GOALIES
Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
Marc Andrew Fleury
DEFENCEMAN
Scott Niedermayer
Chris Pronger
Shea Weber
Dan Boyle
Duncan Keith
Brent Seabrook
Drew Doughty
FORWARDS
Sidney Crosby
Jarome Iginla
Rick Nash
Dany Heatley
Joe Thornton
Patrick Marleau
Corey Perry
Ryan Getzlaf
Jonathan Toews
Patrice Bergeron
Brendan Morrow
Eric Staal
Mike Richards
Thoughts?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tomorrow is the Day
Steve Yzerman and the Team Canada brass will announce the 23 man Olympic hockey team tomorrow at noon.
If for any reason you aren't able to view the heavily hyped press conference, stop by GOLD RUSH for the final roster as soon as it becomes available.
We will have full analysis later that afternoon...
One more sleep Stevie Y...
If for any reason you aren't able to view the heavily hyped press conference, stop by GOLD RUSH for the final roster as soon as it becomes available.
We will have full analysis later that afternoon...
One more sleep Stevie Y...
Monday, December 28, 2009
SensChirp Picks Team Canada
Alright folks, the time has come for me to announce my selections for Team Canada's entry in the Olympic Hockey tournament. It may not have the hype and hoop la that Wednesday's announcement will have but in some ways it's just as significant.
Hmm perhaps not...
Anyway, here are my selections for Team Canada...
Nash-Crosby-Iginla
Heatley-Thornton-Marleau
Toews-Getzlaf-Perry
Fisher-Richards-St. Louis
Doan
Niedermayer-Weber
Pronger-Boyle
Keith-Bouwmeester
Seabrook
Brodeur
Luongo
Fleury
Slap the C on Mr. Niedermayer and watch 'em go...
Thoughts? What are your final rosters?
Hmm perhaps not...
Anyway, here are my selections for Team Canada...
Nash-Crosby-Iginla
Heatley-Thornton-Marleau
Toews-Getzlaf-Perry
Fisher-Richards-St. Louis
Doan
Niedermayer-Weber
Pronger-Boyle
Keith-Bouwmeester
Seabrook
Brodeur
Luongo
Fleury
Slap the C on Mr. Niedermayer and watch 'em go...
Thoughts? What are your final rosters?
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The B Team
I've often heard the argument that Canada could likely ice two competitive teams in the Olympic games. Well let me take a shot at putting together our B team.
GOALIES- Turco, Ward, Price
DEFENCEMAN- Green, Doughty, Jovanovski, Phaneuf, Hamhuis, Regehr, Robidas
FORWARDS- Carter, Bergeron, E. Staal, Lecavalier, J. Staal, Stamkos, B. Richards, Weiss, Camalleri, Penner, Sharp, Lucic, Cleary
Even after putting together the B team there are still quality players that get left behind. I don't know that this team would be a gold medal threat necessarily but you could make an argument that they would at least contend for a medal.
Steve Yzerman's job is not an easy one.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Goalies Set?
Just had a chance to listen to Steve Yzerman on Hockeycentral at noon. This guy has perfected the art of answering questions without really saying anything. A true politician...
Throughout the 10 minute interview, Yzerman managed to not really divulge anything about the roster and which 23 players will be named on December 30th.
Despite the cryptic answers of Mr. Yzerman I really get the sense that the only place where he is 100% sure at this point is in goal. They have a pretty good idea how the team will shake down but goaltending seems to be the only place that is set in stone.
Martin Brodeur the starter. Roberto Luongo the back up. Marc Andre Fleury third string.
Yzerman said the Team Canada brass will meet one more time after Christmas and then again on the 29th before making the official announcement on the 30th in Saskatoon.
8 days....
Throughout the 10 minute interview, Yzerman managed to not really divulge anything about the roster and which 23 players will be named on December 30th.
