The 2014 Olympics are coming up soon in Sochi, Russia. Canada is looking to continue the success that they saw in 2010 in Vancouver in all sports. Team Canada Hockey has already began their summer camp, taking a look at the 47 players who might represent Canada in hockey at the Olympic Games. It is important however, to keep in mind that this is not a try out, it's merely a preliminary list of players they're taking serious looks at. They can pick players off the list. It will depend on how they play with their NHL team throughout the first half of their season.
Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd was invited to the camp, which proves that they are taking a serious look at him. The gritty winger is coming off a season where he racked up 46 points in 48 games with the Jets. Winnipeg's a hockey town, so why not take some time to make predictions?
Canada will carry 14 forwards, eight defencemen, and three goaltenders, but will probably dress 13 forwards, seven d-men, and two goaltenders with 3 spares. There are a few shoe ins at each position, but there are also a lot of spots up for grabs.
Also close to home here for the Jets with regards to Olympic hockey is the non-Canadian players that will be trying out for their respective countries. Four Jets will battle for the right to represent the stars and stripes of the U.S.A. They include Blake Wheeler, Zach Bogosian, Dustin Byfuglien, and Jacob Trouba. As well as Ondrej Pavelec and new addition Michael Frolik trying for spots on the team Czech Republic. Meanwhile, the likes of Tobias Enstrom and Olli Jokinen were not invited to their respective camps. Enstrom for Sweden and Jokinen for Finland. They will have to have good seasons with the Jets in order to catch the eye of their respective countries. Especially Jokinen who struggled last season putting up only 14 points in 48 games.
So without further adieu, here are my 14 forwards, eight d-men, and three goalies that I believe will play for team Canada in Sochi.
GOALTENDERS:
Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals)
Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks)
Corey Crawford (Chicago BlackHawks)
Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens)
Mike Smith (Phoenix Coyotes)
My picks:
Any of these five goalies would serve Canada well. But they can only have three. Here are my picks:
Roberto Luongo: Led Canada to gold in 2010.
Carey Price: Best option in my opinion. If I were me coaching he'd be my starter.
Corey Crawford: Silenced critics on what should have been a Conn Smythe winning playoff run. But he got what really matters, the Stanley Cup.
Possibilities:
Mike Smith: Smith has had two very good seasons with the Coyotes. He almost led them to the Stanley Cup in 2012, and represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship this year.
Braden Holtby: I was shocked to see his name on the list ahead of some other goaltenders out there, but he's stolen the show in Washington since taking over for Tomas Vokoun.
Off the List:
Here's three goaltenders not at the summer camp who could make a case for a spot on the team.
Marc-Andre Fleury: Although he's had his struggles, and may have been pushed aside by Tomas Vokun, Fleury is still a goaltender who most teams would like to have.
Cam Ward: I still think if he had stayed healthy last season that Carolina would have been contending for the top of the Southeast Division. He has represented Canada in the IIHF World Championship, and could make the step to the Olympics.
Martin Brodeur: Even after all these year he's still got it. It's never safe to count him out.
DEFENCEMEN:
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)
Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)
Duncan Keith (Chicago BlackHawks)
Brent Seabrook (Chicago BlackHawks)
Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks)
Jay Bouwmeester (St. Louis Blues)
Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver Canucks)
Travis Hamonic (New York Islanders)
Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Marc Methot (Ottawa Senators)
Dion Phaneuf (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues)
Marc Staal (New York Rangers)
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (San Jose Sharks)
Karl Alzner (Washington Capitals)
Mike Green (Washington Capitals)
My picks:
A solid core picked here by Steve Yzerman and Hockey Canada, but unfortunately they can only take eight. Here are my picks:
Shea Weber: The man is a beast. He's one of the best, and most dominant d-men in the league right now.
Drew Doughty: At the 2010 Olympics and during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Drew Doughty showed everyone that he's a big time player.
Duncan Keith: Still one of the smoothest skaters in the N.H.L. today. Can both man the power play and kill penalties.
Brent Seabrook: Much like Weber, he's a big, fast, and smart defenceman with a big shot. Can kill penalties as well.
Dan Hamhuis: May not have the offensive numbers that the names above do, but he's dominant in his own zone. He would be helpful on the penalty kill.
Kris Letang: Similar in style of play to Duncan Keith. He's a smooth skater, he has offensive upside, and he's not afraid to go into the corners and battle.
Alex Pietrangelo: A budding star in the N.H.L. and the sky is the limit with his set of skills. He's big, fast, and tough to play against. At 23 years old he still has room for growth.
PK Subban: Love him or hate him, he's got unbelievable talent. Big shot from the point, insane hockey smarts, and as we all know, he's not afraid to get under the other team's skin.
