The 2014 games are a year away, and I've been looking over all the talent all the countries have to see who is going to have a good team. 2014 is going to be some young teams I think, and a lot of the 2010 team for Canada at least won't be making an appearance again due to age. I'm going to do line ups for a few countries just for fun to see what it turns out like. So to start, I'll go with Team Canada.
Forwards
Scoring Line: Perry - Crosby - Stamkos
Stamkos got the snub in 2010 when many believed he should have made the team, but this time around, he will be right up on the front lines, and I can't see them not pairing him with Crosby. This issue with Canada right off the start is their over abundance of centre's, so a lot of them are going to be sitting on the wings, and I prefer Stamkos on the wing on the top line then on the second line behind Crosby. When you add Perry to the line, you basically have the 'Rocket Richard' line.
Depth Second line: Neal - Toews - Eberle
I think Toews has earned a spot on the roster after his performance in the 2010 tournament and moving to a second line centre role would be perfect for him. This line was actually the hardest to decide on because when you take out the 'San Jose Sharks' line of last year, you actually have to work on putting players together. I added Neal and Eberle to this line, as I think they will benefit from Toews as their pivot. Neal is able to put the puck in the net and is a big guy, and Eberle is well, Eberle. He brings so much to the table with his play, and I think if he doesn't make a line, he will be in the positon Toews was last time around as the 13th forward.
Grinder Line: E. Staal - Giroux - Nash
This will be Canada's third line checking line if you call it that. The energy line. It is why I put Giroux down on this line because I think he suits well for a Team Canada grinder. He has the ability to score goals and make plays, but can also beat players down, and with his emotional performance against the Penguins last season, if he brings that to the games, he will spark the team. I added Nash and Staal to the line as power forwards, and feel this could be just as dynamic as a scoring line.
Fourth Line: Marleau - Tavares - Skinner
If anyone 'older' returns from 2010, I think it will be Marleau, as he is still able to score and be a factor. Tavares slides into this 4th line spot, but this isn't your typical third line. I could see Tavares/Skinner doing what Toews/Morrow/Burgeron did in 2010, as most teams will focus their top on the Crosby line, leaving the 'weaker' lines to this one.
Defence
Weber, Letang, Pietrangelo, Keith, Doughty, Seabrook, Subban
Defence in my mind is really solid for Canada, and should have some good returning players. Letang I think easily makes the team, and with the way Pietrangelo has played, I think he does as well. Keith and Seabrook I think get brought back into the mix, depending on play and if anyone else steps up, and Weber and Doughty are locks to return. I added Subban as a 7th guy, as I am just a little iffy if he can crack this roster or not with the amount of talent on the team.
Goalies
Price, Fleury, Luongo
With how well Price has played the past two seasons, I think he may just be Canada's starter heading into Russia. Fluery isn't a homer pick, he got a gold medal in Vancouver for being Canada's third goalie, and I don't know if he gets out of the pressbox this time around either. Luongo is the wild card, as depending how he plays, he could still be a legit #1 for Canada next year. So I think the battle for that spot goes between him and Price, with Fleury picking up the third spot again.
Players not returning
Brodeur (age/retired), Pronger (retired), Boyle (age), Niedermayer (retired), Morrow (to much skill in front), Iginla (age), Richards (too much skill), Thornton (more of an age thing), Bergeron (just don't think so), Getzlaf (to much centre skill in front), Heatley (age/skill)
Players who could make it
Forwards- Duchene, Spezza, St. Louis, Sharp - There is a huge list that 'could' make a go at it. Spezza is still play at a high caliber, and St. Louis hasn't slowed down, but was left off the 2010 team, so hard for him to make it again, unless they make a St.louis/Stamkos pairing.
Defence - I think the defence is fairly set, and unless some young star comes in, or they give an older guy like Boyle a chance, that will be your defence unit.
Goalies - Mike Smith & Cam Ward - Smith is a long long shot, Ward just seems to be always the odd guy out. He could be changeable with Fleury, but I think his time has passed
So there is my list so far for Team Canada in Russia. Things will change, and this is just a very rough guess at lines, but more look at it in terms of the players involved, and not set in stone line ups.