Despite the cryptic answers of Mr. Yzerman I really get the sense that the only place where he is 100% sure at this point is in goal. They have a pretty good idea how the team will shake down but goaltending seems to be the only place that is set in stone.
Martin Brodeur the starter. Roberto Luongo the back up. Marc Andre Fleury third string.
Yzerman said the Team Canada brass will meet one more time after Christmas and then again on the 29th before making the official announcement on the 30th in Saskatoon.
8 days....
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dan Rosen Picks Team Canada
Over the next 9 days, everyone and their dog will be getting their say in about Team Canada.
For the record, I will be making my final picks on December 28, 2009. It may not be as highly anticipated as Yzerman's announcement but I'm sure you'll all want to circle the date on your calendars.
For the record, I will be making my final picks on December 28, 2009. It may not be as highly anticipated as Yzerman's announcement but I'm sure you'll all want to circle the date on your calendars.
GOALIES: Brodeur, Fleury, Luongo
DEFENCE: Niedermayer, Pronger, Boyle, Weber, Keith, Bouwmeester, Doughty
FORWARDS: Crosby, Iginla, Nash, Getzlaf, Perry, St. Louis, Thornton, Marleau, Heatley, Richards, Penner, Doan, Toews
Thoughts?
Friday, December 18, 2009
Who's the Captain?
Just another one of the many questions that must be answered before the puck drops in Vancouver in a couple months.
Who do you select to lead this year's edition of Team Canada?
The three candidates listed on the right side of the page would all make terrific leaders. Niedermayer, Iginla and Crosby are all proven leaders and will all be part of the leadership group in February.
I just think that when it really comes down to it you need to go with Scott Niedermayer. He's a proven winner at every level and is just the kind of calming presence this team will need in the pressure cooker that is the Olympic Games.
I still think Crosby is a little too young to wear the C on a team stacked with so much proven talent and Iginla has nowhere near the resume that a Niedermayer does.
So I say give the captaincy to Scott Niedermayer in 2010.
Thoughts?
Who do you select to lead this year's edition of Team Canada?
The three candidates listed on the right side of the page would all make terrific leaders. Niedermayer, Iginla and Crosby are all proven leaders and will all be part of the leadership group in February.
I just think that when it really comes down to it you need to go with Scott Niedermayer. He's a proven winner at every level and is just the kind of calming presence this team will need in the pressure cooker that is the Olympic Games.
I still think Crosby is a little too young to wear the C on a team stacked with so much proven talent and Iginla has nowhere near the resume that a Niedermayer does.
So I say give the captaincy to Scott Niedermayer in 2010.
Thoughts?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Defence
With the Team Canada announcement just two weeks away it's time to start making those hard decisions and there are still a handful of them to be made on the back end.
The way things are looking right now it seems as though its going to be a good mix of veteran guys with some younger stars. Team Canada should have no problems getting offence from their back end and that will be huge in this tournament.
Here is how I see the defence shaking down...
Niedermayer-Weber
Pronger-Boyle
Keith-Seabrook
Doughty
Those are the seven guys I would go with if I were Steve Yzerman.
I know Drew Doughty is young but he has just been too good to pass up. Bouwmeester is the biggest name that gets left off the list but tough decisions have to be made.
In most cases I think you would go with Bouwmeester over Seabrook but the fact that Keith and Seabrook play together in Chicago is a huge factor in a short tournament.
What do you guys think? Who cracks your seven man defensive squad?
The way things are looking right now it seems as though its going to be a good mix of veteran guys with some younger stars. Team Canada should have no problems getting offence from their back end and that will be huge in this tournament.
Here is how I see the defence shaking down...
Niedermayer-Weber
Pronger-Boyle
Keith-Seabrook
Doughty
Those are the seven guys I would go with if I were Steve Yzerman.
I know Drew Doughty is young but he has just been too good to pass up. Bouwmeester is the biggest name that gets left off the list but tough decisions have to be made.
