Monday, May 31, 2004
Team Russia World Cup Roster Nominations - Russian for a Crushin'
Like William Hung�s rendition of �Take Me Out to the Ballgame�, Team Russia is looking pretty f�ugly right about now.
The good news: Vik Tikhonov has been replaced, for now, by Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, 49, a former national team defenceman. Tikhonov (pictured)
will still remain on the team as a �Senior Consultant�, like a cockroach that just won�t die, no matter how much Raid� you spray on the damn thing.
Poor Bilyaletdinov seems to be set to take a big fall as his international coaching career gets under way. Not only is Tikhonov still lurking in the shadows, waiting to backstab his way back into the head coaching position, but the roster given to Zinetula is just poorly constructed. I foresee Tikhonov taking back the coaching reigns if Russia has a poor showing at the World Cup, which is quite likely.
Here are the roster nominations released :
Goalies:
Evgeni Nabokov, SJ
Nikolai Khabibulin, TB
Maxim Sokolov, Avangard
Defensemen:
Oleg Tverdovsky, Avangard
Sergei Gonchar, Was.
Daniil Markov, Phi.
Alexander Khavanov, Stl.
Darius Kasparaitis, NYR
Anton Volchenkov, Ott.
Vitaly Vishnevski, Ana.
Andrei Markov, Mtl.
Forwards:
Dainius Zubrus, Was.
Artem Chubarov, Van.
Sergei Samsonov, Bos.
Alexei Kovalev, Mtl.
Sergei Fedorov, Ana.
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl.
Maxim Afinogenov, Buf.
Pavel Datsyuk, Det.
Viktor Kozlov, NJ
Alexei Yashin, NYI
Alexei Zhamnov, Phi.
Valeri Bure, Dal.
Oleg Kvasha, NYI
Alexander Ovechkin, Dynamo
Maxim Sushinski, Avangard
The goaltending is fine, the defense is passable, but the forward group is a defensive black hole that threatens to envelop the entire universe.
Like the New York Ranger$, the forward group is a set of skilled �stars� and egos with just about no heart, defensive ability, or grit. Chubarov is the one true �role player� to make the squad, while Federov and Zhamnov are pretty decent 2-way forwards (Federov used to be Selke quality, but that was many moons ago).
That�s it, that�s all. Every other forward on the roster is definitely lacking in defensive ability, defensive effort, and grit.
Perhaps they brought so many cherry-pickers to bring some nourishment back to the homeland, because this group of small one-dimensional wonders is not going to bring home any medals. Datsyuk, Samsonov, Afinogenov�I�d like to have one of these guys on my NHL team, but there is no way I�d take all 3 on one national team.
The Russians didn�t learn from their World Championships debacle in St. Petersburg, where they absolutely bombed in front of their home fans with a team full of soft, one-dimensional forwards who were too concerned with fancy rushes up the ice, rather than solid team play. It�s no small wonder why these guys wouldn�t want to play for Tikhonov, as they would actually be forced to backcheck more than once a game.
Unlike the Czechs, Canadians, and Slovaks who took skilled forwards that have excelled and performed in defensive roles in the past (Draper, Dvorak and Cajanek, for example), none of the Russian forwards outside of Chubarov, Federov, and Zhamnov can be relied on in defensive situations; and we know Federov and Zhamnov will be put in offensive roles, so that leaves just Chubarov as a true defensive stopper.
Notable Players and Exceptions:
1. Alex Mogilny - Like Bobby Holik, �Pokerface� Mogilny would rather sit in his Malibu beach house than play hockey for his �homeland�. Mogilny has basically cut his ties with Russia, and had no interest in joining the World Cup effort.
2. The Lithuanians - Darius �Fear of Ghosts� Kasparaitis and Dainius Zubrus will both don the jersey of their former Russian oppressors. Kaspar has a long history with the Russian team, so his selection is no surprise, but Zubrus was granted a special exception.
Since this tournament is not IIHF-run, Zubrus and the Russian team were given permission to use Zubrus for this tournament. The reports suggest that Zubrus won�t lose his Lithuanian eligibility for future tournaments�although I can�t remember the last time the Lithuanian hockey team played in any tournament of note. It speaks volumes for Russia�s development program that they constantly have to import players from their former slave states like Ukraine and Lithuania.
3. Alex Ovechkin - The supposed �Next� one has arrived. The probable 1st overall pick at the upcoming Entry Draft was nominated for this team, most likely just to showcase Mother Russia�s supposed hockey superiority. Ovechkin is a fine prospect, but I don�t think he made the team purely on his own merits. The kid was pretty ordinary at the Under-20 WJC�s, so you wouldn�t expect him to have a positive impact at a tournament like this. If they wanted to showcase a young talent, then the very impressive Nikolai Zherdev (Columbus) would have made a fine choice.
4. Ground Puree and a dash of Kvasha - Most sane GM�s wouldn�t want Valeri Bure or Oleg Kvasha on their NHL teams, so it�s amazing that they even got a sniff of a tournament this prestigious. I can�t think of many more amazing wastes of talents in the league than these two players. Puree has whined his way around to many teams, living off of the production of one good season.
Kvasha, meanwhile, just has the fortune of being 6�5� tall, which makes NHL GM�s forget about his choppy and unbalanced skating style, mental softness, and total lack of offensive production to date. I�m glad Russia picked these 2 players, simply because Canada can exploit such a weakness quite easily.
Until the Russians can get some real leadership and 21st century thinking running their federation, the senior squads will continue to suffer through turmoil, incessant politicking, and below-average squads. The skill is there, but it�s a bad looking �team�, and I would be quite shocked if they finished in the Top 3.
The good news: Vik Tikhonov has been replaced, for now, by Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, 49, a former national team defenceman. Tikhonov (pictured)
will still remain on the team as a �Senior Consultant�, like a cockroach that just won�t die, no matter how much Raid� you spray on the damn thing.Poor Bilyaletdinov seems to be set to take a big fall as his international coaching career gets under way. Not only is Tikhonov still lurking in the shadows, waiting to backstab his way back into the head coaching position, but the roster given to Zinetula is just poorly constructed. I foresee Tikhonov taking back the coaching reigns if Russia has a poor showing at the World Cup, which is quite likely.
Here are the roster nominations released :
Goalies:
Evgeni Nabokov, SJ
Nikolai Khabibulin, TB
Maxim Sokolov, Avangard
Defensemen:
Oleg Tverdovsky, Avangard
Sergei Gonchar, Was.
Daniil Markov, Phi.
Alexander Khavanov, Stl.
Darius Kasparaitis, NYR
Anton Volchenkov, Ott.
Vitaly Vishnevski, Ana.
Andrei Markov, Mtl.
Forwards:
Dainius Zubrus, Was.
Artem Chubarov, Van.
Sergei Samsonov, Bos.
Alexei Kovalev, Mtl.
Sergei Fedorov, Ana.
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl.
Maxim Afinogenov, Buf.
Pavel Datsyuk, Det.
Viktor Kozlov, NJ
Alexei Yashin, NYI
Alexei Zhamnov, Phi.
Valeri Bure, Dal.
Oleg Kvasha, NYI
Alexander Ovechkin, Dynamo
Maxim Sushinski, Avangard
The goaltending is fine, the defense is passable, but the forward group is a defensive black hole that threatens to envelop the entire universe.
