Team Canada Roster Announced

Not too shabby. 19 of the 23 players I selected were named to the team, and I was able to nail down the four captains.

The most notable omission here is Martin St. Louis. I am simply dumbstruck that they didn't include the dynamic winger on the team. He has grit, can develop chemistry with anybody, and always makes everyone around him better.

Overall, I don't have too many qualms. However, I do firmly believe that leaving the aforementioned St. Louis along with the Stars' Brad Richards off of the team is a big mistake.

The team Steve Yzerman constructed is big, strong, and talented, and should compete very well on an NHL sized ice rink.

Here's how I would project the potential lines and pairings:

Nash - Crosby - Iginla
Perry - Getzlaf - Staal
Heatley - Thornton - Marleau
Bergeron - Richards - Morrow
Toews

Boyle - Pronger
Doughty -Niedermayer
Seabrook - Keith
Weber

Luongo
Brodeur
Fleury

Final Remarks: Canadian Olympic Team

For part one of my Canadian Olympic Thoughts click here.

With Steve Yzerman set to announce Team Canada's roster tomorrow, here's how my roster would look if I was in Steve Y's shoes.

Forwards:

Line 1: Rick Nash - Sidney Crosby - Ryan Smyth
-No change here from my first edition of Team Canada. While I'm sure my inclusion of Ryan Smyth - not only on the team, but on the first line - may raise some eyebrows, I still maintain his smarts, net presence, and ability to cycle down low would compliment Crosby well.

Line 2A: Corey Perry - Ryan Getzlaf - Martin St. Louis
- Once again, I'm sticking with my original second line. There is no reason to break up the dynamic duo of Perry and Getzlaf, who continue to perform in Anaheim even without any aid in the form of secondary scoring. A smart player who can win puck battles, play the high man in the offensive zone, and create plays all over the ice like St. Louis will compliment the Ducks' duo perfectly.

Line 2B: Dany Heatley - Joe Thornton - Jarome Iginla
- Here's my first big change. I originally left Heatley off of the roster because of his lack of well-roundedness. Well, phooey to that. He's having an excellent season playing with Jumbo Joe, and is even killing penalties out in San Jose. There's no way to leave Heatley off of the roster, right now.

Checking Line: Brad Richards - Mike Richards - Patrice Bergeron
- There's a few reasons why I like this trio on my checking line. Brad Richards has an excellent resume (Cup, Conn Smythe, leading scoring for Canada during '06 Olympics), is having a tremendous season, and I want him running one of the power play units from the point. He has played wing before, and can play up and down the line-up. So, too, can Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron has played tremendously in a checking role for the Bruins, and is their leading scorer to boot. He had success playing on Crosby's wing during the WJC, and can be plugged into any spot in the line-up. Mike Richards' play hasn't been too great this season, but I want him going up against the other teams' top players (cough, cough Alex Ovechkin). All three of these guys are team first guys who bring loads of intangibles to the table.

Extra: Eric Staal
- Instead of Steven Stamkos, I'm going with Eric Staal. While Stamkos' play has plateaued, Staal's has begun to flourish. Staal has more experience, a Stanley Cup, and knows how to play in high pressure situations.

Defensemen:

Chris Pronger - Scott Niedermayer
Brent Seabrook - Duncan Keith
Dan Boyle - Jay Bouwmeester
Drew Doughty

- I have a couple changes here. I decided to not only add Keith into the top six instead of as a spare (a no-brainer), but also to add his defensive partner in Seabrook. There's no reason to mess with a good thing, and I happen to think Seabrook is a safe pick. Niedermayer, Pronger, and Boyle are no brainers in my estimation, and I believe Bouwmeester is too dominant on the defensive side of the puck to be left off of the roster. As for Doughty being the extra - I don't care what his age is, I think he's a better all-around defenseman than the other candidates.