In most cases I think you would go with Bouwmeester over Seabrook but the fact that Keith and Seabrook play together in Chicago is a huge factor in a short tournament.
What do you guys think? Who cracks your seven man defensive squad?
World Junior Roster Set
The Canadian World Junior Team is now set with the final roster cuts coming down this morning. Here are the 22 players that will represent Canada.
The roster features six returning players, three of which are on defence. The tournaments kicks off on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Latvia.
G-Jake Allan
G-Martin Jones
D- Colten Teubert
D- Travis Hamonic
D- Marco Scandella
D- Ryan Ellis
D- Jared Cowen
D- Calvin de Haan
D- Alex Pietrangelo
F- Taylor Hall
F- Gabriel Bourque
F- Nazem Kadri
F- Brayden Schenn
F- Adam Henrique
F- Jordan Eberle
F- Brandon McMillan
F- Greg Nemisz
F- Brandon Kozun
F- Stefan Della Rovere
F- Luke Adam
F- Jordan Caron
F- Patrice Cormier
The roster features six returning players, three of which are on defence. The tournaments kicks off on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Latvia.
G-Jake Allan
G-Martin Jones
D- Colten Teubert
D- Travis Hamonic
D- Marco Scandella
D- Ryan Ellis
D- Jared Cowen
D- Calvin de Haan
D- Alex Pietrangelo
F- Taylor Hall
F- Gabriel Bourque
F- Nazem Kadri
F- Brayden Schenn
F- Adam Henrique
F- Jordan Eberle
F- Brandon McMillan
F- Greg Nemisz
F- Brandon Kozun
F- Stefan Della Rovere
F- Luke Adam
F- Jordan Caron
F- Patrice Cormier
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Top Line
With so many question marks still facing the Team Canada brass, there is one thing that most people seem to agree on.
NASH-CROSBY-IGINLA
These three dynamic players figure to form the top line for Team Canada in 2010
Doesn't seem like offense will be a problem. This line has every opportunity to be one of the most dominant in the tournament.
They have the playmaker in the middle. Sidney has shown over the course of his short career that he is one of the best in the business at finding the open man. He has put up massive numbers in Pittsburgh but the issue there has always been finding quality wingers to compliment him.
No offence to Bill Guerin but I think Sidney finally has that in Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla.
The line will have terrific speed but also should be a strong on the boards and down low with the presence of Flames Captain Jarome Iginla.
Yzerman has all kinds of options up front and in the end it will be up to Mike Babcock to find the right line combinations and in a very short period of time.
This seems like a good place to start, Mr. Babcock.
NASH-CROSBY-IGINLA
These three dynamic players figure to form the top line for Team Canada in 2010
Doesn't seem like offense will be a problem. This line has every opportunity to be one of the most dominant in the tournament.
They have the playmaker in the middle. Sidney has shown over the course of his short career that he is one of the best in the business at finding the open man. He has put up massive numbers in Pittsburgh but the issue there has always been finding quality wingers to compliment him.
No offence to Bill Guerin but I think Sidney finally has that in Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla.
The line will have terrific speed but also should be a strong on the boards and down low with the presence of Flames Captain Jarome Iginla.
Yzerman has all kinds of options up front and in the end it will be up to Mike Babcock to find the right line combinations and in a very short period of time.
This seems like a good place to start, Mr. Babcock.
Monday, December 14, 2009
What About Fisher?
When the season started back in October, Jason Spezza was thought to be the only Senator who could possibly crack the Team Canada line up.
Here we sit in mid-December and all the talk in Ottawa has shifted to a different Canadian centre. While Spezza has struggled early this season Mike Fisher has excelled.
In the early parts of the 2009-2010 season the Peterborough native is making a strong case for a spot in the bottom six forwards when the team in announced on Dec. 30. While there's a ton of competition in that bottom six, Fisher has all the tools to make the cut.