Like the New York Ranger$, the forward group is a set of skilled �stars� and egos with just about no heart, defensive ability, or grit. Chubarov is the one true �role player� to make the squad, while Federov and Zhamnov are pretty decent 2-way forwards (Federov used to be Selke quality, but that was many moons ago).
That�s it, that�s all. Every other forward on the roster is definitely lacking in defensive ability, defensive effort, and grit.
Perhaps they brought so many cherry-pickers to bring some nourishment back to the homeland, because this group of small one-dimensional wonders is not going to bring home any medals. Datsyuk, Samsonov, Afinogenov�I�d like to have one of these guys on my NHL team, but there is no way I�d take all 3 on one national team.
The Russians didn�t learn from their World Championships debacle in St. Petersburg, where they absolutely bombed in front of their home fans with a team full of soft, one-dimensional forwards who were too concerned with fancy rushes up the ice, rather than solid team play. It�s no small wonder why these guys wouldn�t want to play for Tikhonov, as they would actually be forced to backcheck more than once a game.
Unlike the Czechs, Canadians, and Slovaks who took skilled forwards that have excelled and performed in defensive roles in the past (Draper, Dvorak and Cajanek, for example), none of the Russian forwards outside of Chubarov, Federov, and Zhamnov can be relied on in defensive situations; and we know Federov and Zhamnov will be put in offensive roles, so that leaves just Chubarov as a true defensive stopper.
Notable Players and Exceptions:
1. Alex Mogilny - Like Bobby Holik, �Pokerface� Mogilny would rather sit in his Malibu beach house than play hockey for his �homeland�. Mogilny has basically cut his ties with Russia, and had no interest in joining the World Cup effort.
2. The Lithuanians - Darius �Fear of Ghosts� Kasparaitis and Dainius Zubrus will both don the jersey of their former Russian oppressors. Kaspar has a long history with the Russian team, so his selection is no surprise, but Zubrus was granted a special exception.
Since this tournament is not IIHF-run, Zubrus and the Russian team were given permission to use Zubrus for this tournament. The reports suggest that Zubrus won�t lose his Lithuanian eligibility for future tournaments�although I can�t remember the last time the Lithuanian hockey team played in any tournament of note. It speaks volumes for Russia�s development program that they constantly have to import players from their former slave states like Ukraine and Lithuania.
3. Alex Ovechkin - The supposed �Next� one has arrived. The probable 1st overall pick at the upcoming Entry Draft was nominated for this team, most likely just to showcase Mother Russia�s supposed hockey superiority. Ovechkin is a fine prospect, but I don�t think he made the team purely on his own merits. The kid was pretty ordinary at the Under-20 WJC�s, so you wouldn�t expect him to have a positive impact at a tournament like this. If they wanted to showcase a young talent, then the very impressive Nikolai Zherdev (Columbus) would have made a fine choice.
4. Ground Puree and a dash of Kvasha - Most sane GM�s wouldn�t want Valeri Bure or Oleg Kvasha on their NHL teams, so it�s amazing that they even got a sniff of a tournament this prestigious. I can�t think of many more amazing wastes of talents in the league than these two players. Puree has whined his way around to many teams, living off of the production of one good season.
Kvasha, meanwhile, just has the fortune of being 6�5� tall, which makes NHL GM�s forget about his choppy and unbalanced skating style, mental softness, and total lack of offensive production to date. I�m glad Russia picked these 2 players, simply because Canada can exploit such a weakness quite easily.
Until the Russians can get some real leadership and 21st century thinking running their federation, the senior squads will continue to suffer through turmoil, incessant politicking, and below-average squads. The skill is there, but it�s a bad looking �team�, and I would be quite shocked if they finished in the Top 3.
Labels: Team Russia, Viktor Tikhonov, World Cup
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Team USA World Cup Team Announced
Wow, team USA looks like a collection of fogeys and players on the downturn.
Unlike Canada, who supplemented their team with a good core of younger stars, Team USA has only 4 position players under the age of 30.
This speaks volumes of the Americans player development, as most of their stars are entering the twilight of their careers.
Of course, the recent WJC20 and WJC18 teams for the USA were very strong, so the future is somewhat bright for the US...there is just a big gap between the stars of yesteryear and the stars of tomorrow.
The biggest weakness, by far, is in goal where the US can no longer count on superstar goaltending like they got from Mike Richter or John Vanbiesbrouck.
Rick DiPietro may one day be a star, but he's far away from it.
Esche is a quality goaltender, but he still hasn't proven himself over the long haul and isn't quite the same level of goalie as Richter was.
And btw, no Scott Gomez??!?!
Coach: Ron Wilson, San Jose Sharks
General Manager: Larry Pleau, St. Louis Blues
Assistant GM: Don Waddell, Atlanta Thrashers
TEAM USA
GOALIES DOB TEAM
Ty Conklin 03/04/76 Edmonton Oilers
Rick DiPietro 09/19/81 New York Islanders
Robert Esche 01/22/78 Philadelphia Flyers
DEFENSEMEN DOB TEAM
Chris Chelios 01/25/62 Detroit Red Wings
Derian Hatcher 06/04/72 Detroit Red Wings
Ken Klee 04/23/71 Toronto Maple Leafs
Brian Leetch 03/03/68 Toronto Maple Leafs
Jordan Leopold 08/03/80 Calgary Flames
Aaron Miller 08/11/71 Los Angeles Kings
Brian Rafalski 09/28/73 New Jersey Devils
Mathieu Schneider 06/12/69 Detroit Red Wings
FORWARDS DOB TEAM
Tony Amonte 09/02/70 Philadelphia Flyers
Jason Blake 09/02/73 New York Islanders
Craig Conroy 09/04/71 Calgary Flames
Chris Drury 08/20/76 Buffalo Sabres
Bill Guerin 11/09/70 Dallas Stars
Jeff Halpern 05/03/76 Washington Capitals
Brett Hull 08/09/64 Detroit Red Wings
Steve Konowalchuk 11/11/72 Colorado Avalanche
Jamie Langenbrunner 07/24/75 New Jersey Devils
Mike Modano 06/07/70 Dallas Stars
Jeremy Roenick 01/17/70 Philadelphia Flyers
Brian Rolston 02/21/73 Boston Bruins
Bryan Smolinski 12/27/71 Ottawa Senators
Keith Tkachuk 01/28/72 St. Louis Blues
Doug Weight 01/21/71 St. Louis Blues
Unlike Canada, who supplemented their team with a good core of younger stars, Team USA has only 4 position players under the age of 30.
This speaks volumes of the Americans player development, as most of their stars are entering the twilight of their careers.
Of course, the recent WJC20 and WJC18 teams for the USA were very strong, so the future is somewhat bright for the US...there is just a big gap between the stars of yesteryear and the stars of tomorrow.
The biggest weakness, by far, is in goal where the US can no longer count on superstar goaltending like they got from Mike Richter or John Vanbiesbrouck.
Rick DiPietro may one day be a star, but he's far away from it.
Esche is a quality goaltender, but he still hasn't proven himself over the long haul and isn't quite the same level of goalie as Richter was.
