Full Team Canada Invite List

[Stunaman]

Yeah, they can add people at will. If you recall, Bergeron wasn't invited to camp in 2009 only to make the final roster.

ya, i think play in the first few months of the season will matter for the final roster

[Stunaman]

I think they will take the best players, regardless of positions and have them fit nicely within their system. They are looking for smart, 2-way players that can fit onto any line and play any role. Here are my predictions for the final cuts:


Neal - Crosby - Nash
Stamkos – Giroux - St.Louis
Getzlaf - Tavares - Perry
Bergeron – Toews - E.Staal
Subs: Hall - Benn - Eberle (*Spezza could land a starting role if he comes out flying in 2013-14; if not, I don't see him as a backup)`

Doughty – Weber
Keith - Seabrook
Letang - Subban
Subs: Pietrangelo - Hamonic

Price
Luongo
Crawford
Sub: Smith

I mostly agree... I'd take richards/duchene over hall/benn. Richards bc of last olympics/stanley cup and duchene had a better season than both hall and benn. Although Benn and Spezza could get a look if they tear it up early in the season.

agree on the D and G

[rataylor22]

Duchene definitely did not have a better season than Hall......

[Luffy D Monkey]

I want to see a line of Giroux/Tavares/Eberle.

[Dean Youngblood]

Canada is simply too deep at center to include Spezza.
You don't want to roster too many players out of position.

Crosby/Toews/Bergeron are absolute locks for three center slots.
Getzlaf would be my pick for the 4th center.

Stamkos/Tavares/Giroux are absolute locks to make the team.

That's 7 centers.
And M.Richards, Duchene, Couture could all play wing and be the 2nd face-off man, if C1 gets the boot on a draw.
10 centers.

I haven't even mentioned Joe Thornton yet... who is somebody who I think Team Canada would be a bit leery rostering on a wing. Spezza, IMO, is similar to Thornton. A true center. But... when you watch him... how comfortable would a Team Canada GM be about rostering Spezza on a wing and sending him in to fore-check & provide grit.

If a guy isn't going to be anchor his line at center... I think he's got to be able to be fast, gritty, and durable as a winger.
This gives a nice value-boost to Giroux, M.Richards, Duchene, Couture.

For that reason, there really isn't a good place on this team for Spezza.
My 2 cents.

Bingo

Spezza belongs no where near this team with Canada's depth at C

[mister_mcgoo]

Bingo

Spezza belongs no where near this team with Canada's depth at C

how bout, he's never made the Olympic team before, so why the hell would we start now our of the blue? Seriously, how freakin delusional do you hafta be to consider it anything other than a courtesy that his name is mentioned along with the others...ridiculous

[Bass56]

I mostly agree... I'd take richards/duchene over hall/benn. Richards bc of last olympics/stanley cup and duchene had a better season than both hall and benn. Although Benn and Spezza could get a look if they tear it up early in the season.

agree on the D and G

I think Duchene will skip his turn for these games just like Stamkos and Tavares did last time around. Hall is on the bubble...

Richards is a tough one... My selection of Neal is questionable. If he doesn't make the team, I think Benn would be a good fit, but considering Richard's experience, I think he could slip into a checking/shut down role.

Man, looking back at it, so much talent is available; they could easily make 2 competing teams.

[ross10019]

Richards is a tough one... My selection of Neal is questionable. If he doesn't make the team, I think Benn would be a good fit, but considering Richard's experience, I think he could slip into a checking/shut down role.

I agree, very tough to exclude Richards, and I'd easily include him instead of Neal if it came down to those two. Richards/Toews were arguably the two most important forwards in 2010, they were so dominant at both ends of the ice and created lots of scoring chances (Toews' first goal in the final was a perfect example), and when Babcock put Nash with them it was an excellent fit. But with so many options and with Bergeron clearly now ready to play way more than in 2010 (he was barely used, a few minutes per game), Richards might very well be the odd man out.

[Mr_Sausage]

Duchene definitely did not have a better season than Hall......

Thank you.