[The Darkest Canuck]

Goaltenders

Brodeur, Martin
Luongo, Roberto
Turco, Marty

Defence

Boyle, Dan
Hannan, Scott
Jovanovski, Ed
Phillips, Chris
Redden, Wade
Regehr, Robin
Souray, Sheldon

Forwards

Doan, Shane
Draper, Kris
Fisher, Mike
Gagné, Simon
Heatley, Dany
Maltby, Kirk
Marleau, Patrick
Morrison, Brendan
Morrow, Brenden
Nash, Rick
Smyth, Ryan
Thornton, Joe


so, there it is...thoughts? comments? I think this team is as good (on paper at least), if not better than either of our championship winning teams in the last two tournaments. I'm glad to see Souray on the roster .

[chris]

Looks solid, but then again, any hockey looks good to me right now. We'll have to see how these guys play after a year off from NHL competition.

On the news this morning they announced that they have one more place being held for Bertuzzi, if he's cleared to play.

[The Darkest Canuck]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NMAS]

Who cares!, screw em.

[MikeS]

I dunno...with or without Bertuzzi, I think this team will have a heck of a time scoring goals...

Fortunately, Canada's not the only team who'll be missing most of their top players...and many of the higher echelon players who are playing, haven't played in almost a year...

All in all, it makes for a "B-level" tourney (at best!), but as Chris said, like junkies needing a fix, we'll take pretty much anything at this point...

[The Darkest Canuck]

a hard time scoring goals!?!?!?!?!?

you're crazy! even if it's a "B-Level" tournament this year, that is without a Doubt an "A-LEvel" team Canada is sending, btw, don't forget that countries' top players are often missing in action at this tournament because of the playoffs, so i don't really think it's that big of a deal. this is the most prestigious title being handed out this year in hockey...

[direwolf74]

Who cares!, screw em.

I agree. I'm so bitter from the lockout that I have a hard time cheering for anything involving NHL players. These guys can go screw themselves.

[The Darkest Canuck]

Who cares!, screw em.

I agree. I'm so bitter from the lockout that I have a hard time cheering for anything involving NHL players. These guys can go screw themselves.

yeah, turn your back on the game because the owners locked the players out and killed the season...:roll:

[direwolf74]

Who cares!, screw em.

I agree. I'm so bitter from the lockout that I have a hard time cheering for anything involving NHL players. These guys can go screw themselves.

yeah, turn your back on the game because the owners locked the players out and killed the season...:roll:

Ugh, here we go again. Didn't I already have this argument with you? I'm not turning my back on the game. In fact I've been having a great time following the Calgary Hitmen's playoff run. It's the NHLPA that I'm turning my back on.

[MikeS]

a hard time scoring goals!?!?!?!?!?

you're crazy! even if it's a "B-Level" tournament this year, that is without a Doubt an "A-LEvel" team Canada is sending, btw, don't forget that countries' top players are often missing in action at this tournament because of the playoffs, so i don't really think it's that big of a deal. this is the most prestigious title being handed out this year in hockey...

Half the roster hasn't played a competitive game since September, including their two top goalies (Brodeur and Luongo). Big difference than the usual season where non-playoff players are coming off a full 82-game season and are looking to redeem themselves...

Also, you can bet the opposing coaches will spend countless hours pouring over tapes of Thornton, Nash, Heatley, etc playing for their Swiss clubs this season, and will be meticulous in left-wing locking them to death; throw in the always questionable IIHF officiating, and it'll be a different game than the NHL edition we saw in the World Cup.

I was merely suggesting that this team doesn't have the top-to-bottom firepower that they COULD have had, if the likes of Iginla, St. Louis, Lecavalier, Richards, Sakic etc had been included...they'll be competitive, but I don't think they'll be the favorite going in...

[cferneyh]

I was merely suggesting that this team doesn't have the top-to-bottom firepower that they COULD have had, if the likes of Iginla, St. Louis, Lecavalier, Richards, Sakic etc had been included...they'll be competitive, but I don't think they'll be the favorite going in...

I have to admit I was underwhelmed when I first saw the roster, but I think a lot of the teams will be in the same boat. Team USA is young and inexperienced. Sweden has a bunch of top-level guys who have bailed as well. And you never know what you're gonna get with Team Russia: Team Spectacular or Team Disinterested.

I'd have preferred to see Spezza or Crosby named instead of Mike Fisher, and I can't believe Chris Phillips was named (wasn't it only a couple of years ago that the Sens were so unimpressed with his D that they tried to turn him into a left-winger?), but it still should be a speedy and competitive team.

[The Darkest Canuck]

one of the D-men will most likely be riding the pines most of the tournament barring injury, and i'm guessing it'll be Phillips, Spezza'a going to be tied up with the AHL pplayoffs I believe, and Crosby's still too young i think, but Burgeron (sp?) should've still had a spot on the team.

[cferneyh]

one of the D-men will most likely be riding the pines most of the tournament barring injury, and i'm guessing it'll be Phillips, Spezza'a going to be tied up with the AHL pplayoffs I believe, and Crosby's still too young i think, but Burgeron (sp?) should've still had a spot on the team.

Good point re: Phillips riding the pine. I'm not a big Souray fan either, but I'd take him over Phillips.

Interesting call re: Bergeron. He definitely should have been considered ahead of Fisher. Hell, your uncle should have been considered ahead of Fisher.

[The Darkest Canuck]

haha, no, we don't want him reinjuring his knee, he just got the fucking thing fixed, thanks to the NHLPA .

and as far as Souray goes, you might not be a fan, but the hardest slapshot in the NHL isn't going to find the back of the net from the bench...

[NMAS]

Who cares!, screw em.

I agree. I'm so bitter from the lockout that I have a hard time cheering for anything involving NHL players. These guys can go screw themselves.

yeah, turn your back on the game because the owners locked the players out and killed the season...:roll:

Clueless, that's all I have to say DC