KB in Kelowna
6-16-05, 8:13 PM
A very bad cut and paste job by yours truly, but an intersting thread starter:
CP's short list for Team Canada at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
at 15:50 on June 16, 2005, EST.
By PIERRE LEBRUN AND NEIL STEVENS
(CP) - Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini are already at it, compiling a short list of star NHLers to invite to Team Canada's Olympic orientation camp in mid-August. CP has decided to get into the act as well, perhaps giving The Great One a few ideas to ponder?
A look at who might skate for the defending men's Olympic champion Canadians at next February's Winter Games in Turin, Italy:
Sure Bets
Goal: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers.
Defence: Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils; Adam Foote, Colorado Avalanche; Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues; Rob Blake, Colorado Avalanche; Ed Jovanovski, Vancouver Canucks; Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators.
Forward: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins; Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche; Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames; Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins; Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning; Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets; Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes; Ryan Smyth, Edmonton Oilers; Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning; Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers.
Brodeur, Foote, Jovanovski, Niedermayer, Gagne, Iginla, Lemieux, Sakic and Smyth helped Canada win Olympic gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 for the first time in 50 years. The nine were also on the victorious World Cup of Hockey team in 2004. This should be the experienced core of the team for Turin. Lemieux gets the 'C' again.
Blake and Pronger were unable to play in the World Cup because they were recuperating from injuries but their stature should put them on Olympic ice again.
Luongo (two-time world champion), Redden, Doan, Lecavalier and Thornton get in because of their World Cup play, Lecavalier winning the MVP in the NHL tournament last September.
Richards picked up a much-deserved Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP when Tampa won the Cup in June 2004. He'll be even better on the big ice.
Nash, who turned 21 Thursday, is in our lineup for his starring role at the 2005 world championships, where he was the class of the tournament.
We still need one goalie, one defenceman and three forwards to fill out the 23-man Olympic lineup.
-
Leading contenders
Goal: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens; Marty Turco, Dallas Stars.
Defence: Eric Brewer, Edmonton Oilers; Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panthers; Scott Hannan, San Jose Sharks; Robyn Regehr, Calgary Flames, Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Forward: Kris Draper, Detroit Red Wings; Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers; Kirk Maltby, Detroit Red Wings; Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks; Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Theodore, who showed his big-game prowess when Montreal upset Boston in the first round of the playoffs in April 2004, was the World Cup third-stringer and will push Luongo as the No. 2 man behind Brodeur, especially if he gets off to a great start with the Habs next season. Turco was the world championship third-stringer and will at least probably be invited to the orientation camp after giving up a month of his time in Austria and never once dressing. Hockey Canada doesn't forget those things.
Brewer won Olympic gold in 2002 and the World Cup in '04, but his play tailed off in Edmonton last season. He needs to re-assert himself this fall.
Bouwmeester, Hannan and Regehr were on the World Cup team, and Boyle was one of Canada's top defencemen at the world tourney, not to mention a big part of Tampa's Cup triumph.
Draper, Heatley, Maltby, Marleau, Morrow and St. Louis all were on the World Cup team. While Heatley was once considered a lock for Turin, his play at the World Cup and at the world championship was below his standards.
-
Outside shot
Goal: Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins; Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild.
Defence: Sheldon Souray, Montreal Canadiens; Bryan McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs; Chris Phillips, Ottawa Senators; Adrian Aucoin, New York Islanders.
Forward: Mike Peca, New York Islanders; Daniel Briere, Buffalo Sabres; Alex Tanguay, Colorado Avalanche; Brendan Morrison, Vancouver Canucks; Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators; Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators; Scott Walker, Nashville Predators.
Roloson (.933) and Raycroft (.926) were among the save percentage leaders during the 2003-2004 season. Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as top rookie. They deserve to be in the mix.
Souray and Phillips had big years on the big ice in Sweden this past year although they struggled somewhat at the world championship. McCabe was a second-team NHL all-star in 2003-04 and has been knocking at the door. Aucoin keeps delivering without notice: 44 points and a plus-29 ratings in 2003-04.