And btw, no Scott Gomez??!?!
Coach: Ron Wilson, San Jose Sharks
General Manager: Larry Pleau, St. Louis Blues
Assistant GM: Don Waddell, Atlanta Thrashers
TEAM USA
GOALIES DOB TEAM
Ty Conklin 03/04/76 Edmonton Oilers
Rick DiPietro 09/19/81 New York Islanders
Robert Esche 01/22/78 Philadelphia Flyers
DEFENSEMEN DOB TEAM
Chris Chelios 01/25/62 Detroit Red Wings
Derian Hatcher 06/04/72 Detroit Red Wings
Ken Klee 04/23/71 Toronto Maple Leafs
Brian Leetch 03/03/68 Toronto Maple Leafs
Jordan Leopold 08/03/80 Calgary Flames
Aaron Miller 08/11/71 Los Angeles Kings
Brian Rafalski 09/28/73 New Jersey Devils
Mathieu Schneider 06/12/69 Detroit Red Wings
FORWARDS DOB TEAM
Tony Amonte 09/02/70 Philadelphia Flyers
Jason Blake 09/02/73 New York Islanders
Craig Conroy 09/04/71 Calgary Flames
Chris Drury 08/20/76 Buffalo Sabres
Bill Guerin 11/09/70 Dallas Stars
Jeff Halpern 05/03/76 Washington Capitals
Brett Hull 08/09/64 Detroit Red Wings
Steve Konowalchuk 11/11/72 Colorado Avalanche
Jamie Langenbrunner 07/24/75 New Jersey Devils
Mike Modano 06/07/70 Dallas Stars
Jeremy Roenick 01/17/70 Philadelphia Flyers
Brian Rolston 02/21/73 Boston Bruins
Bryan Smolinski 12/27/71 Ottawa Senators
Keith Tkachuk 01/28/72 St. Louis Blues
Doug Weight 01/21/71 St. Louis Blues
Labels: Team USA, Vanbiesbrouck, World Cup
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Team Slovakia's World Cup Roster Nominations Announced
www.hokej.sk reports that coach Jan Filc has released his World Cup 2004 nominations for Team Slovakia.
As I expected, this line-up is heavy on NHL and North-American talent.
The only player without NHL/NA experience would be center Miroslav Hlinka, who won�t be at all familiar to North American hockey fans.
Basically, Hlinka is a smooth-skating defensive center who is adept on face-offs. He�ll be expected to have a key role in shutting down opposing centers and killing penalties. He�s too old to be drafted now, and he doesn�t put up great offensive numbers, so don�t expect to see much of him on this side of the Atlantic again.
My projected line combos:
Goalies:
#1 goalie � Jan Lasak
Backup � Rastislav Stana
3rd goalie � Peter Budaj
Defence:
Lubo Visnovsky - Zdeno Ch�ra
Martin Strbak � Richard Lintner
Ivan Majesky � Rado Suchy
Reserves: Jaroslav Obsut - Branislav Mezei
Forwards:
Bartecko-Demitra-Hossa
Palffy-Stumpel-Satan
Gaborik-Handzus-Bondra
Zednik-Hlinka-Nagy
Reserves: Orsz�gh, Somik, Radivojevic
This is a line-up very heavy on speed and skill, and short of grit, size and sandpaper. The Canadians might take them to the cleaners, if they can catch up with them ;)
Just 2 quibbles with this roster:
1. Ronald Petrovicky � I was quite surprised to see both Radivojevic and Somik taken over Petrovicky. Ronald is the type of pesky and gritty player that would be perfect for the 4th line in a tournament like this, and he played well this year for Atlanta and with Slovakia at the World Championships.
2. On defence, I don't really like the pick of the unlucky Jaroslav Obsut, as much as I like the guy.
Eurovet Ladislav Cierny had a great World Championships (as he usually does), and I would have taken him or Lubomir Sekeras over Obsut.
Brano Mezei also had a hella-weak performance World Championships, and he's not as well developed as expected when Mad Mike Milbury took him 10th overall in the 1999 draft. The reserve roster spot would have been better spent on a defender who can be more useful this time around, especially since Majesky might be too slow to handle the fast-paced play in this tournament.
I�ve heard comments that the Slovakian defence looks weak overall, but this unit has traditionally played better than the sum of its parts in International competitions. As long as Richie Lintner doesn�t go too crazy on the offensive forays, this unit should hold its own.
Labels: Branislav Mezei, Jaroslav Obsut, Richard Lintner, Team Slovakia, World Cup
Monday, May 17, 2004
Team Sweden World Cup Roster Announced
TSN.CA reports that Team Sweden has named their roster nominations for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.
The biggest omission would be one Michael Nylander, who had a very productive year this year, albeit very short season, with 14 points in 18 games. This was after 56 points in 71 games in 2002-03.
The IKEA boys have had a very rough time of it these past few years, as their development system has been turning out very few star players and bonafide NHL prospects. This roster, however, looks fairly strong and certainly capable of getting some colour of medal in this tournament (Not Gold, because Canada will win that ;} ).
The biggest question for the Swedes, and their greatest weakness, is definitely goaltending. Tommy Salo can no longer be considered the automatic #1 goalie for "Tre Kronor."
As many Oilers fans will tell you, Tommy Salo has been an extremely poor goaltender in the past couple of years, and Ty Conklin is definitely the best goaltender in the Oily city these days. Aside from Salo�s choke job against Belarus at Salt Lake City, Salo�s playoff performances in Edmonton leave a LOT to be desired.
Daniel Alfredsson doesn�t seem too concerned, however �
"I don't know who will be the starter," said Alfredsson. "Tommy's always been good for the national team and in the NHL."
"Everything gets blown up because of the miss he made in Salt Lake, but he also won gold in 1994."
Well 1994 was 10 years ago, and 10 years ago, people were wearing Club Monaco t-shirts all over the place. How many people do you see wearing that brand today?
The alternatives to Salo are Mikael Tellqvist and Henrik Lundqvist...not exactly awe-inspiring stuff.
The Swedes will pretty much have to count on their usual defensive choke-job in order to have success. I don�t think their more offensive-minded �Torpedo� system can function too well with the goaltending that they have.
Oh, and only 2 non-NHLers (Lundqvist and Jorgen), which makes sense given the venues. I expect the other European teams to follow suit and dress fewer European-based players than they would for the World Championships. Of course, the Russkies are still run by the old hardliners, and who knows who they will pick, or who will choose not to play for Mother Russia.
The biggest omission would be one Michael Nylander, who had a very productive year this year, albeit very short season, with 14 points in 18 games. This was after 56 points in 71 games in 2002-03.
The IKEA boys have had a very rough time of it these past few years, as their development system has been turning out very few star players and bonafide NHL prospects. This roster, however, looks fairly strong and certainly capable of getting some colour of medal in this tournament (Not Gold, because Canada will win that ;} ).
The biggest question for the Swedes, and their greatest weakness, is definitely goaltending. Tommy Salo can no longer be considered the automatic #1 goalie for "Tre Kronor."
As many Oilers fans will tell you, Tommy Salo has been an extremely poor goaltender in the past couple of years, and Ty Conklin is definitely the best goaltender in the Oily city these days. Aside from Salo�s choke job against Belarus at Salt Lake City, Salo�s playoff performances in Edmonton leave a LOT to be desired.
