Yesterday, Hockey Canada announced the names of the 47 players that will be invited to attend this summer’s orientation camp, scheduled to take place in Calgary from August 25-28.
Ottawa Senators defenceman Marc Methot was included in that list while star centre and future Captain Jason Spezza was overlooked. The Olympic team is one of the most hotly debated topics in this country so I figured today we would get a head start on picking the roster that will represent Team Canada in Sochi.
Now obviously a lot can and will change over the first half of the season. A hot start by a guy like Evander Kane, Jason Spezza or Jamie Benn and Steve Yzerman and his staff will take notice. But right now, here is who I would select to represent Canada at the 2014 Olympic Games.
You can tell me how dumb I am in the comment section below
Stamkos-Crosby-St. Louis
Tavares-Toews-Giroux
Lucic-Bergeron-Perry
Staal-Getzlaf-Nash
Extras-Sharp, Couture
Keith-Seabrook
Letang-Weber
Methot-Doughty
Extras- Pietrangelo, Staal
Luongo
Price
Crawford
- The name in the forward ranks that will draw the most criticism is Milan Lucic. And if he starts as slow as he finished the regular season last year, he's not even on the radar screen by February. But during the playoffs, there were times when Lucic looked like the most dominant player in the league. A little concerned how his power forward game translates on the big ice though
- The final centre ice spot came down to Ryan Getzlaf or Joe Thornton. Really hard to leave Thornton off this team. If Lucic wasn't the most dominant player in the playoffs, then Thornton may have been. With three left handed C's, I ended up going with the right handed Getzlaf over the left handed Thornton. Maybe a spot opens up for Spezza if he outplays the other two in the first half.
- Marc Methot?! Yes, Marc Methot. Team Canada is going to need another left handed shot besides Duncan Keith. The invite list includes Alzner, Bouwmeester, Hamhuis, Phaneuf, Staal, Vlasic and Methot. It could come down to Marc Staal or Marc Methot. I stand by my choice.
Have at it folks! Who is on your Team Canada?