Possibilities:
Dan Boyle: Major offensive skill but he might be too old compared to some of the younger talent ahead of him.
Jay Bouwmeester: Always underrated in Calgary. Found a home with a much better team in St. Louis. As good as he is, there's so much talent here I don't see him making the team.
Travis Hamonic: I was surprised to see him on the list, but if they're looking for a hardnose stay at home defenceman who will make the other teams forwards pay for going into the corners, he's their guy.
Mark Methot: Tough as nails, great in his own end. Like Hamonic, I was shocked to see him on the list but he has what it takes to get on the team if they want to go in more of a defensive direction.
Dion Phanuef: Captain Maple Leaf has what it takes to make the team. He's good in both zones, and is a natural leader.
Marc Staal: Despite the horrific eye injury he sustained during this past season, Marc Staal is back on the ice, hopefully with a visor on. Like everyone in this list, he's good in both zones and he plays a hard game.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic: Smooth skater, good puck mover, he'll be in tough with the amount of talent that Canada has at its disposal.
Karl Alzner: Good in both ends, and ultra-talented, just like everyone on this list.
Mike Green: If he has a good, injury free season with Washington he will definitely have a shot at making the team.
Off the List:
None, the best of the best are on the two above lists.
FORWARDS:
Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins)
Jeff Carter (Los Angeles Kings)
Logan Couture (San Jose Sharks)
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Matt Duschene (Colorado Avalanche)
Jordan Eberle (Edmonton Oilers)
Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks)
Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Claude Giroux (Philadelphia Flyers)
Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers)
Andrew Ladd (Winnipeg Jets)
Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins)
Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins)
Rick Nash (New York Rangers)
James Neal (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks)
Mike Richards (Los Angeles Kings)
Patrick Sharp (Chicago BlackHawks)
Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes)
Jordan Staal (Carolina Hurricanes)
Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Jon Tavares (New York Islanders)
Joe Thorton (San Jose Sharks)
Jonathan Toews (Chicago BlackHawks)
My picks:
There's an insane amount of talent in this forward group. Which makes choosing a team very hard. All combinations of these guys on the list would help Canada win. Here are my picks:
Patrice Bergeron: Great faceoff man, great penalty killer, good in both ends of the ice. Can't say enough about his play during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He's a big time player and will play a big time role.
Logan Couture: The value of Logan Couture extends beyond his ability to score. He can fill a third line checking role, and transition to play wing, two things that he has done in the past with the Sharks. He's a versatile player and still has room to grow in his young hockey career.
Sidney Crosby: He's the best of the best, plain and simple.
Jordan Eberle: Those who follow junior hockey know that when Jordan Eberle puts on team Canada's jersey, something great will happen. He was clutch then, and has since grown into one of the best wingers in the N.H.L.
Ryan Getzlaf: Big centre showed his critics that his career was far from over when he led the Anaheim Ducks to a dominating second place finish in the Western Conference this season. Will most likely play with Anaheim teammate Corey Perry.
Claude Giroux: The Philadephia Flyers captain has shown eveyrone that he's one of the best players in hockey today. He may have to play on the wing for the tournament. Depends where Mike Babcock wants to put his players.
James Neal: Scored 40 goals in 2011/2012. For me it came down to a choice of one between him and Patrick Sharp of the Chicago BlackHawks, and Rick Nash of the New York Rangers. Any of them would be a great addition, but I had to go with Neal.
Corey Perry: Like his linemate Getzlaf, Corey Perry had a great year with the Ducks. They'll most likely play alongside one another in the tournament, either on the wings or Getzlaf centering Perry and whoever the other player might be.
Mike Richards: He's won just about everything there is for a hockey player of his caliber to win. In fact it seems that wherever Mike Richards goes that team wins.
Eric Staal: Big Centre found chemistry with Getzlaf and Perry in 2010. I expect to see them together again.
Martin St. Louis: The ageless wonder keeps on playing as if he were 10 years younger. Playing with the best sniper in the game certainly helps but what Marty has shown us in the past few years is that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
Steven Stamkos: The most prolific goal scorer in hockey today, Stamkos and St. Louis will be hard to keep apart. They have a chemistry where they just know where one another are out there. Like Gioux, expect to see him transition to the wing and use his speed, and his wicked shot to his advantage.
Jon Tavares: The New York Islander has put up some very good seasons in recent years. Lifted a lowly Islanders team into the playoffs last season.
Jonathan Toews: A member of the triple gold club, and a two time Stanley Cup winner, Jonathan Toews is a winner. He was born to win, and he's done just that.
Possibilities:
Jeff Carter:He's elevated his play in past years and was easily the best of the King's during their run to the Western Conference final this past season.
