Team Canada... 40 days to go

So with 40 days to go til the naming of Canada's most anticipated entry in the Olympics, the men's ice hockey team. The NHL season has been pretty interesting for a lot of the players vying for their inclusion on the roster. Steve Yzerman has had his work cut out for him as he has to build from the most talented country in hockey. So I thought that I'd give my 40 day previous shot, at naming the Canadian roster. Last January I think I made an attempt and this team may be much different. For each player I will give a break down of their stats so far this season, and why I have included them. So bear with me, this may be a lengthy post...

1st line Center: #87 Sidney Crosby

10G 12A 22P

"Sid the Kid" will center team Canada, because he is Canada's star. He is the best player our country has to offer. End of story.





1st line Right Wing: (A) #12 Jarome Iginla

15G 7A 22P

Jarome will be one of Canada's leaders, both in age, and skill. He brings to the team some of the NHL's best goal scoring and leadership. Without a doubt "Iggy" will be on Canada's first line.




1st line Left Wing: #61 Rick Nash

14G 11A 25P

Rick has represented Canada at a couple of national events now, and has excelled each team he donned the red and white. Now Nash will take on the burden of being on Canada's top line.




2nd line Center: #19 Joe Thornton

7G 25A 32P

Big Joe leads all Canadian players in points right now, however, it is his post season/ "crunch time" play that will have him heavily scrutinized, however all this shouldn't keep him from being a prolific play maker for team Canada.




2nd line Right Wing: #15 Dany Heatley

18G 10A 28P

Dany has endured some interesting hype over the summer, but that shouldn't keep him off the team Canada roster, he has already proven no slowing as he and Joe Thornton have proved to be one of the NHL's top pairings.




2nd line Left Wing: #91 Steven Stamkos

14G 8G 22P

Steven Stamkos will make his Olympic debut a little earlier then most thought. This young man has certainly excited and amused most Canadians so far this season. Lets hope he can keep the magic going on the world stage.




3rd line Center: #18 Mike Richards

9G 10A 19P

Richards will be Canada's second coming of bobby clarke. This young man will be the grit and driving force even from the third line. He brings it every night, weather it be killing penalties, scoring goals, or making big hits.




3rd line Right Wing: #4 Vincent Lecavalier

4G 15A 19P

Considering his lack of play in the spotlight in Tampa Bay, maybe a third line spot will be well suited for Vinny. He should prove to be a very use full tool and clutch performer for team Canada.




3rd line Left Wing: #17 Jeff Carter

7G 12A 19P

Carter is a big boy, and clutch performer. Last year Carter exploded for 46 goals, and showed the league just how good a player he is, now he must show the world. Which shouldn't be to much of a problem, this kid got game.




4th line Center: #51 Ryan Getzlaf

3G 22A 25P

After a little bit of a slow start to the season, the "Great Getzy" will headline Canada's "energy" line, and with him there, energy is what they will get. He fights, hits, scores, makes plays, and dangles like a true Canadian.




4th line Right Wing: #10 Corey Perry

13G 14A 27P

Perry has shown time and time again to be a very effective and powerful forward. He has some crazy sick dangles, and in around the net, he is downright deadly. Oh and did I mention he is 6'3" 208lbs.




4th line Left Wing: #37 Dustin Penner

13G 12A 25P

Okay, so I know I'm gonna get eaten alive for this one, but how can you leave this guy off the team?! He has been downright awesome, just about every night for Edmonton, plus, his size would be a huge weapon against the other smaller national teams.



Taxi Squad: #94 Ryan Smyth #92 Brad Richards

Richards and Smyth are both use full players for Canada, if need be. Captain Canada is of course, well, lets leave it to the name, and Richards is a powerplay master. Both kill penalties, and both are integral parts to each others teams.





Defensive Pairing #1: (C) #27 Scott Niedermayer- (A) #44 Chris Pronger

Niedermayer: 2G 14P -4 Pronger: 4G 18P +13

Niedermayer gets the "C" as Canada's most prolific "winner" and as its biggest leader. Pronger will be Canada's stalwart, again. Both of these two players will bring leadership and all-star defense to their national team.



Defensive Pairing #2: #52 Mike Green- #2 Duncan Keith

Green: 3G 23P +4 Keith: 5G 18P +8

Green is Canada's most prolific scorer, he scores like a forward, and should be Canada's #1 powerplay quarterback. Keith will be the steadiness to this pairing, as he is continuously one the NHL's best +/- players.



Defensive Pairing #3: #22 Dan Boyle- #4 Jay Bouwmeester

Boyle: 4G 21P +8 Bouwmeester: 2G 12P +6

Again team Canada will have a prolific scoring defender in Dan Boyle, balanced by one of the NHL's best shutdown defensemen, Jay Bouwmeester. These two round out possibly one of the best defense's team Canada has ever assembled.



Taxi Squad: #8 Shea Weber

#1 Goaltender: #30 Martin Brodeur

12W .920Sv% 2.22GAA

Who ever doubted this man would be Canada's go-to goalie? He is right there next to Patrick Roy as the best goalie this country has ever seen. Even if his NHL numbers sucked, there is no doubt that once that Canadian jersey was on his shoulders, he would become that hero.



#2 Goaltender: #1 Roberto Luongo

8W .907Sv% 2.64GAA

Probably the last time Roberto plays second fiddle for team Canada. His goaltending prowess has helped Vancouver to be competitive every season thus far, and if Brodeur gets hurt, Luongo would help the team to play on without skipping a beat.



#3 Goaltender: #29 Marc-Andre Fleury

12W .902Sv% 2.63GAA

His Stanley Cup win helps bump him into this class of player, as before, he had never win anything, including a losing performance in his world junior championships. However, those days are over and Fleury will be on board with Team Canada.



So leave your comments as its always fun trying to name this team and I'm sure Ive pissed a few people off, maybe surprised and delighted a few of you, or maybe just dumbfounded some. Anyways, Go Canada Go. Those stupid Pepsi cheers suck...

-Sporer