Daniel Alfredsson doesn�t seem too concerned, however �
"I don't know who will be the starter," said Alfredsson. "Tommy's always been good for the national team and in the NHL."
"Everything gets blown up because of the miss he made in Salt Lake, but he also won gold in 1994."
Well 1994 was 10 years ago, and 10 years ago, people were wearing Club Monaco t-shirts all over the place. How many people do you see wearing that brand today?
The alternatives to Salo are Mikael Tellqvist and Henrik Lundqvist...not exactly awe-inspiring stuff.
The Swedes will pretty much have to count on their usual defensive choke-job in order to have success. I don�t think their more offensive-minded �Torpedo� system can function too well with the goaltending that they have.
Oh, and only 2 non-NHLers (Lundqvist and Jorgen), which makes sense given the venues. I expect the other European teams to follow suit and dress fewer European-based players than they would for the World Championships. Of course, the Russkies are still run by the old hardliners, and who knows who they will pick, or who will choose not to play for Mother Russia.
Labels: Henrik Lundqvist, Team Sweden, Tommy Salo, World Cup
Canada's World Cup Team - Part III
To finish off my thoughts regarding Team Canada�s World Cup roster, just so that it can be beaten to death like a clubbed seal�
Patrick Marleau and Brendan Morrow were not horrible selections, but I don�t think they were the greatest picks, either. With the full International Grind Line � in full effect, there wasn�t really a need for Morrow. Marleau has had a good playoff performance, but there are certainly other players more deserving of his roster spot. Marleau seems like a true �B�-team candidate, like you would take to the World Championships.
If I were picking the team, there are two guys that were excluded from the roster that the mediots rarely mention, that I would have taken or strongly considered given their skill level and track record.
Glen Murray, RW � Boston
While Joe Thornton was basically a �Slam Dunk� pick to most people, his linemate, Glen Murray, who has had 2 extremely productive seasons, was basically not even considered.
In addition to Murray�s gaudy production in the last 2 years (152 points in 163 games), he brings the much needed/wanted/craved size and power-forward type game to the table. Murray is a good skater, and he�s far more talented than Brendan Morrow.
Team Canada seemed to be considering chemistry in their selections, and the Murray/Thornton combination has been one of the best in the NHL over the past 2 seasons. Murray played fairly well at the World Championships, although he didn�t produce huge offensive numbers (4 pts in 9 games), so perhaps the directors that his production wasn�t good enough in such a short sample size.
To me, Glen Murray would be my #1 offensive-winger replacement for Team Canada, and it�s somewhat of a shame that most people haven�t seriously considered him in that role.
Brendan Morrison, C � Vancouver
I know Brendan Morrison wasn�t seriously considered by Gretzky and his Superfriends, nor did the (l)Eastern mediots think of him as a viable candidate, which is a shame.
Just look at what Morrison can bring to the table and you can see that there really aren�t that many better 2-way centermen in the league. Morrison is a good skater, a great playmaker, and is very capable defensively. Rather than an old, creaky, and injured retread like Steve Yzerman, Morrison could have provided the same (or better) skill level and more speed, to boot.
Morrison�s performance at this year�s World Championships (7 points in 9 games) proved that he could excel in International competition, and Morrison was one of the few Canucks to play effectively against the Calgary Flames in the playoffs.
Unlike Lecavalier, who floats like a butterfly, and whines like a member of the Hospital Employees Union, Morrison is a solid citizen, and would be my #1 center ice replacement in case of injuries.
Keith Primeau, the sequel
Listening to the crying from Flyers fans and some mediots, you�d figure that Team Canada has just denied a player in the calibre of Eric Lindros (in his prime) off of the team. Is it really that much of a tragedy?
Sure, Primeau has had a pretty good playoffs (though he started quite slowly), but he was ordinary during the regular season, as I mentioned earlier.
The main reason why Primeau was left off was likely due to the pace that will be dictated at the World Cup. Right now, Primeau is in his element as the Hitchcockian Flyers are masters at slowing down the game to a chess-matchian crawn (Now I sound positively Don Taylorian).
Once the World Cup starts, the games will be played at much faster pace with all of the speed demons and superstars playing. Team Canada will not be able to slow down the game to nearly the level that the Flyers have been doing in the NHL Playoffs. A guy like Primeau could easily get in over his head in this type of tournament, which is why Kris Draper was tabbed as the #1 defensive center for Team Canada.
Other Notes:
The Wilted Garden - The Flyers could have Eric Desjardins back for the Stanley Cup Finals, provided they make it that far. The Courier Post Online has the story, here.
Normally, I would be quite hesitant to add in a half-healed (Desjardins will not be anywhere near 100%) player who has played very little hockey in the past few months to the roster in the Finals. We saw how a half-healed Eric Lindros came back to the Flyers during their playoff run a few years back, and he greatly detracted from the team.
Given the current Flyers injury situation in the defence corps, however, the Philly crew have little choice but to welcome back Eric with open arms.
** Master comedian and handsome devil Bob Saget turns 50 today. Now that the Olsen twins are almost legal, I�m really starting to feel old these days.
As the World Cup rosters must be named by May 25th, I�ll be speculating on the Czech and Slovak roster nominations in the coming days.
Patrick Marleau and Brendan Morrow were not horrible selections, but I don�t think they were the greatest picks, either. With the full International Grind Line � in full effect, there wasn�t really a need for Morrow. Marleau has had a good playoff performance, but there are certainly other players more deserving of his roster spot. Marleau seems like a true �B�-team candidate, like you would take to the World Championships.
If I were picking the team, there are two guys that were excluded from the roster that the mediots rarely mention, that I would have taken or strongly considered given their skill level and track record.
Glen Murray, RW � Boston
While Joe Thornton was basically a �Slam Dunk� pick to most people, his linemate, Glen Murray, who has had 2 extremely productive seasons, was basically not even considered.
In addition to Murray�s gaudy production in the last 2 years (152 points in 163 games), he brings the much needed/wanted/craved size and power-forward type game to the table. Murray is a good skater, and he�s far more talented than Brendan Morrow.
Team Canada seemed to be considering chemistry in their selections, and the Murray/Thornton combination has been one of the best in the NHL over the past 2 seasons. Murray played fairly well at the World Championships, although he didn�t produce huge offensive numbers (4 pts in 9 games), so perhaps the directors that his production wasn�t good enough in such a short sample size.
To me, Glen Murray would be my #1 offensive-winger replacement for Team Canada, and it�s somewhat of a shame that most people haven�t seriously considered him in that role.
Brendan Morrison, C � Vancouver
I know Brendan Morrison wasn�t seriously considered by Gretzky and his Superfriends, nor did the (l)Eastern mediots think of him as a viable candidate, which is a shame.
Just look at what Morrison can bring to the table and you can see that there really aren�t that many better 2-way centermen in the league. Morrison is a good skater, a great playmaker, and is very capable defensively. Rather than an old, creaky, and injured retread like Steve Yzerman, Morrison could have provided the same (or better) skill level and more speed, to boot.