Briere was outstanding at 2003 and 2004 world championships in teaming up with Heatley on gold-medal Canadian squads. Peca was in Salt Lake and remains one of the game's top defensive specialists, not to mention a tremendous leader. All Tanguay does is keep scoring (79 points in 69 games in 2003-04) and yet can't make a Canadian team. Morrison, Walker and Fisher all played for Canada in Austria. Spezza led the AHL in scoring this past season and is ready to take off in Ottawa.
-
Wild Cards
Goal: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins.
Defence: Brad Stuart, San Jose Sharks; Mike Rathje, San Jose Sharks; Brad Lukowich, Tampa Bay Lightning; Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames.
Forward: Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver Canucks; Paul Kariya, Colorado Avalanche; Michael Ryder, Montreal Canadiens; Trent Hunter, New York Islanders; Sidney Crosby, the No. 1 overall pick whenever the NHL holds the 2005 entry draft.
Is this the year Fleury shows us why he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2003?
Stuart and Rathje don't get their due because they play in relative obscurity in San Jose but they're among the NHL's top blue-liners. Lukowich, a real long shot, was among plus-minus leaders in 2003-04 at plus-29. Phaneuf will one day be a mainstay on the Canadian blue-line, but this is maybe too early for him.
Let's face it, if Bertuzzi had been reinstated by now, he'd be a sure bet, not a wild card to make this team. He remains the best power forward in the world. But Gretzky won't touch him unless commissioner Gary Bettman puts him back on the ice.
Although he wasn't picked for the World Cup, Kariya was on the 2002 Olympic team and was a second-team NHL all-star just two years ago. It's not as if he's forgotten how to play, he's at his best on the big ice, and a year off might have rejuvenated the nifty forward who meshed so well with Lemieux in Salt Lake City.
Ryder (63) and Hunter (51) were the top two rookie point-getters in 2003-04.
Crosby? If he lights it up in the first three months of his NHL rookie season, maybe Gretzky will hand him the 13th forward spot?
?The Canadian Press, 2005
CP's short list for Team Canada at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
at 15:50 on June 16, 2005, EST.
By PIERRE LEBRUN AND NEIL STEVENS
(CP) - Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini are already at it, compiling a short list of star NHLers to invite to Team Canada's Olympic orientation camp in mid-August. CP has decided to get into the act as well, perhaps giving The Great One a few ideas to ponder?
A look at who might skate for the defending men's Olympic champion Canadians at next February's Winter Games in Turin, Italy:
Sure Bets
Goal: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers.
Defence: Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils; Adam Foote, Colorado Avalanche; Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues; Rob Blake, Colorado Avalanche; Ed Jovanovski, Vancouver Canucks; Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators.
Forward: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins; Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche; Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames; Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins; Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning; Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets; Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes; Ryan Smyth, Edmonton Oilers; Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning; Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers.
Brodeur, Foote, Jovanovski, Niedermayer, Gagne, Iginla, Lemieux, Sakic and Smyth helped Canada win Olympic gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 for the first time in 50 years. The nine were also on the victorious World Cup of Hockey team in 2004. This should be the experienced core of the team for Turin. Lemieux gets the 'C' again.
Blake and Pronger were unable to play in the World Cup because they were recuperating from injuries but their stature should put them on Olympic ice again.
Luongo (two-time world champion), Redden, Doan, Lecavalier and Thornton get in because of their World Cup play, Lecavalier winning the MVP in the NHL tournament last September.
Richards picked up a much-deserved Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP when Tampa won the Cup in June 2004. He'll be even better on the big ice.
Nash, who turned 21 Thursday, is in our lineup for his starring role at the 2005 world championships, where he was the class of the tournament.
We still need one goalie, one defenceman and three forwards to fill out the 23-man Olympic lineup.
-
Leading contenders
Goal: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens; Marty Turco, Dallas Stars.