Forwards
Scoring Line: Perry - Crosby - Stamkos
Stamkos got the snub in 2010 when many believed he should have made the team, but this time around, he will be right up on the front lines, and I can't see them not pairing him with Crosby. This issue with Canada right off the start is their over abundance of centre's, so a lot of them are going to be sitting on the wings, and I prefer Stamkos on the wing on the top line then on the second line behind Crosby. When you add Perry to the line, you basically have the 'Rocket Richard' line.
Depth Second line: Neal - Toews - Eberle
I think Toews has earned a spot on the roster after his performance in the 2010 tournament and moving to a second line centre role would be perfect for him. This line was actually the hardest to decide on because when you take out the 'San Jose Sharks' line of last year, you actually have to work on putting players together. I added Neal and Eberle to this line, as I think they will benefit from Toews as their pivot. Neal is able to put the puck in the net and is a big guy, and Eberle is well, Eberle. He brings so much to the table with his play, and I think if he doesn't make a line, he will be in the positon Toews was last time around as the 13th forward.
Grinder Line: E. Staal - Giroux - Nash
This will be Canada's third line checking line if you call it that. The energy line. It is why I put Giroux down on this line because I think he suits well for a Team Canada grinder. He has the ability to score goals and make plays, but can also beat players down, and with his emotional performance against the Penguins last season, if he brings that to the games, he will spark the team. I added Nash and Staal to the line as power forwards, and feel this could be just as dynamic as a scoring line.
Fourth Line: Marleau - Tavares - Skinner
If anyone 'older' returns from 2010, I think it will be Marleau, as he is still able to score and be a factor. Tavares slides into this 4th line spot, but this isn't your typical third line. I could see Tavares/Skinner doing what Toews/Morrow/Burgeron did in 2010, as most teams will focus their top on the Crosby line, leaving the 'weaker' lines to this one.
Defence
Weber, Letang, Pietrangelo, Keith, Doughty, Seabrook, Subban
Defence in my mind is really solid for Canada, and should have some good returning players. Letang I think easily makes the team, and with the way Pietrangelo has played, I think he does as well. Keith and Seabrook I think get brought back into the mix, depending on play and if anyone else steps up, and Weber and Doughty are locks to return. I added Subban as a 7th guy, as I am just a little iffy if he can crack this roster or not with the amount of talent on the team.
Goalies
Price, Fleury, Luongo
With how well Price has played the past two seasons, I think he may just be Canada's starter heading into Russia. Fluery isn't a homer pick, he got a gold medal in Vancouver for being Canada's third goalie, and I don't know if he gets out of the pressbox this time around either. Luongo is the wild card, as depending how he plays, he could still be a legit #1 for Canada next year. So I think the battle for that spot goes between him and Price, with Fleury picking up the third spot again.
Players not returning
Brodeur (age/retired), Pronger (retired), Boyle (age), Niedermayer (retired), Morrow (to much skill in front), Iginla (age), Richards (too much skill), Thornton (more of an age thing), Bergeron (just don't think so), Getzlaf (to much centre skill in front), Heatley (age/skill)
Players who could make it
Forwards- Duchene, Spezza, St. Louis, Sharp - There is a huge list that 'could' make a go at it. Spezza is still play at a high caliber, and St. Louis hasn't slowed down, but was left off the 2010 team, so hard for him to make it again, unless they make a St.louis/Stamkos pairing.
Defence - I think the defence is fairly set, and unless some young star comes in, or they give an older guy like Boyle a chance, that will be your defence unit.
Goalies - Mike Smith & Cam Ward - Smith is a long long shot, Ward just seems to be always the odd guy out. He could be changeable with Fleury, but I think his time has passed
So there is my list so far for Team Canada in Russia. Things will change, and this is just a very rough guess at lines, but more look at it in terms of the players involved, and not set in stone line ups.