Goaltenders:

1. Roberto Luongo
2. Martin Brodeur
3. Marc-Andre Fleury

- No change in the names, but a change in the order. All three are playing well, but Luongo is the top guy in my opinion. Brodeur, as great as he is, lets in too many weak goals from bad angles - and you can bet Canada's opponents will be firing shots from all over the place.

Special Teams:
- As far as special teams, you have a lot of possible combinations with prior chemistry here - Getzlaf, Perry, Pronger, Niedermayer + Heatley, Thornton, Boyle + B. Richards, St. Louis, Boyle, etc. Obviously a guy like Crosby along with others will factor in here, but it's nice to have some prior chemistry on the power play. On the penalty kill, you have plenty of candidates which should pose no problem for the Canada Coaching Staff.

Captains:
I'd make Niedermayer Captain - his resume is second to none and he's in his home town. My three alternates would be Crosby, Iginla, and Pronger. Crosby is the best player on the team and just captained his squad to a Cup victory, and Iginla and Pronger have the experience.

Snubs:

Patrick Marleau - I simply don't buy that since he is successful with Thornton and Heatley that he should make the team. How do you think a guy like Iginla or Staal would fair playing with those two? Finding chemistry with Thornton and Heatley, even in a short tournament, should be no problem for somebody else.

Jordan Staal - He's a great defensive player, but there's no reason to put such a one dimensional player on the team when guys like Mike and Brad Richards and Patrice Bergeron bring more offense to the table.

Brendan Morrow - I just think other people are playing better.

Shane Doan - Much like Morrow, others are simply outplaying him. I like his experience internationally, but there are other players more deserving based on their play.

Jonathon Toews - He's a very well-rounded player who can be used in many situations, and I like his international experience, but he's not yet at a level to knock off any of the players that I selected for a scoring role, and Mike and Brad Richards and Patrice Bergeron have more experience in a checking role.

Jeff Carter - Not playing well enough.

Vincent Lecavalier - Ditto.

Steven Stamkos - I like the kid a lot, and think he could really bring a spark to the team, but I happen to think Staal is a better fit based on recent play. There's no denying Stamkos' play has cooled off a bit.

Mike Green - He's just not good enough defensively. I'd actually argue he's below (NHL) average defensively. The power-play will be A-Okay without him, especially with a guy like Brad Richards taking a position at the point.

Shea Weber - His play has been "okay," and I see no reason that he should make the team at the expense of a breaking up a successful pairing like Seabrook and Keith.

Dion Phaneuf - The team doesn't need his offensive presence, and his play is too inconsistent. I don't trust him against top-end talent.

WJC: USA Player Roundup

Team U.S.A. sits at 2-0-0 after taking down Slovakia 7-3 on opening night, followed by a 3-0 win over the Swiss yesterday. Here's what I've seen from the individuals who have donned the red, white, and blue.

Derek Stepan (University of Wisconsin) - The 2008 second round pick of the New York Rangers has been the U.S.'s best forward over their first two games, while also serving as Team Captain. He sits first in points with one goal and three helpers, is a plus four, and is second on the team in shots on goal. Stepan possesses a high hockey IQ, knows how to play off of his line mates, and has shown an ability to play in all situations. His line with Danny Kristo and Jerry D'Amigo has been the U.S.'s best here in the early going.

Danny Kristo (University of North Dakota) - Kristo, a 2008 second round pick of the Canadiens, has been flying up and down the ice every time he hops over the boards. Unlike many young players with excellent speed, Kristo has already learned how to consistently utilize his significantly above average wheels. Kristo is a tenacious forechecker and an excellent penalty killer.

John Carlson (Hershey Bears) - In the U.S.'s first game Carlson looked like a man amongst boys. While his second game wasn't quite as strong, his skill level was still highly evident. Carlson jumps into the play, throws his body, and knows how to run a power play. His firm, crisp, tape-to-tape passes are proof that this guy already knows how to play at the pro level. Expect Carlson to sit at around a point per game at the end of the tournament.

