Vancouver 2010

It’s a never ending debate. It is the decision that will affect a nation. One tournament, with one common goal. The Gold Medal. Yes I am talking about the 2010 Olympics. The Canadian men’s hockey team in particular. The debate: Who makes it? Who doesn’t? In past years we have seen brilliant decisions on players, and, not so brilliant ones. We have seen Rob Zamuner make the team over Mark Messier. With Steve Yzerman at the helm this time around, we are left to wonder....Is this another Nagano? Or is it a Salt Lake City remake? We wait, with great anticipation....

So here is my attempt (halfway through the season) to name the team, with a few bubble players (may or may not make it). Ill also give a quick breakdown of the player and why I chose them. So without further ado, my 2010 Canadian Men’s Olympic hockey team:
Here are the first eight to be named:


1st line Center: Sidney Crosby
2008-2009 Stats
47GP-17G-43A-60P
Why? : Is this even a question? Crosby is a given, as much as Gretzky was ever a given for a team Canada. Crosby may not be the next Great One, but he certainly is the best center Canada has.






1st line Right Wing and Team Captain: Jarome Iginla
2008-2009 Stats
46GP-19G-34A-53P
Why? : Iginla, like Crosby, is a given. So much so that he should and will be named team captain. This will be his third Olympics, making him one of the longest serving on the team. Iginla personifies “class”.






1st line Left Wing: Rick Nash
2008-2009 Stats
43GP-19G-24A-43P
Why? : Nash is Canada’s player, besides Crosby and Iginla; this man plays with a maple leaf tattooed to his rear end. He scored highlight reel goals game in and out. Young and a workhorse, he is already the Blue Jackets captain.





Left Wing: Dany Heatley
2008-2009 Stats
44GP-21G-22A-43P
Why? : Heatley is a goal scorer, and he will score goals. He will be Canada’s trigger man; don’t be surprised if by the end of the tournament Heatley leads the team in goals.






Center: Vinny Lecavalier
2008-2009 Stats
47GP-21G-23A-44P
Why? : Vinny is having a little bit of an off year, and yet the guy is still scoring 44 points. Another Canadian hero, this guy is a given for this team and don’t be surprised to see him score a few huge goals for Team Canada.






Right Wing: Simon Gagne
2008-2009 Stats
43GP-19G-26A-45P
Gagne has quietly been having a great season for the flyers. He was there in Torino, and he’ll be there in Vancouver, he oozes talent and is not only a great goal scorer, but a quality defensive forward as he is +18 on the season.





Defenseman: Mike Green
2008-2009 Stats
35GP-12G-21A-33P-+17
Why? : Mike Green is Canada’s best young defenseman. He is on e of the best puck movers in the NHL from the back end, and is great defensively as well. He may not be on the starting 8, but he will surely be on this team.





Starting Goaltender: Martin Brodeur
2008-2009 Stats
10GP-6W-2L-.916 SV%-2.16 GAA
I don’t know how anyone could argue that Brodeur is the man. He has played on the team since Nagano. He was in net for Gold in Salt Lake, he has won 2 Stanley Cups, and is Canada’s (if not the NHL’s) best goaltender.




So now that I have named the starting eight, Ill now go on and name the rest of the team, without as much depth.

So the forwards round out to having Joe Thornton, Ryan Getzlaf, Jeff Carter, Shane Doan, Mike Richards, and Patrick Marleau. Marleau is the only one id question here. On defense I have Shea Weber, Dan Boyle, Sheldon Souray, Chris Pronger, and Brian Campbell. I think all these guys make it, though it will be hard seeing as how then both Jay Bouwmeester and Dion Phaneuf are extra’s. This team will have grit and determination on their side with guys such as Thornton, Doan, Carter, Richards, and Getzlaf. On defense it will be the best puck moving squad ever assembled. All 6 of them responsible in their own end as well. In goal, it should be Luongo’s last year to play second fiddle to Brodeur, and Carey Price will enjoy being the third string, this will be a great thing for a young goaltender as well. As Price is Canada’s goalie of the future.

So many of you may now be starting to sit uneasy in your seat as you would rather have other players on the team, and maybe your right and I'm wrong, this is clearly my opinion of what the team should look like. So ill put down a few players who should be heavily considered:
























Every single one of these players is capable if making the Team Canada squad, however, as of right now, I just don’t see them making that cut. Savard is every bit the same player Thornton is, just smaller. St Louis and Cammalleri are both quality goal scorers, however id say size is the issue. Corey Perry and Jon Toews could easily make the jump to this team, as both have insane talent, however, they may still be a little ripe. Brad Richards and Jason Spezza are seeing slumping seasons which is why I couldn’t see them there. Ryan Smyth is aging, he is still having a decent season considering his age, but it seems as if Captain Canada has finally seen his last Olympic days. Phaneuf is not having such a great season, but a jump start next year could land him a spot. Wideman is having a great season, and if he could do even better next year, a spot will be his, though most likely just being an extra. Blake is an aging vet as well and has seen his glory days come and go. Bouwmeester should make a big case for a spot on the team, I would say it depends on where he goes this summer.

Anyways that’s all I have.
-Sporer