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?
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Dustin Penner would be my vote over Fisher. And I'm a Sens fan.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteDustin Penner's name hasn't even come up despite his strong start.
I think people see it as Penner being more of a top 6 guy and Canada is pretty crowded in their top 6.
I think that he is making a very strong case for himself. That being said, I believe that the team Canada selection team will favour players with more winning experience and who are more household names. I do get the impression that sometimes these decisions are based on experience not just current form. Fish has done a great job this year for the senators but I think he will be passed on by the Olympic team in place of guys like Doan or Lucic (not sure if he'll be healthy). I think he would do a great job if selected but its taxi squad at best for Mike.
ReplyDeleteIf Canada is picking on performance, rather than reputation, then Fisher should be a lock to make the team. He is turning in a Selke Trophy worthy season right now, and is clearly having a stronger season than any of the players you mentioned. Choosing Fisher, though, would be a bold, inspired pick, and Canada isn't always known for bold and inspired. This is the country that sent Todd Bertuzzi to Turin and left Sidney Crosby at home.
ReplyDeleteHe can definitely make it. As you describe he is very versatile - can create energy, score, kill penalties, take faceoffs, skate, and not a fraid of getting in the high traffic areas.
ReplyDeletePersonally of all the other names you mentioned maybe only Brendan Morrow would even compare
I don't think Penner can skate well enough and is not quite as versatile as Fisher (not a PK or face off guy)
Go Luck Fish
If you take a look at the past Olympics you had both Draper and Doan lined up as clutch rugged players who can put up numbers. In years past we even had Ryan Smyth fill that roll. Doan is mostly overated IMO and I find that Fishe is a much better player than he is. Fish brings energy, hits, solid passes, an underated shot but most of all heart. That's what Team Canada is about and has always been. The guy has the color of his country running through his veins and team Canada would be nuts not to give Fish a chance to make this team.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion deserves to be there, and will be a huge asset to the team..Of the guys thought to have a spot on the team, are there any first line PK guys?
ReplyDeletei'd say mike richards is about the only first line penalty killer in line to make the team. he and fish play a similar game, they would be quite a tough tandem against those soft russians. i guess jordan staal is out of the running so yeah, i think fish would be very good for that role. as you mention derek, fish would die for the team and you can bet they won't get that type of play from other guys. (thornton, heatley, marleau, i have an obvious grudge but its true, the 6'4 softies)
ReplyDeleteI trust Yzerman to do the right thing but he needs to be very careful that he doesn't just puck the 23 "best" player.
ReplyDeleteIn such a short tournament you want to make sure you have guys that can play particular roles and are comfortable in a variety of situations.
Fisher is exactly the type of versatile player that could help Canada in a tourny like this.
What about phillips? Any one think he has a chance to make the taxi squad?
ReplyDeleteI love fisher's play but there's no realistic chance I think, of him being picked over bergeron. Team Canada is just too deep, and when you look down the middle, He's just completely outclassed. I wish I could say differently, but I think yzerman's gonna go the experience angle, and smyth/doan will make it based on previous years.
ReplyDeletePenner? Seriously? Fuck Penner. Team Canada is an embarrassment of riches, but Penner is not part of said riches. I don't even know about Doan.
ReplyDeleteHow about a fourth line of Fisher between Morrow and Getzlaf?
Fisher definitely makes this team. At least he should. He's dynamite. And he won't be there to score goals.
I'm a Leafs fan. I bloody hate the Ottawa Senators, and most of the useless cats who put on that sweater (see Spezza, Jason), but Fisher is a guy I've always admired, and always wanted to play for the Leafs. He should be wearing the Maple Leaf come February.
fisher nash getzlaf would be a sweet line!
ReplyDeletedoan, smyth can't skate like fisher.
He's in tough to make the team, but I believe he should be there. Like others have said, his versatility and heart is what seperates him from a lot of other players. He can play in ANY situation and excel...that's a clubs dream. Has been to the Olympics before? no. But he has represented Canada at the World Championships before, so to say he has no experience is a little misleading.
ReplyDeletePenner can not even be compared let alone elevated to a status above Fisher...it's just ridiculous.
I would take Fisher over Bergeron, based on style of play/versatility and stats this year. Morrow I would think is on the team, but Smyth? Really? last I checked he was still out with injury and I think that coupled the type of injury and how long he was out pretty much takes him out of the running.
I don't see any legit reason as to why fisher doesn't make this team, even if he's a checking line winger.
Hey Justin, if Bergeron makes the team I'll lick every seat at ACC.
ReplyDelete