Morrison�s performance at this year�s World Championships (7 points in 9 games) proved that he could excel in International competition, and Morrison was one of the few Canucks to play effectively against the Calgary Flames in the playoffs.
Unlike Lecavalier, who floats like a butterfly, and whines like a member of the Hospital Employees Union, Morrison is a solid citizen, and would be my #1 center ice replacement in case of injuries.
Keith Primeau, the sequel
Listening to the crying from Flyers fans and some mediots, you�d figure that Team Canada has just denied a player in the calibre of Eric Lindros (in his prime) off of the team. Is it really that much of a tragedy?
Sure, Primeau has had a pretty good playoffs (though he started quite slowly), but he was ordinary during the regular season, as I mentioned earlier.
The main reason why Primeau was left off was likely due to the pace that will be dictated at the World Cup. Right now, Primeau is in his element as the Hitchcockian Flyers are masters at slowing down the game to a chess-matchian crawn (Now I sound positively Don Taylorian).
Once the World Cup starts, the games will be played at much faster pace with all of the speed demons and superstars playing. Team Canada will not be able to slow down the game to nearly the level that the Flyers have been doing in the NHL Playoffs. A guy like Primeau could easily get in over his head in this type of tournament, which is why Kris Draper was tabbed as the #1 defensive center for Team Canada.
Other Notes:
The Wilted Garden - The Flyers could have Eric Desjardins back for the Stanley Cup Finals, provided they make it that far. The Courier Post Online has the story, here.
Normally, I would be quite hesitant to add in a half-healed (Desjardins will not be anywhere near 100%) player who has played very little hockey in the past few months to the roster in the Finals. We saw how a half-healed Eric Lindros came back to the Flyers during their playoff run a few years back, and he greatly detracted from the team.
Given the current Flyers injury situation in the defence corps, however, the Philly crew have little choice but to welcome back Eric with open arms.
** Master comedian and handsome devil Bob Saget turns 50 today. Now that the Olsen twins are almost legal, I�m really starting to feel old these days.
As the World Cup rosters must be named by May 25th, I�ll be speculating on the Czech and Slovak roster nominations in the coming days.
Labels: Keith Primeau, Team Canada, World Cup
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Canada's World Cup Team - Part II
Now that the team has been selected, let�s look at who didn�t make the cut.
Jose Theodore � He might have been a better pick than Belfour for the #3 spot given his youth, but remember that Belfour was chosen as #3 for the Olympic squad and was his attitude was exceptional. Theodore is a bit too shaky in terms of elite goaltenders, so it�s no shock to me that he wasn�t selected.
Curtis Joseph � Remember the last World Cup? Remember who choked big for Canada back then? There are many things Joseph is, and a proven winner is not one of them. Keep him the hell away from the team!!! He�s a curse!!
Bryan McCabe � If you believe the Toronto mediots, McCabe should not only win the Norris Trophy, but he should also have a street named after him and be given the keys to the city.
I�ll admit, McCabe had a fine season this year on the offensive side of the ledger. In 75 games, McCabe had 16 goals, 37 assists, and finished with a +22 rating.
What Leafs fans and the media don�t seem to realize is how shaky McCabe can be defensively. If it wasn�t for Belfour, McCabe wouldn�t be sporting such a nice +22 rating.
So why didn�t McCabe get the nomination?
I present Exhibit A - His play against the Flyers in the playoffs, which may have cost him his World Cup spot. Exhibit B � Robyn Regehr�s stalwart play in the playoffs, which caught Gretzky�s eye: "We really feel that Robyn Regehr's play this year in the playoffs has gone to another level," stated the Great Endorser.
Could McCabe finally have put it all together? Canucks, Islanders, and Hawks fans (are they are Hawks fans left?) still have nightmares of McCabe�s baffling defensive mistakes costing them games.
McCabe certainly wouldn�t have been a bad selection for the squad, but may have been passed over because he wouldn�t take kindly to being simply a �reserve� player.
I�d take him as the #1 injury replacement, however.
Keith Primeau � If we take playoff performances into account, it�s a little puzzling that Primeau wasn�t named to this squad. Primeau has played for Canada at big events before, and he�s been a 2-way force for the Flyers in the playoffs.
But look at it this way, the guy had 7 goals and 22 points in 54 regular season games, and is nowhere near the offensive �force� that he used to be. Primeau was quite ordinary during the regular season, and a short playoff run can�t mask the fact that Primeau�s game has deteriorated quite a bit this past year.
Vincent Lecavalier � Until he can learn to play every game like he does against the Montreal Canadiens, and learn to stop acting like a spoiled brat, Lecavalier still needs to prove himself to be an elite player. If Mario Lemieux can�t play, Lecavalier would be the perfect replacement as an offensive center. Vinnie should make the 2006 Olympic squad, if the NHLers take part.
Alex Tanguay � A deft offensive winger who has lived on the good fortune of playing with Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk. Take Tanguay away from those 2 guys, and you have just an above-average offensive winger that offers little else. Tanguay has talent, but he�s not in the class of the offensive stars chosen already.
Paul Kariya - Really, I couldn't feel happier for this money-grubbing shill that he was left off of the team. When he wasn't injured, Kariya was ineffecitve at both ends of the ice this year, and has never really grown into the elite player that he could have been. Thank you, Gary Suter.
Todd Bertuzzi � The most noticeable omission by Gretz and company. While most Canuck fans are crying in their Sleeman�s, I�m actually happy that Bertuzzi wasn�t chosen for the squad.
Team Canada decided not to choose Bertuzzi to avoid any distractions and problems that would arise around his suspension, which is the diplomatic answer you�d expect him to give. Still, isn�t this suspension a blessing in disguise?
If Bertuzzi was available to play, I don�t think it would be anywhere near a slum-dunk that Bertuzzi would be chosen for the team.
Think about it this way�without Todd Bertuzzi, Canada still has plenty of offense and plenty of size up front. Losing Todd Bertuzzi isn�t any sort of blow whatsoever, so they aren�t hurt by not having him play.
Bertuzzi, however, is exactly the type of player that could hurt Team Canada by playing.
How so?
The lack of discipline should be rather obvious�
a. 10-game suspension for jumping off of the bench to participate in a fight.
b. Indefinite suspension for his cowardly attack on Steve Moore.
c. Like Pronger and Tkachuk, Bertuzzi is easily baited in the playoffs, and has taken his fair share of bad penalties in the playoffs. 82 PIM�s in 24 playoff games. How many times has Bertuzzi killed a late-game rally or a Power Play with an ill-timed penalty? I wish some site kept track of those stats, because I�m sure Bertuzzi would be near the top.
d. Poor Defence � For all of his offensive skills, Bertuzzi is still rather poor defensively, but this isn�t recognized nearly as much these days with his inflated +/- and gaudy offensive stats.
e. World Championships 2000 � Despite his 9 points in 9 games, Bertuzzi also totalled 47 PIMs and cost the Canadians a chance at the gold medal with his ill-timed penalties against the Czechs (Running over Cechmanek with the extra-attacker on the ice). His check-from-behind of Slovakia�s Lubomir Sekeras earlier in the tournament was dangerous, and Bertuzzi was lucky that he wasn�t suspended for that.
Let�s not forget that the guy slept through the regular season and piled up a whopping 17 goals in 69 games. (Thanks for the fat paycheck, Brian).