Jordan Schroeder (University of Minnesota) - Schroeder has been mightily dissapointing through two games in Saskatoon. I still think Schroeder can produce at the NHL level, but it is fairly evident that his play has really leveled off. I see little improvement between the Schroeder of this tournament and the Schroeder that has played in this tournament the previous two years. He is at his best when his legs are constantly churning and he's forechecking like crazy. Schroeder looks too complacent, and he might be thinking too much.

Kyle Palmieri (University of Notre Dame) - Before this year's draft, Palmieri was compared to Chris Drury because of his intangibles and high defensive acumen. These traits have been on display in the early going of the World Juniors, and are proof of why the Ducks took Palmieri in last year's first round. He has played a sound two-way game, competing hard in his own end, as well as on the forecheck.

Cam Fowler (Windsor Spitfires) - Through two games Fowler has been steady but unspectacular. I haven't seen anything that could hurt his draft status, but I also haven't seen any of the flashes of brilliance I came into the tournament expecting from the highly regarded defenseman. Either way, playing a steady game in this tournament as a draft-eligible player is still fairly impressive.

Chris Kreider (Boston College) - Another Rangers' draft pick, Kreider has played very well through the first two games of the tournament, being named the U.S.'s player of the game in yesterday's contest versus the Swiss. Kreider possesses otherworldly speed, and competes hard at both ends of the ice. This may not endear Kreider to Rangers fans, but he reminds me stylistically of Christopher Higgins.

Jeremy Morin (Kitchener Rangers) - Morin, a second round pick in last year's draft courtesy of the Atlanta Thrashers, has looked "okay" thus far. His hands were on display when he notched a "goal scorer's goal" during the first game versus Slovakia, but he has been relatively unnoticeable other than that, and at times, a little lethargic. The knock on Morin is he is one dimensional, but hey, that one dimension - goal scoring - is pretty important.

Jack Campbell (U.S. NTDP) - Campbell, Team U.S.A.'s youngest player, played a very sound game in goal to earn a shutout versus the Swiss yesterday. Campbell looked technically sound from start to finish, and didn't lose focus at any point of the contest. It will be interesting to see how much the youngster plays as the tournament progresses.

Boxing Day: WJC, NHL Thoughts

The yearly wait is over. The World Junior Championships are upon us again.

While Canada embarks on a potential sixth straight title, here are some players I'll be watching as the tournament kicks off...

Taylor Hall (Canada) - Hall is projected to be either the number one or number two pick in the draft, and has played excellently throughout Canada's pre-tournament games. Hall plays a hard, physical game, but also possesses a superior offensive skill set. He is in a great position to have a special tournament, as he'll be lining up alongside his two teammates from Windsor, Greg Nemisz and Adam Henrique. Just like everyone else, I'm expecting big things from Canada's crowned jewel throughout the tournament.

Nikita Filatov (Russia) - Probably the most offensively gifted player in the tournament, expect Filatov's name to be splattered all over WJC score sheets. While Filatov won't have the luxury of his left wing of last year, Evgeny Grachev, who the Rangers decided to keep in Hartford of the AHL, he should still light the lamp countlessly throughout the tournament. Do you think he'll want to show Columbus Blue Jackets' Head Coach Ken Hitchcock what he can do on the world stage? I do.

Patrice Cormier (Canada) - If you want physical (and dirty) play, Patrice Cormier is your guy. Canada's Captain will try to toe the line while setting the tone for Canada physically. When this guy's on the ice, expect fireworks.

Magnus Paajarvi Svensson (Sweden) - Paajarvi Svensson has size and boy does he have speed. But, I'm still not sold on his goal scoring prowess. He can make a statement while leading the Swedish attack up front.

Jordan Schroeder (United States) - Schroeder has not had an enjoyable start to this year's college season. As the Minnesota Gophers' go-to-guy on offense, he has failed to supply the goals and assists expected of the shifty, smart forward. This will be Schroeder's third WJC, so big things are expected. If you're going to judge his play, see how he performs versus Canada, Sweden, and the other top teams. He failed to show up in the U.S.A.'s big games last year.

