Mike Brophy from Sportsnet has put together his selections for Team Canada II. Couple of head scratchers on Brophy's team, including Chris Osgood as one of his goaltenders. Not sure Ozzie is even cut out for the Wings line up at this point.
His defenceman include some obvious selection combined with a few odd picks like MA Bergeron and Jeff Schultz.
I actually like the looks of the group he has up front including guys like Ryan Smyth, Shane Doan and Mike Fisher.
Here's the link to Brophy's picks...
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid=27900.html?cid=rssrsn
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
More Injury Trouble- Morrow Hurt
Team Canada is hoping that forward Patrice Bergeron will make a return sometime this week and should be good to go by the Olympics.
But now there's a new injury to worry about...
Stars forward, Brendan Morrow, suffered an upper body injury last night and his status at this point is unknown. The Stars don't expect Morrow to miss significant time but it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
The Olympics are now less than a month away...
But now there's a new injury to worry about...
Stars forward, Brendan Morrow, suffered an upper body injury last night and his status at this point is unknown. The Stars don't expect Morrow to miss significant time but it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
The Olympics are now less than a month away...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Projecting Line Ups
Last night, before Wednesday Night Hockey, the guys at TSN took a shot at projecting the line up of a couple pre-tournament favourites in Sweden and Russia.
Here is what they had to say...
RUSSIA
Ovechkin-Fedorov-Semin
Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Afinogenov
Zaripov-Malkin-Morozov
Kozlov-Zinoviev-Radulov
SWEDEN
Zetterberg-Backstrom-Holmstrom
Sedin-Sedin-Weinhandl
Eriksson-Forsberg-Alfredsson
Modin-Pahlsson-Hornqvist
Both line ups look damn tough.
Sweden and Russia have selected rosters that include 12 forwards and 8 defenceman. Team Canada went with 13 forwards and 7 defenceman. A team like Sweden could be in trouble if they lost a guy like Forsberg to injury with no forwards there to replace him.
What do you think?
Here is what they had to say...
RUSSIA
Ovechkin-Fedorov-Semin
Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Afinogenov
Zaripov-Malkin-Morozov
Kozlov-Zinoviev-Radulov
SWEDEN
Zetterberg-Backstrom-Holmstrom
Sedin-Sedin-Weinhandl
Eriksson-Forsberg-Alfredsson
Modin-Pahlsson-Hornqvist
Both line ups look damn tough.
Sweden and Russia have selected rosters that include 12 forwards and 8 defenceman. Team Canada went with 13 forwards and 7 defenceman. A team like Sweden could be in trouble if they lost a guy like Forsberg to injury with no forwards there to replace him.
What do you think?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Defence Pairings
With the 23 man roster now selected, Mike Babcock and the rest of the coaching staff take the burden from Steve Yzerman. Stevie Y has picked the ingredients, now it's up to Babcock to come up with a recipe for gold.
In the next couple of days, we'll start to look at some of the various line combinations available to Babcock, beginning today with the defence pairings.
One of the three defence pairings comes ready made. The Keith/Seabrook tandem has been a force in Chicago and will look to carry that chemistry over to the Olympic games.
The top four is another story. Pronger and Niedermayer have a past together in Anaheim and could be an option for the Team Canada staff. In the end I think it would be best if those two played on separate pairings.
Here is how I would line them up...
Niedermayer-Weber
Pronger-Boyle
Keith-Seabrook
As the 7th guy, LA Kings star Drew Doughty can hopefully slide in anywhere into the top four, ideally on a pair with Chris Pronger. If Seabrook struggles early in the tournament I wouldn't be surprised to see Doughty move up the depth chart and become the 6th guy.
How would you set up the Canadian defence?
In the next couple of days, we'll start to look at some of the various line combinations available to Babcock, beginning today with the defence pairings.
One of the three defence pairings comes ready made. The Keith/Seabrook tandem has been a force in Chicago and will look to carry that chemistry over to the Olympic games.
The top four is another story. Pronger and Niedermayer have a past together in Anaheim and could be an option for the Team Canada staff. In the end I think it would be best if those two played on separate pairings.
Here is how I would line them up...
Niedermayer-Weber
Pronger-Boyle
Keith-Seabrook
As the 7th guy, LA Kings star Drew Doughty can hopefully slide in anywhere into the top four, ideally on a pair with Chris Pronger. If Seabrook struggles early in the tournament I wouldn't be surprised to see Doughty move up the depth chart and become the 6th guy.
How would you set up the Canadian defence?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Pre Tournament Rankings
As if the Canadian Olympic team needed any more motivation, last night's World Junior disappointment should only further fuel Canada's desires to get back atop the medal podium.
But like the World Juniors, the Olympics will be no slam dunk. In fact, the Olympics will be even more difficult with as many as 7 countries having a legitimate chance at winning it all.
Like any tournament there will be favourites but amazingly, just about every team in the tournament has at least one game breaker that's capable of putting a team on their shoulders. That's what makes this tournament potentially one of the best of all time.
Here are my pre-tournament rankings...
1) CANADA- There are other teams that can match their talent but the drive to win on home ice makes Canada the favourites in my book.