For all of his offence, I could live without the negatives he brings to the table. In the end, it will be better for Team Canada that Bertuzzi won�t be available to them for this tournament.
Jose Theodore � He might have been a better pick than Belfour for the #3 spot given his youth, but remember that Belfour was chosen as #3 for the Olympic squad and was his attitude was exceptional. Theodore is a bit too shaky in terms of elite goaltenders, so it�s no shock to me that he wasn�t selected.
Curtis Joseph � Remember the last World Cup? Remember who choked big for Canada back then? There are many things Joseph is, and a proven winner is not one of them. Keep him the hell away from the team!!! He�s a curse!!
Bryan McCabe � If you believe the Toronto mediots, McCabe should not only win the Norris Trophy, but he should also have a street named after him and be given the keys to the city.
I�ll admit, McCabe had a fine season this year on the offensive side of the ledger. In 75 games, McCabe had 16 goals, 37 assists, and finished with a +22 rating.
What Leafs fans and the media don�t seem to realize is how shaky McCabe can be defensively. If it wasn�t for Belfour, McCabe wouldn�t be sporting such a nice +22 rating.
So why didn�t McCabe get the nomination?
I present Exhibit A - His play against the Flyers in the playoffs, which may have cost him his World Cup spot. Exhibit B � Robyn Regehr�s stalwart play in the playoffs, which caught Gretzky�s eye: "We really feel that Robyn Regehr's play this year in the playoffs has gone to another level," stated the Great Endorser.
Could McCabe finally have put it all together? Canucks, Islanders, and Hawks fans (are they are Hawks fans left?) still have nightmares of McCabe�s baffling defensive mistakes costing them games.
McCabe certainly wouldn�t have been a bad selection for the squad, but may have been passed over because he wouldn�t take kindly to being simply a �reserve� player.
I�d take him as the #1 injury replacement, however.
Keith Primeau � If we take playoff performances into account, it�s a little puzzling that Primeau wasn�t named to this squad. Primeau has played for Canada at big events before, and he�s been a 2-way force for the Flyers in the playoffs.
But look at it this way, the guy had 7 goals and 22 points in 54 regular season games, and is nowhere near the offensive �force� that he used to be. Primeau was quite ordinary during the regular season, and a short playoff run can�t mask the fact that Primeau�s game has deteriorated quite a bit this past year.
Vincent Lecavalier � Until he can learn to play every game like he does against the Montreal Canadiens, and learn to stop acting like a spoiled brat, Lecavalier still needs to prove himself to be an elite player. If Mario Lemieux can�t play, Lecavalier would be the perfect replacement as an offensive center. Vinnie should make the 2006 Olympic squad, if the NHLers take part.
Alex Tanguay � A deft offensive winger who has lived on the good fortune of playing with Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk. Take Tanguay away from those 2 guys, and you have just an above-average offensive winger that offers little else. Tanguay has talent, but he�s not in the class of the offensive stars chosen already.
Paul Kariya - Really, I couldn't feel happier for this money-grubbing shill that he was left off of the team. When he wasn't injured, Kariya was ineffecitve at both ends of the ice this year, and has never really grown into the elite player that he could have been. Thank you, Gary Suter.
Todd Bertuzzi � The most noticeable omission by Gretz and company. While most Canuck fans are crying in their Sleeman�s, I�m actually happy that Bertuzzi wasn�t chosen for the squad.
Team Canada decided not to choose Bertuzzi to avoid any distractions and problems that would arise around his suspension, which is the diplomatic answer you�d expect him to give. Still, isn�t this suspension a blessing in disguise?
If Bertuzzi was available to play, I don�t think it would be anywhere near a slum-dunk that Bertuzzi would be chosen for the team.
Think about it this way�without Todd Bertuzzi, Canada still has plenty of offense and plenty of size up front. Losing Todd Bertuzzi isn�t any sort of blow whatsoever, so they aren�t hurt by not having him play.
Bertuzzi, however, is exactly the type of player that could hurt Team Canada by playing.
How so?
The lack of discipline should be rather obvious�
a. 10-game suspension for jumping off of the bench to participate in a fight.
b. Indefinite suspension for his cowardly attack on Steve Moore.
c. Like Pronger and Tkachuk, Bertuzzi is easily baited in the playoffs, and has taken his fair share of bad penalties in the playoffs. 82 PIM�s in 24 playoff games. How many times has Bertuzzi killed a late-game rally or a Power Play with an ill-timed penalty? I wish some site kept track of those stats, because I�m sure Bertuzzi would be near the top.
d. Poor Defence � For all of his offensive skills, Bertuzzi is still rather poor defensively, but this isn�t recognized nearly as much these days with his inflated +/- and gaudy offensive stats.
e. World Championships 2000 � Despite his 9 points in 9 games, Bertuzzi also totalled 47 PIMs and cost the Canadians a chance at the gold medal with his ill-timed penalties against the Czechs (Running over Cechmanek with the extra-attacker on the ice). His check-from-behind of Slovakia�s Lubomir Sekeras earlier in the tournament was dangerous, and Bertuzzi was lucky that he wasn�t suspended for that.
Let�s not forget that the guy slept through the regular season and piled up a whopping 17 goals in 69 games. (Thanks for the fat paycheck, Brian).
For all of his offence, I could live without the negatives he brings to the table. In the end, it will be better for Team Canada that Bertuzzi won�t be available to them for this tournament.
Labels: CuJo, Jose Theodore, McCabe, Team Canada, World Cup
Canada's World Cup Team - Part I
Now that Gretzky and his cronies have picked your gold medal winners for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, everyone has their own view of who should have been picked and who shouldn�t have. Canada�s new guard is coming into its prime, and Canadian hockey hasn�t looked this strong in a long time. Two straight World Championships, Olympic Gold, and consistently strong showings at the World Under-20 Junior Championships have Canada ranked a clear #1 by the IIHF, much to the chagrin of the jealous Russkies.
Unlike the Olympics, Team Canada will be playing its games on the smaller North American-style ice surface. Power Forwards and grinders who normally have trouble with the bigger ice (Keith Primeau and Brendan Shanahan) would feel more at home in this tournament. This is a critical and overlooked factor when selecting a squad for this tournament. The European teams will need to account for this once they name their squads.
With 26 players selected (6 extras), there were extra rosters spots available, and this made Gretz�s job a lot easier. Before we look at who didn�t make it, let�s look at who did. Overall, this is a strong roster that has lots of everything.
Goalies
Martin Brodeur, 32, New Jersey Devils: The goalie with the golden horseshoe up his buttocks, Brodeur is a good goalie behind great teams. Canada has won gold with him before, so he�s basically the default #1.
Roberto Luongo, 25, Florida Panthers: THE #1 goaltender in the NHL right now, Luongo proved himself at the World Championships in Czechia, and is their heir apparent to Brodeur. I�d give the #1 job to Luongo in a heartbeat, but we all know politics and the status quo will prevail.
Ed Belfour, 39, Toronto Maple Leafs: When is the last time that Belfour played for Team Canada? He�s a great goalie, but his back is questionable and he should be the #3.
