a coaching capacity or in a Management role?

[MojoJoejoe1987 0]

Sharks might have a few participants:

Thornton(Can)

Ehrhoff(Germany)

Goc(Germany)

Griess(Germany)

Nabokov(RUS)

maybe's?

Boyle(Can)

Marleau(Can)

Pavelski(USA)

Michalek(CZE)

Murray(Sweden)

[Darshu 0]

Some for the vets like Modano, JR, Cheli, Schneider...if they aren't on the team...any chance USA Hockey takes them in a coaching capacity or in a Management role?

I think Modano and Chelios would make great assistants, my opinion doesn't really mean much though ;)

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Sharks might have a few participants:

Thornton(Can)

Ehrhoff(Germany)

Goc(Germany)

Griess(Germany)

Nabokov(RUS)

maybe's?

Boyle(Can)

Marleau(Can)

Pavelski(USA)

Michalek(CZE)

Murray(Sweden)

Boyle will be an absolute lock to make Canada. The only thing keeping him away is injury

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

I wouldn't say boyle is a lock. Id put Pronger, Neids, Weber, Burns, Phaneuf, Green, and Bouwmeester on the blueline. Green is a younger, better version of Boyle, and Canada cant ice a team of skilled, puckmoving D men, or Russia will rip holes in the netting behind Marty. Pronger, Meester and Phaneuf provide the nasty, Webber and Burns (heck all of them) provide the point shot, and Green and Neids lead the transition.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Pronger has not made any/most of the teams picked by Pundits.

Phanueff has been listed behind Flames teammate Regehr by most as well.

I still think I would go with

Boumeester, Boyle, Green, Burns, Regehr, Niedermayer, and Weber.

Weber, Regehr are totaly hardmen in their own zone

Boyle, Burns, Green, Niedermayer, and Boumeester can transition like nobody's business, however I only see Niedermayer and potentially Burns as lacking the necessary physicality necessary.

However it will still be the best blueline in the tourney if you throw any 4 other players in the mix with Pronger, Phaneuff, Bieksa, and many more Own Zone first types too.

[Chadd 916]

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't get the love-in for Burns.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Burns is a special gifted D man that is stuck playing for someone that would be an ideal candidate for a dictator position in a communist regime.

I have a friend that used to play under Lemaire and he had nothing but good to say about Lemaire personally, except that all the gifted and talented players (Gaborik/Demitra/Burns/etc) couldn't or can't have any freedom to do what makes them special.

Burns would probably be amongst the likes of Green in points production if he was allowed more freedom imho.

Great Skater, great puck mover, talented with his hands, great all around d man.