Fisher has 13 goals and 26 points through 29 games with the Senators this season. He has shown an ability to play the power play, scoring 6 times, and is key cog on penalty kill.
What makes him interesting to the Team Canada brass is his ability to play both centre and the wing. He is a guy who can take a faceoff for you and plays a physical two-way game. Something a star-studded Team Canada will need.
Like every other position on the Canadian roster, a spot in the bottom six will be heavily contested. Fisher is going to have to beat out guys like Ryan Smyth, Brendan Morrow, Patrice Bergeron and Shane Doan if he's going to crack that final roster.
What do you think? Does Fisher make that 23 man squad?
Here we sit in mid-December and all the talk in Ottawa has shifted to a different Canadian centre. While Spezza has struggled early this season Mike Fisher has excelled.
In the early parts of the 2009-2010 season the Peterborough native is making a strong case for a spot in the bottom six forwards when the team in announced on Dec. 30. While there's a ton of competition in that bottom six, Fisher has all the tools to make the cut.
Fisher has 13 goals and 26 points through 29 games with the Senators this season. He has shown an ability to play the power play, scoring 6 times, and is key cog on penalty kill.
What makes him interesting to the Team Canada brass is his ability to play both centre and the wing. He is a guy who can take a faceoff for you and plays a physical two-way game. Something a star-studded Team Canada will need.
Like every other position on the Canadian roster, a spot in the bottom six will be heavily contested. Fisher is going to have to beat out guys like Ryan Smyth, Brendan Morrow, Patrice Bergeron and Shane Doan if he's going to crack that final roster.
What do you think? Does Fisher make that 23 man squad?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Schedule
A couple days ago I mentioned that Canada is looking at a favourable group in the round robin portion of the tournament.
Canada will play their first game on February 16th against the team from Norway. Norway is likely the weakest team in the tournament and should give Canada a chance to shake off some rust and pre-tournament jitters.
After that Canada has a day off before they take on the Swiss on the 18th. Canada then closes out the round robin portion of the tournament with a match up against the United States.
The goal in these short tournaments is always to get better with each game. The schedule gives Canada every opportunity to do that in the round robin portion of the tournament.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Doughty Debate
There are no shortage of options for Canada on the back end heading into 2010. With veteran guys like Niedermayer and Pronger considered locks the remaining five selections figure to be a mix of established guys and younger stars.
But when picking this team Steve Yzerman will want to take a long look at Drew Doughty in Los Angeles. People don't know a lot about this guy because he plays on the West Coast but Doughty really is a game breaker.
Respected TSN analyst Bob McKenzie mentioned last night that he would have Drew Doughty has a part of his Canadian Olympic team and it's hard to argue.
Doughty has an unbelievable shot and is great on the power play. I've watched a lot of the Kings this season and I really don't know if there is anyone that carries the puck up the ice as well as Doughty does.
He's racked up 8 goals and 24 points and is a +10 on a strong Los Angeles team. While Doughty is known for his offensive game he really does play a solid two way game.
In the end, Doughty could get caught in a numbers game. Niedermayer, Pronger, Boyle, Weber and Keith are the consensus top 5 with a handful of other guys pushing for the last two spots.
Brent Seabrook will definitely get consideration primarily because along with Keith you have a ready made defensive pairing. The two of them play together regularly in Chicago and have been terrific so far this season.
After that you will likely see one of Drew Doughty, Dion Phaneuf, Jay Bouwmeester or Mike Green crack the final roster.
I think at this point I would lean towards Jay Bouwmeester but the 20 year old Drew Doughty isn't far behind.
But when picking this team Steve Yzerman will want to take a long look at Drew Doughty in Los Angeles. People don't know a lot about this guy because he plays on the West Coast but Doughty really is a game breaker.
Respected TSN analyst Bob McKenzie mentioned last night that he would have Drew Doughty has a part of his Canadian Olympic team and it's hard to argue.