The Ministry of Defence
Scott Niedermayer, 30, New Jersey; He might not put up the Bobby Orr-like offense that was expected of him, but he�s finally become an elite 2-way defenseman who really excels everywhere on the ice. If you want a proven winner, he�s the one, as he�s perhaps the only player who has won an Olympic Gold, WJC Gold, World Championships Gold, a Stanley Cup, and a Memorial Cup. Can you think of anyone else who has won all 5? If Canada wins the World Cup, he�ll have 6 major trophies on his mantle.
Rob Blake, 34, Colorado Avalanche: When he�s not headhunting and putting himself out of position for big hits, Blake is still an effective 2-way force on the blueline. With Al MacInnis injured, Blake will be the anchor on the Power Play.
Adam Foote, 32, Colorado Avalanche: Foote will take over Scott Stevens� role as the physical stopper on the back end, and will have to cover for Blake�s occasional brainfart. Foote has been able to stay healthy for the past couple of years, so he should be in good shape heading into this tournament.
Ed Jovanovski, 27, Vancouver Canucks: Special Ed is the �toolsy� choice that gives scouts orgasms and gives coaches heartburn. He can skate, pass, shoot, hit, and carry the puck all very well, but he�s prone to the occasional Igor Kravchuk giveaway. Unlike teammate Brent Sopel, at least Jovo doesn�t do that every 3 shifts.
Chris Pronger, 29, St. Louis Blues: Big, strong, and undisciplined. If he pulls the same crap of taking bad penalties like he did in the playoffs, I wouldn�t hesitate to bench him in an instant. Pronger can log big minutes, anchor the left side of the Power Play, and be the true #1 defenseman for Team Canada�but watch for some enterprising team to take advantage of his temper and get under his skin.
Eric Brewer, 25, Edmonton Oilers: Brewer is the most vanilla of Team Canada�s defenseman, but he�s big, skates well, and has played well for winning Canadian teams before.
Wade Redden, 26, Ottawa Senators: Redden�s been one of the best 2nd tier defensemen in the NHL for quite awhile, but hasn�t yet had much success winning anything.
Robyn Regehr, 24, Calgary Flames: A �surprise� addition to some, but since he�ll likely be a reserve, it�s a good pick since he won�t complain about lack of playing time.
Centres
Mario Lemieux, 38, Pittsburgh Penguins: This is guy who injures his back by bending over to tie his skates. Sure, he�s quite talented, but how effective can he be? If he were to get �injured� and miss the World Cup, it might not be the biggest loss for Team Canada. Right now, all Lemieux will be is an offensive role player for Canada.
Joe Sakic, 34, Colorado Avalanche: Pretty much a no-brainer here.
Joe Thornton, 25, Boston Bruins: Like Lemieux, he�s got questions regarding injuries. He skated with a broken rib in the playoffs when he shouldn�t have been playing at all. The result? 0 points and �6 in 7 games. Has he had enough time to heal? If not, take him off the roster and add a healthy body.
Steve Yzerman, 39, Detroit Red Wings: This guy must have his wife and kids, because he seems deathly afraid of retirement�and despite the fact that he has a shattered eye socket, a reconstructed knee, and a host of other ailments, Yzerman seems intent on coming back for another NHL season. Now, he was showing his age in this past playoffs, and this selection reeks of the old-boys club more than astute team picking. Yzerman is a good 2-way player, but there are better selections at this point in time. That said, Yzerman won�t hurt the team if he�s playing a 3rd or 4th line role, but I�d like to see someone younger in his place.
Brad Richards, 24, Tampa Bay Lightning: Will likely be shifted to the wing given the other centers on the roster. Vincent Lecavalier gets all the press, but Richards is the Lightning center who consistently performs at a high level.
Patrick Marleau, 24, San Jose Sharks: It�s hard to believe Marleau is only 24, since he�s played 558 games in 7 NHL seasons. Marleau has generally been a frustrating player to watch, since he�s so talented, but chooses not to use that talent on a nightly basis. He�s a pretty good player, but he�s still below-average defensively, and will likely be a reserve player at this point in time.
Kris Draper, 32, Detroit Red Wings: Not since Jody Hull scored 20 for the Panthers in 1996 has there been a less likely 20 goal scorer in the NHL than Kris Draper and his 24 goals this season. Draper has good speed and he�s proven himself to be an adept shadow in International Competition. Will form the International Grind line with Doan and Maltby that was so successful at the 2003 World Championships.
Wingers
Jarome Iginla, 26, Calgary Flames: If you want the complete package, this is your specimen. If I were to start an NHL club, Iginla would be the first player I would choose (followed closely by Luongo).
Martin St. Louis, 28, Tampa Bay Lightning: The Canadian Pavol Demitra, St. Louis proved any doubters this season and deserves the MVP award. His lack of international experience is a concern, but he�s already stepped into uncharted territory and has proven himself with a big playoff performance.
Dany Heatley, 23, Atlanta Thrashers: When he�s not crashing Ferrari�s, Heatley is crashing the net and could very soon take over Iginla�s place as the best player in the game today (Once he learns some defense). His MVP performance at the World Championships erased any doubts about his current skill level, and I am very jealous of Thrashers fans that they have this guy and Ilya Kovalchuk to build around.
Shane Doan, 27, Phoenix Coyotes: Solid power forward, a Todd Bertuzzi-lite.
Simon Gagne, 24, Philadelphia Flyers: People look at his offensive numbers and seem puzzled at why Gagne would make the squad. Let�s face it, Gagne is still one of the most talented and speedier players in the game, and he�s more a victim of his coach�s defensive system and team depth than anything. Gagne is better than his numbers show.
Ryan Smyth, 28, Edmonton Oilers: If there was a Captain Canada, this guy would be it. Smyth has been a constant figure for Canada at the Olympics and World Championships, and has never rejected Canada�s call once. Smyth embodies the traits that Canadians claim make a �Canadian� player, and it�s only due to the presence of the old guys like Lemieux and Yzerman that would keep Smyth from getting the �C� again.
Brenden Morrow, 25, Dallas Stars: This is a classic example of a player that is better than his numbers. Morrow doesn�t tend to score more than .6 points a game, but he�s got the speed and skill set that makes him a good addition for Canada�s international teams as a defensive role player.
Kirk Maltby, 32, Detroit Red Wings : The most surprising pick to me, and the most annoying player on the Red Wing$�I expected Draper and Morrow, but not Maltby. There are many more skilled players to choose, so Maltby was selected more for the chemistry he�s developed with Draper.
Some nitpicks here and there, but you can't say this team isn't 'complete'.
Of course, the most important question is, where will they hide the lucky loonie?
Unlike the Olympics, Team Canada will be playing its games on the smaller North American-style ice surface. Power Forwards and grinders who normally have trouble with the bigger ice (Keith Primeau and Brendan Shanahan) would feel more at home in this tournament. This is a critical and overlooked factor when selecting a squad for this tournament. The European teams will need to account for this once they name their squads.
With 26 players selected (6 extras), there were extra rosters spots available, and this made Gretz�s job a lot easier. Before we look at who didn�t make it, let�s look at who did. Overall, this is a strong roster that has lots of everything.
Goalies
Martin Brodeur, 32, New Jersey Devils: The goalie with the golden horseshoe up his buttocks, Brodeur is a good goalie behind great teams. Canada has won gold with him before, so he�s basically the default #1.
