Because January was a shortened month in the NHL due to the week-long All-Star break, we will hold the Players of the month for both January and February combined at the end of this month, making them even more prestiguous. Front runners right now include Ovechkin to notch his 2nd monthly MVP award, forward candidates Michael Camalerri, Jamie Langenbrunner, Defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Scott Neidermeyer, and goaltenders Timmy Thomas and Ryan Miller. But for now, with the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games only a year away, Mr. GM Steve Yzerman has his work cut out for him, and the crop of talent to choose Team Canada has never been more promising.
Needless to say, a roster of 19, with 3 goaltenders and only 3 reserves does not leave much room for error when these players try to impress GM Yzerman.
2010's Team Canada must learn from their mistakes in Torino in 2006. Instead of experience, Canada needs to be a younger team. Instead of being a defensive-minded squad, Canada needs to be agressive and be Offensive minded. Sweden and Russia promise to be insanely fast, skilled, and tough teams to beat, so the key to victory over these countries is 2-way players that where their hearts on their sleeves and are tough enough to shut their opponents down. The forwards, as chosen by the PrairiePuck will most likely be chosen to the team. Mike Camalerri is a bit of a wild-card, but one thing Yzerman should be looking at is how well certain players play together in the league, and Mike Camalerri could be a good pick as the 13th forward to try with different lines. You may also notice that there is no Jason Spezza or Eric Staal. Make no mistake about it, there is so much talent to choose from that some players WILL be snubbed.
The defensive core will probably see a major overhaul in 2010, with a huge dose of offensively-minded younger defenseman, most notably Brian Campbell, Dan Boyle, and Shea Weber. It wouldn't be a total surprise to see SK born Wade Redden brought in as veteran experience though. If Scott Neidermeyer is selected (If he is still playing), either he, Iginla, or Doan would make excellent candidates for the captaincy of team Canada. (Crosby is still 21 years old...his time will come).
The goaltender battle will be an interesting one. It will most likely be the first international tournament in a long time which Marty Brodeur is the backup, to the most-likely starter Roberto Luongo. It is really Luongo's spot to lose at this point. Providing Brodeur agrees to play, which we believe he will step down and give someone else the opportunity, front-runners out of the gates that come to mind are Marty Turco, SK born Cam Ward, Marc-Andre Fleury, and possibly even Columbus youngster Steve Mason. Each one of these goalies has big-game International experience, but if the roster had to be set today, we would probably see a goaltending crew of Luongo - Turco - Price.
There is always the opportunity for 3 players to be named reserves, and just like in 2006, they need to be ready to fill in at any opportunity. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers have been on the Team Canada radar for a few years now, ever since their participation on the Gold medal winning World Junior team in 2005. Jonathan Toews is also a player with big-game International experience, and this kid is wise beyond his years. Generally, we will probably see 2 forwards and a defenseman. and at this point, we will probably see Toews, Richards, and Mike Green as the reserves, but don't count out Mike Richards.
And we know some of the forwards ore not listed in their usual positions, but Yzerman may have to do some shuffling around. So the roster will be:
LEFT WING CENTER RIGHT WING
Dany Heatley Sidney Crosby Jarome Iginla
Rick Nash Joe Thornton Shane Doan
Simon Gagne Vincent Lecavalier Martin St. Louis
Mike Camalerri Ryan Getzlaf Jeff Carter
Marc Savard
DEFENSEMAN DEFENSEMAN
Scott Niedermeyer Sheldon Souray
Dan Boyle Brian Campbell
Dion Phaneuf Jay Bouwmeester
Shea Weber
GOALTENDERS
1. ROBERTO LUONGO
2. MARTY TURCO
3. CAREY PRICE
RESERVES
Mike Richards
Jonathan Toews
Mike Green
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