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.
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Chirp, I'm with you on Doughty. It pains me to say this as a Hawks fan but leave Seabrook at home and put Doughty in the red and white. He and Keith would make an interesting young defensive tandem that I would love to see in action.
ReplyDeleteSeabrook has been phenomenal and has great chemistry with Keith.
ReplyDeleteYou could argue that Doughty is having a better season than Bouwmeester, but Jay has more experience, he's even been to the Games before. However, Doughty just might have more big-game experience, as Bouwmeester has yet to play in the Stanley cup play-offs, and Doughty has all those international games on his resume.
So you could go either way:
Neidermayer-Pronger
Keith-Seabrook
Boyle-Weber
And then Bouwmeester or Doughty.
Ah, fun blog. Chirp, I love Seabrook and Keith, but... How can you leave Green off the roster? I know he's playing on an absolutely stacked offensive team, but his numbers are freaking video game numbers. Green is just a beast. And I agree with Sec on the Doughty ordeal, I don't know who should be left off, but Doughty is unbelievable - I remember that shot from our 6-3 loss...
ReplyDeletei would take bouwmeester but ther is no that doubt that doughty will be on the team if the nhl participates in the 214 olympics
ReplyDeletenO I don't agree with doughty. He only been in the NHL for 1 full season andI don't think hes ready to be pressured in an Arene with like 50 000 people cheering him on. Hes skilled but to young adn inexpeirienced. He will be in the 2014 olympics though. I would take Dion Phaneuf over him. Phaneuf plays a good 2 way game and put the ouck in the net.
ReplyDeletePhaneuf would have been a lock a season and a half ago but his struggles last year and early in this campaign have seen him fall down the depth chart significantly.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think someone like Phaneuf is any more capable of handling a pressure packed situation than Doughty is.