Matt Duschene: I still beleive this guy has all the potential to be a superstar. But much like Evander Kane he's struggling to completely get his feet of the ground. He'll need a tremendous regular season in order to push some of the talent that's on this roster.
Chris Kunitz: Even though Chris Kunitz had a tremendous year, I still think he's the product of playing with Sidney Crosby. Kunitz is a great player, I just don't think he's good enough to push some of the other players off the roster. With that being said, he does have an uncanny chemistry with Crosby. Which might be enough for Kunitz to crack team Canada.
Taylor Hall: His speed would be an asset on the bigger ice surfaces. He plays wing, and has chemistry with Jordan Eberle. But will it be enough to push the amount of talent aside?
Milan Lucic: I'd personally love to see him make the team. I've always been a fan of the big, agressive, and sometimes downright scary style of play that Milan Lucic brings to the table. A big winger who can score goals is valuable to any team.
Brad Marchand: Now this pick, this pick may have fans of the Vancouver Canucks (and any other team that's played against Boston for that matter) foaming at the mouth with rage. But they'll have to face the fact that Brad Marcharnd is a great player, and an even better pest. Someone like Marchard could be helpful for team Canada. He scores, he's fast, he's got great hands, and most of all, he makes other players mad like I've never seen before. Might be a stretch, especially with the IIHF officiating which unlike the NHL, doesn't let the cheap stuff go.
Rick Nash: Although he had a subpar year with the Rangers this past season, I still think Rick Nash can be one of the most dominant players in hockey. His chemistry with Toews and Richards in 2010 may be enough to bring him back if he has a decent season.
Patrick Sharp: Although I ended up taking James Neal, this guy could easily make the team. If there's anything Patrick Sharp has shown us in his career, it's that no one should ever count him out.
Jordan Staal: On a team chalk full of some of the best centers in the game, I don't see the youngest of three Staal brothers at camp making the team. But you never know!
Joe Thorton: Jumbo Joe is still a very effective player. With the influx of young talent on the list, he'll have to have a pretty outstanding year to grab a spot.
Andrew Ladd: The lone Winnipeg Jet invited to camp, and the most underrated player at camp. He ranked 11th among the forwards invited to the camp in points during the past lockout shortened season. And will not only look to make the team, but he'll look to lift the Jets into the playoffs.
Off the list:
Jamie Benn: With a struggling Dallas Stars team, it's been hard for Jamie Benn to shine. But he's right there with the best of them. If anyone on this list will really change the minds of Hockey Canada, it will be him.
Evander Kane: I was shocked to see that Evander Kane was not on the list to attend this summer's camp. He's got speed and he can score goals, don't count him out.
Jason Spezza: He'll be recovering from back surgery, but if he has a good season, he may turn a few heads or two. Especially if he plays the way he did before his back injury.
Tyler Seguin: His time with the Bruins was cut short, and that was a good move for both sides. It wouldn't surprise me to see him turn an eye or two in his direction. But I think he has some growing to do before he represents Canada in the Olympics.
Brian Bickell: This one may be a long shot, and even I will admit that this is a bit of an odd choice. He earned a pretty raise with the BlackHawks and it's now up to him to prove he's worth it. If he play like he did in these past year's playoffs he may catch some attention.
Patrick Marleau: Started the year on a tear this season and slowed down as the season went on. In fairness, no one expected him to keep up an 8 goals every three games pace all season. He played for Canada in 2010. With his line mate Joe Thorton on the bubble, 2010 may have been the last time we see Marleau in a team Canada uniform for the Olympics.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:
This is merely speculation. The coaches will decide who plays where based on how they're playing, and who they find chemistry with. This is just a preliminary look at how the team could look based on my predictions, and what my depth chart would look like if I were coaching.
Forwards:
Stamkos Crosby St. Louis
Neal Tavares Giroux
Eberle Toews Richards
Staal Getzlaf Perry
Bergeron
Defencemen:
Weber Doughty
Keith Seabrook
Subban Pietrangelo
Letang
Goalies:
Starter: Roberto Luongo
Backup: Carey Price
Spares:
Logan Couture (F)
Dan Hamhuis (D)
Corey Crawford (G)
Captains:
Sidney Crosby (Captain)
Shea Weber (Alternate)
Jonathan Toews (Alternate)
Duncan Keith (Alternate)
Look over the list and give me your opinion! Lots of talent here there could be any number of players that could make this team. Should be fun to see how it unfolds! Follow me on Twitter for sports updates, the odd tweet about music, and light-hearted but ultimately "swing and a miss" type humor! TWITTER! @burnsy004
The University of Winnipeg Wesmen kicked off their season on the 31st of August with both teams taking opening game losses
