The Canadian national hockey team announced its 47-player roster for the country’s orientation camp, and boy is there a lot of talent.
Fans and experts joke that Hockey Canada could field three teams and place with all three. Well take a look at the invitees and imagine how good the roster would be with snubs such as Jamie Benn, Jarome Iginla, and James Reimer, among others.
Goalies: Corey Crawford (Chicago), Braden Holtby (Washington), Roberto Luongo (Vancouver), Carey Price (Montreal), Mike Smith (Phoenix).
Defensemen: Karl Alzner (Washington), Jay Bouwmeester (St. Louis), Dan Boyle (San Jose), Drew Doughty (Los Angeles), Mike Green (Washington), Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver), Travis Hamonic (N.Y. Islanders), Duncan Keith (Chicago), Kris Letang (Pittsburgh), Marc Methot (Ottawa), Dion Phaneuf (Toronto), Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis), Brent Seabrook (Chicago), Marc Staal (N.Y. Rangers), P.K. Subban (Montreal), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (San Jose), Shea Weber (Nashville).
Forwards: Patrice Bergeron (Boston), Jeff Carter (Los Angeles), Logan Couture (San Jose), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh), Matt Duchene (Colorado), Jordan Eberle (Edmonton), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim), Claude Giroux (Philadelphia), Taylor Hall (Edmonton), Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh), Andrew Ladd (Winnipeg), Milan Lucic (Boston), Brad Marchand (Boston), Rick Nash (N.Y. Rangers), James Neal (Pittsburgh), Corey Perry (Anaheim), Mike Richards (Los Angeles), Patrick Sharp (Chicago), Eric Staal (Carolina), Jordan Staal (Carolina), Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay), John Tavares (N.Y Islanders), Joe Thornton (San Jose), Jonathan Toews (Chicago).
Yeah, that is a deep roster to choose from. It is also important to note that players not invited are still eligible to make the Canadian team.
What used to be a strength in net is now a weakness. The early favorite to start between the pipes is Luongo, with Price and newcomer Corey Crawford nipping at his heals. Fun fact: Crawford has never represented Canada in international play.
As much as I would love to see Hamonic, Methot, and Marc Staal play, there is no way they can sneak in with guys like Phaneuf, Seabrook, and Boyle fighting to make the roster. The only locks on ‘D’ I see at this moment are Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, P.K. Subban, and Alex Pietrangelo. Doughty should make the team, which leaves some damn good players vying for one spot.
The forwards, man oh man the depth. Call me a homer, but I really hope Patrick Sharp impresses during the season and sneaks in on the 3rd/4th line for Hockey Canada. He could very well be the biggest snub come Sochi. With the depth at center, can veterans like Joe Thornton still be considered locks for a spot after so many Olympics and World Championships? Toews, Crosby, and Tavares are locks up the middle. Canada will probably have a few centers play the wing to keep them on the roster.
The Canadian national hockey team’s roster shakedown will be the most watched before February, and once the final group is decided, expect as many yells for snubs as there are for the guys who make the cut.
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