Defence: Eric Brewer, Edmonton Oilers; Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panthers; Scott Hannan, San Jose Sharks; Robyn Regehr, Calgary Flames, Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Forward: Kris Draper, Detroit Red Wings; Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers; Kirk Maltby, Detroit Red Wings; Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks; Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Theodore, who showed his big-game prowess when Montreal upset Boston in the first round of the playoffs in April 2004, was the World Cup third-stringer and will push Luongo as the No. 2 man behind Brodeur, especially if he gets off to a great start with the Habs next season. Turco was the world championship third-stringer and will at least probably be invited to the orientation camp after giving up a month of his time in Austria and never once dressing. Hockey Canada doesn't forget those things.
Brewer won Olympic gold in 2002 and the World Cup in '04, but his play tailed off in Edmonton last season. He needs to re-assert himself this fall.
Bouwmeester, Hannan and Regehr were on the World Cup team, and Boyle was one of Canada's top defencemen at the world tourney, not to mention a big part of Tampa's Cup triumph.
Draper, Heatley, Maltby, Marleau, Morrow and St. Louis all were on the World Cup team. While Heatley was once considered a lock for Turin, his play at the World Cup and at the world championship was below his standards.
-
Outside shot
Goal: Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins; Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild.
Defence: Sheldon Souray, Montreal Canadiens; Bryan McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs; Chris Phillips, Ottawa Senators; Adrian Aucoin, New York Islanders.
Forward: Mike Peca, New York Islanders; Daniel Briere, Buffalo Sabres; Alex Tanguay, Colorado Avalanche; Brendan Morrison, Vancouver Canucks; Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators; Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators; Scott Walker, Nashville Predators.
Roloson (.933) and Raycroft (.926) were among the save percentage leaders during the 2003-2004 season. Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as top rookie. They deserve to be in the mix.
Souray and Phillips had big years on the big ice in Sweden this past year although they struggled somewhat at the world championship. McCabe was a second-team NHL all-star in 2003-04 and has been knocking at the door. Aucoin keeps delivering without notice: 44 points and a plus-29 ratings in 2003-04.
Briere was outstanding at 2003 and 2004 world championships in teaming up with Heatley on gold-medal Canadian squads. Peca was in Salt Lake and remains one of the game's top defensive specialists, not to mention a tremendous leader. All Tanguay does is keep scoring (79 points in 69 games in 2003-04) and yet can't make a Canadian team. Morrison, Walker and Fisher all played for Canada in Austria. Spezza led the AHL in scoring this past season and is ready to take off in Ottawa.
-
Wild Cards
Goal: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins.
Defence: Brad Stuart, San Jose Sharks; Mike Rathje, San Jose Sharks; Brad Lukowich, Tampa Bay Lightning; Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames.
Forward: Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver Canucks; Paul Kariya, Colorado Avalanche; Michael Ryder, Montreal Canadiens; Trent Hunter, New York Islanders; Sidney Crosby, the No. 1 overall pick whenever the NHL holds the 2005 entry draft.
Is this the year Fleury shows us why he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2003?
Stuart and Rathje don't get their due because they play in relative obscurity in San Jose but they're among the NHL's top blue-liners. Lukowich, a real long shot, was among plus-minus leaders in 2003-04 at plus-29. Phaneuf will one day be a mainstay on the Canadian blue-line, but this is maybe too early for him.
Let's face it, if Bertuzzi had been reinstated by now, he'd be a sure bet, not a wild card to make this team. He remains the best power forward in the world. But Gretzky won't touch him unless commissioner Gary Bettman puts him back on the ice.
Although he wasn't picked for the World Cup, Kariya was on the 2002 Olympic team and was a second-team NHL all-star just two years ago. It's not as if he's forgotten how to play, he's at his best on the big ice, and a year off might have rejuvenated the nifty forward who meshed so well with Lemieux in Salt Lake City.
Ryder (63) and Hunter (51) were the top two rookie point-getters in 2003-04.
Crosby? If he lights it up in the first three months of his NHL rookie season, maybe Gretzky will hand him the 13th forward spot?
?The Canadian Press, 2005