2) RUSSIA- The Russians have unbelievable skill up front. Skill that will win them games single handedly. With Nabakov and Bryzgalov as a one-two punch in goal this Russian team is going to be hard to beat.
3) SWEDEN- Another team with all kinds of skill up front and money goaltening in Lundqvist. Not to mention they are the defending champs.
4) USA- They have a young roster but a very competitive one. With Parise and Kessel they have their game breakers and if Miller gets hot they could be a real dark horse.
5) FINLAND- Great goaltending in Kiprusoff and always seem to have a great "team" concept in international events. They lack the goal scoring that some other teams have but they will be no push over.
6) SLOVAKIA- With Halak playing as well as he has lately the Slovaks could really surprise some people. They have the most dominant defenceman in Chara and the NHL's leading goal scorer in Gaborik. Another team that could surprise some people.
7) CZECH REP.- All kinds of skill up front and the return of Jaromir Jagr to the spotlight. Hard to know what to expect from this team but with Vokun likely starting they have the weakest goaltender of the contending teams.
8) SWITZERLAND
9) GERMANY
10) LATVIA
11) BELARUS
12) NORWAY
How would you rank the teams with the tournament a little over a month away?
But like the World Juniors, the Olympics will be no slam dunk. In fact, the Olympics will be even more difficult with as many as 7 countries having a legitimate chance at winning it all.
Like any tournament there will be favourites but amazingly, just about every team in the tournament has at least one game breaker that's capable of putting a team on their shoulders. That's what makes this tournament potentially one of the best of all time.
Here are my pre-tournament rankings...
1) CANADA- There are other teams that can match their talent but the drive to win on home ice makes Canada the favourites in my book.
2) RUSSIA- The Russians have unbelievable skill up front. Skill that will win them games single handedly. With Nabakov and Bryzgalov as a one-two punch in goal this Russian team is going to be hard to beat.
3) SWEDEN- Another team with all kinds of skill up front and money goaltening in Lundqvist. Not to mention they are the defending champs.
4) USA- They have a young roster but a very competitive one. With Parise and Kessel they have their game breakers and if Miller gets hot they could be a real dark horse.
5) FINLAND- Great goaltending in Kiprusoff and always seem to have a great "team" concept in international events. They lack the goal scoring that some other teams have but they will be no push over.
6) SLOVAKIA- With Halak playing as well as he has lately the Slovaks could really surprise some people. They have the most dominant defenceman in Chara and the NHL's leading goal scorer in Gaborik. Another team that could surprise some people.
7) CZECH REP.- All kinds of skill up front and the return of Jaromir Jagr to the spotlight. Hard to know what to expect from this team but with Vokun likely starting they have the weakest goaltender of the contending teams.
8) SWITZERLAND
9) GERMANY
10) LATVIA
11) BELARUS
12) NORWAY
How would you rank the teams with the tournament a little over a month away?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Bergeron Out 3 Weeks
TSN's Daren Dreger is reporting that Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron suffered a thumb injury against the Rangers and will miss up to 3 weeks.
That means he should be back in late January giving him time to play a few games before the Olympics get underway.
Doesn't sound like a replacement will be needed although there were other reports out there suggesting it could be up to 6 weeks.
That means he should be back in late January giving him time to play a few games before the Olympics get underway.
Doesn't sound like a replacement will be needed although there were other reports out there suggesting it could be up to 6 weeks.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Bergeron Hurt vs. Rangers
Team Canada member Patrice Bergeron was hurt in the Bruins game at MSG tonight. He was struck on the hand by a point shot. He did return briefly but eventually left and did not finish the game
Word is Bergeron will not travel with the team to Ottawa tomorrow and will be reevaluated back in Boston.
Still a ways to go till the games in Vancouver but this shows how easily the roster can change.
Word is Bergeron will not travel with the team to Ottawa tomorrow and will be reevaluated back in Boston.
Still a ways to go till the games in Vancouver but this shows how easily the roster can change.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Injuries Could Happen
It seems almost ridiculous to assume that every player on this 23 man roster will stay healthy leading up to puck drop in mid February.
With the number of injuries this year, it's entirely possible one or more players on the final 23 man roster will suffer an injury leading up to the games.
Yzerman was asked about that situation and said that a few players will be called in the coming days and told that if there is an injury to someone on the current roster they would have to step in.
On defence, you would have to think Jay Bouwmeester or Mike Green would be the leading candidates to step in. Up front, names like Jeff Carter and Mike Fisher could fill the void.
I'm not sure if these names will become public at any point but it would be interesting to know who is on Team Canada's "In case of injury" list.
Who do you think could step in?
With the number of injuries this year, it's entirely possible one or more players on the final 23 man roster will suffer an injury leading up to the games.
Yzerman was asked about that situation and said that a few players will be called in the coming days and told that if there is an injury to someone on the current roster they would have to step in.
On defence, you would have to think Jay Bouwmeester or Mike Green would be the leading candidates to step in. Up front, names like Jeff Carter and Mike Fisher could fill the void.
I'm not sure if these names will become public at any point but it would be interesting to know who is on Team Canada's "In case of injury" list.
Who do you think could step in?
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