Doughty has an unbelievable shot and is great on the power play. I've watched a lot of the Kings this season and I really don't know if there is anyone that carries the puck up the ice as well as Doughty does.
He's racked up 8 goals and 24 points and is a +10 on a strong Los Angeles team. While Doughty is known for his offensive game he really does play a solid two way game.
In the end, Doughty could get caught in a numbers game. Niedermayer, Pronger, Boyle, Weber and Keith are the consensus top 5 with a handful of other guys pushing for the last two spots.
Brent Seabrook will definitely get consideration primarily because along with Keith you have a ready made defensive pairing. The two of them play together regularly in Chicago and have been terrific so far this season.
After that you will likely see one of Drew Doughty, Dion Phaneuf, Jay Bouwmeester or Mike Green crack the final roster.
I think at this point I would lean towards Jay Bouwmeester but the 20 year old Drew Doughty isn't far behind.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Favourable Grouping for Host Canadians
All the talk leading up to the Olympic games will be about the powerhouse teams from Canada and Russia and rightfully so. Both teams are stacked with NHL stars and will certainly be the favourites this February.
But before those two teams ever meet they will have to get out of their respective groups and that will be no easy task.
Here is a look at the groupings for the Olympic hockey tournament...
There aren't any weak groups necessarily but you have to like the draw for the host Canadians. The United States will be no push over but Norway and Switzerland really aren't hockey power houses.
The Russians definitely have a tougher draw. The Czechs and Slovaks will both have strong entries and the Latvian team is always tough in international play.
But before those two teams ever meet they will have to get out of their respective groups and that will be no easy task.
Here is a look at the groupings for the Olympic hockey tournament...
GROUP A: Canada, United States, Norway, Switzerland
GROUP B: Russia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovakia
GROUP C: Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belarus
There aren't any weak groups necessarily but you have to like the draw for the host Canadians. The United States will be no push over but Norway and Switzerland really aren't hockey power houses.
The Russians definitely have a tougher draw. The Czechs and Slovaks will both have strong entries and the Latvian team is always tough in international play.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Roster to be Announced Dec. 30
Steve Yzerman had planned on making the announcement on New Year's Eve but that has been moved up a day.
Yzerman will name his 23 man roster during the World Junior tournament in Saskatoon.
That leaves just three weeks before the final roster will be released.
You would think at this point Yzerman has already made most of his decisions but with injuries always a possibility things could change in the coming weeks.
Yzerman will name his 23 man roster during the World Junior tournament in Saskatoon.
That leaves just three weeks before the final roster will be released.
You would think at this point Yzerman has already made most of his decisions but with injuries always a possibility things could change in the coming weeks.
Welcome
Hey everyone and welcome to GOLD RUSH.
I guess I should start with an introduction. For those of you who don't know me, I'm the guy who runs the Ottawa Senators blog called SensChirp. This blog is going to be something a little different though.
Gold Rush is your one stop shop for everything about Team Canada's Hockey entry in the 2010 Olympic Games.
With Steve Yzerman and the Team Canada brass set to announce the roster on December 30th the countdown is on. Here at Gold Rush we will do our part to help out Stevie Y with the tough decisions.
Does Steven Stamkos make the cut? What about Drew Doughty? Who's your starting goalie?
All these issues and more in the coming weeks...
I guess I should start with an introduction. For those of you who don't know me, I'm the guy who runs the Ottawa Senators blog called SensChirp. This blog is going to be something a little different though.
Gold Rush is your one stop shop for everything about Team Canada's Hockey entry in the 2010 Olympic Games.
With Steve Yzerman and the Team Canada brass set to announce the roster on December 30th the countdown is on. Here at Gold Rush we will do our part to help out Stevie Y with the tough decisions.
Does Steven Stamkos make the cut? What about Drew Doughty? Who's your starting goalie?
All these issues and more in the coming weeks...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