Roberto Luongo, 25, Florida Panthers: THE #1 goaltender in the NHL right now, Luongo proved himself at the World Championships in Czechia, and is their heir apparent to Brodeur. I�d give the #1 job to Luongo in a heartbeat, but we all know politics and the status quo will prevail.
Ed Belfour, 39, Toronto Maple Leafs: When is the last time that Belfour played for Team Canada? He�s a great goalie, but his back is questionable and he should be the #3.
The Ministry of Defence
Scott Niedermayer, 30, New Jersey; He might not put up the Bobby Orr-like offense that was expected of him, but he�s finally become an elite 2-way defenseman who really excels everywhere on the ice. If you want a proven winner, he�s the one, as he�s perhaps the only player who has won an Olympic Gold, WJC Gold, World Championships Gold, a Stanley Cup, and a Memorial Cup. Can you think of anyone else who has won all 5? If Canada wins the World Cup, he�ll have 6 major trophies on his mantle.
Rob Blake, 34, Colorado Avalanche: When he�s not headhunting and putting himself out of position for big hits, Blake is still an effective 2-way force on the blueline. With Al MacInnis injured, Blake will be the anchor on the Power Play.
Adam Foote, 32, Colorado Avalanche: Foote will take over Scott Stevens� role as the physical stopper on the back end, and will have to cover for Blake�s occasional brainfart. Foote has been able to stay healthy for the past couple of years, so he should be in good shape heading into this tournament.
Ed Jovanovski, 27, Vancouver Canucks: Special Ed is the �toolsy� choice that gives scouts orgasms and gives coaches heartburn. He can skate, pass, shoot, hit, and carry the puck all very well, but he�s prone to the occasional Igor Kravchuk giveaway. Unlike teammate Brent Sopel, at least Jovo doesn�t do that every 3 shifts.
Chris Pronger, 29, St. Louis Blues: Big, strong, and undisciplined. If he pulls the same crap of taking bad penalties like he did in the playoffs, I wouldn�t hesitate to bench him in an instant. Pronger can log big minutes, anchor the left side of the Power Play, and be the true #1 defenseman for Team Canada�but watch for some enterprising team to take advantage of his temper and get under his skin.
Eric Brewer, 25, Edmonton Oilers: Brewer is the most vanilla of Team Canada�s defenseman, but he�s big, skates well, and has played well for winning Canadian teams before.
Wade Redden, 26, Ottawa Senators: Redden�s been one of the best 2nd tier defensemen in the NHL for quite awhile, but hasn�t yet had much success winning anything.
Robyn Regehr, 24, Calgary Flames: A �surprise� addition to some, but since he�ll likely be a reserve, it�s a good pick since he won�t complain about lack of playing time.
Centres
Mario Lemieux, 38, Pittsburgh Penguins: This is guy who injures his back by bending over to tie his skates. Sure, he�s quite talented, but how effective can he be? If he were to get �injured� and miss the World Cup, it might not be the biggest loss for Team Canada. Right now, all Lemieux will be is an offensive role player for Canada.
Joe Sakic, 34, Colorado Avalanche: Pretty much a no-brainer here.
Joe Thornton, 25, Boston Bruins: Like Lemieux, he�s got questions regarding injuries. He skated with a broken rib in the playoffs when he shouldn�t have been playing at all. The result? 0 points and �6 in 7 games. Has he had enough time to heal? If not, take him off the roster and add a healthy body.
Steve Yzerman, 39, Detroit Red Wings: This guy must have his wife and kids, because he seems deathly afraid of retirement�and despite the fact that he has a shattered eye socket, a reconstructed knee, and a host of other ailments, Yzerman seems intent on coming back for another NHL season. Now, he was showing his age in this past playoffs, and this selection reeks of the old-boys club more than astute team picking. Yzerman is a good 2-way player, but there are better selections at this point in time. That said, Yzerman won�t hurt the team if he�s playing a 3rd or 4th line role, but I�d like to see someone younger in his place.
Brad Richards, 24, Tampa Bay Lightning: Will likely be shifted to the wing given the other centers on the roster. Vincent Lecavalier gets all the press, but Richards is the Lightning center who consistently performs at a high level.
Patrick Marleau, 24, San Jose Sharks: It�s hard to believe Marleau is only 24, since he�s played 558 games in 7 NHL seasons. Marleau has generally been a frustrating player to watch, since he�s so talented, but chooses not to use that talent on a nightly basis. He�s a pretty good player, but he�s still below-average defensively, and will likely be a reserve player at this point in time.
Kris Draper, 32, Detroit Red Wings: Not since Jody Hull scored 20 for the Panthers in 1996 has there been a less likely 20 goal scorer in the NHL than Kris Draper and his 24 goals this season. Draper has good speed and he�s proven himself to be an adept shadow in International Competition. Will form the International Grind line with Doan and Maltby that was so successful at the 2003 World Championships.
Wingers
Jarome Iginla, 26, Calgary Flames: If you want the complete package, this is your specimen. If I were to start an NHL club, Iginla would be the first player I would choose (followed closely by Luongo).
Martin St. Louis, 28, Tampa Bay Lightning: The Canadian Pavol Demitra, St. Louis proved any doubters this season and deserves the MVP award. His lack of international experience is a concern, but he�s already stepped into uncharted territory and has proven himself with a big playoff performance.
Dany Heatley, 23, Atlanta Thrashers: When he�s not crashing Ferrari�s, Heatley is crashing the net and could very soon take over Iginla�s place as the best player in the game today (Once he learns some defense). His MVP performance at the World Championships erased any doubts about his current skill level, and I am very jealous of Thrashers fans that they have this guy and Ilya Kovalchuk to build around.
Shane Doan, 27, Phoenix Coyotes: Solid power forward, a Todd Bertuzzi-lite.
Simon Gagne, 24, Philadelphia Flyers: People look at his offensive numbers and seem puzzled at why Gagne would make the squad. Let�s face it, Gagne is still one of the most talented and speedier players in the game, and he�s more a victim of his coach�s defensive system and team depth than anything. Gagne is better than his numbers show.
Ryan Smyth, 28, Edmonton Oilers: If there was a Captain Canada, this guy would be it. Smyth has been a constant figure for Canada at the Olympics and World Championships, and has never rejected Canada�s call once. Smyth embodies the traits that Canadians claim make a �Canadian� player, and it�s only due to the presence of the old guys like Lemieux and Yzerman that would keep Smyth from getting the �C� again.
Brenden Morrow, 25, Dallas Stars: This is a classic example of a player that is better than his numbers. Morrow doesn�t tend to score more than .6 points a game, but he�s got the speed and skill set that makes him a good addition for Canada�s international teams as a defensive role player.
Kirk Maltby, 32, Detroit Red Wings : The most surprising pick to me, and the most annoying player on the Red Wing$�I expected Draper and Morrow, but not Maltby. There are many more skilled players to choose, so Maltby was selected more for the chemistry he�s developed with Draper.
Some nitpicks here and there, but you can't say this team isn't 'complete'.
Of course, the most important question is, where will they hide the lucky loonie?
Labels: Team Canada, World Cup
