love the puck

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

As if we couldn't be more excited about the upcoming NHL season, we also get an Olympic year, right of the bat. I'm salivating just thinking about it. 2002's version of men's ice hockey was a thriller, and now everyone is looking at 2006 because it should be the best international ice hockey event since 1987's Canada Cup.

But the landscape is changing for Canada hockey. It's an exciting change, facilitated initially at the World Cup, where minor roster changes made huge impacts- Joe Thornton, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis and MVP Vincent LeCavilier.

Here's how I see it: 13 forwards, 7 defence, 3 goalies.

In Net- Marty starts on past accomplishments and current skill alone. Roberto Luongo has proved he is ready to play at this level, and though he struggled a little in the World Cup semi-final against the Czech Republic, he was DYNAMITE in overtime of that game, and when the pressures on, he's a rock. He's won two World's, and Marty only caught the silver this year. It doesn't take anything away from Martin, and he's the starter, but it is proof that Roberto is next in line. The third goalie I think has to be Theodore, but if Turco has a better first half of the season, then put him in. A third goalie spot is a interchangeable one.

On Defense- Pronger, Niedermayer, Foote and Blake will be guarantees. For the remaining three spots I think it has to be Redden, who has shown such hockey intelligence and skill that the ice size difference won't matter, Regher, who doesn't play as well on the big ice, but he's a horse, and his play at the World Cup and consistency in the NHL will get him a spot. And the 7th defender can be any one of three players. My first pick would be Scott Hannan, but you could make a case easily for Jay Bouwmeester, who can skate, pass and basically do everything well, and also for Dan Boyle, who was stellar at the World's for Canada, and whom is also a Stanley Cup Champion.

I left Jovocop off the list, because he has struggled of late. He missed the World Cup with injuries and looked absolutely atrocious at the World Championships, I'm not sure if he was hurt, or what was going on there, but he was always a step or 5 behind the play. He is experienced though, and if he plays well in the first half, he could easily make it.
Eric Brewer watches from home this time too. He played fine at the World Cup, but I think he just hasn't developed as quickly as Hannan and Bouwmeester, and he lacks a killer instinct that I think Adam Foote compensated for in September of last year.

Up Front there's a log jam. You can't break up the line of Sakic, Lemieux and Iginla. The next ten forwards are, in no particular order- Vincent, Joe Thornton, Yzerman, Richards, St. Louis, Heatley, Nash, Shane Doan, Bertuzzi, and the 13th forward should be Ryan Smyth, Alex Tanguay, Patrick Marleau, Simon Gagne, Brendan Morrisonn or Sidney Crosby. It's a toss up between those first four, and then Morrisonn and Crosby are long shots.

As per the Juniors James mentioned, I think Dubnyk looks a little slow. He seems to move around a lot too, which I think would give him trouble at the next level. Luc Bourdon is no joke. He is tough as hell, and will clear out the front of the net. Not sure if he'd be able to run the powerplay right now, but Cam Barker will be able to teach him that. Canada will have a young team, but I know Brent Sutter will have them focused and hungry. The future is still bright for Canadian hockey.

NHL previews are still coming soon, I'm just waiting till the rosters get a little more rounded out.

Posted by Jon at 2:06 PM | | e-mail me