John Carlson (United States) - Carlson is one of the top defensemen in the tournament. He has size, skill, smarts, and already boasts a cup of coffee in the NHL. He has followed an excellent rookie campaign in the OHL with another excellent season in the AHL with Hershey. If he was playing outside of the Washington franchise, he may be in the NHL right now.

Nazem Kadri (Canada) - Which Kadri is going to show up? The guy who was wheeling and dealing during the Toronto Maple Leafs' exhibition season or the guy who performed so poorly in the early going of the OHL season that he almost wasn't invited to Canada's Orientation Camp? Kadri could prove to be Canada's number one forward. He could also prove to be their thirteenth.

Cam Fowler (United States) - Fowler has it all. He sees the ice well, skates well, and puts up big numbers on the score sheet. With a good tournament, Fowler could cement himself as a top-three pick in the '10 NHL Draft.

While I'll be watching all of these players, as well as many of the other big name players in the tournament, it'll be just as much fun to see what unheralded player(s) step to the forefront. Last year it was Slovakia's Tomas Tatar. Who will it be this year?

..............

With 13 games on the NHL circuit tonight there is no shortage of storylines.

Out in Desert, Ryan Smyth will make his return for the Kings. Who would've thought a 'Yotes/Kings matchup at the end of December would boast the fourth and fifth ranked teams in the West?

The Isles will pay another visit to MSG tonight and take on the suddenly hot Rangers. The Blueshirts will be looking for their fifth straight win, while the Isles will be seeking to up their game. They are only 3-7-0 in their last ten.

The Caps/Devils game should be a dandy. Michal Neuvirth is going to start his third straight game for Bruce Boudreau's club, and supposedly Jose Theodore wasn't very happy about that.

The Habs will visit the Leafs tonight, as well. Need I say more?

Sit down, bring out the Christmas leftovers, and enjoy a great day of hockey, starting with the Canada/Latvia tilt at 4:00 p.m.

'09-'10 World Juniors

The day after Christmas. Boxing Day. The 26th. It gives me goose bumps.

Ten teams compiled with various teenagers looking to gain some glory for their home countries, while also attempting to use the tournament as a launch pad for their hockey careers...it makes for some of the most entertaining hockey these eyes have ever seen.

The excitement of Pierre McGuire. The soothing tones of Gord Miller. Coming out parties. Upsets. Marc-Andre Fleury's own goal. The Punch-up in Piestany. Matt Halischuk. Jack Johnson's elbow. Jordan Eberle.

This year's tournament should be no different. With a multitude of World Junior eligible players playing in the NHL unavailable for Canada, this year's tournament seems to be a bit more wide open than in years past. While Canada is still arguably the favorite, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S. all present substantial road blocks for the Red and White.

As the tournament unfolds, I'll be writing about various prospects, teams, and individual games.

Happy Holidays, and don't forget to check in starting on the 26th!

Some Team Canada Thoughts, When Predators Attack, Score One for the Little Guy

As we march closer to decision time for Steve Yzerman and Hockey Canada, here are a few thoughts that are on my mind.

- Is Mike Richards playing himself off of the squad? I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be asking this question, but it's one that needs to be asked. Richards is pressing as the Flyers continue to struggle, and his play should be worrisome for Hockey Canada. He's forcing passes, is being scrutinized by the Philadelphia media, and there are rumors abroad about a possible schism in the Flyers' locker room. As the team captain, that doesn't project well for Richards. Guys like Brad Richards and Patrice Bergeron are playing excellently, and would fit into the role Richards would assume nicely. I still think going head-to-head against Alexander Ovechkin will help Richards get going, but it's always hard to tell...

- Speaking of Patrice Bergeron - this guy finally looks healthy again, and its really showing in his play. He leads the Bruins in scoring while also playing against the other team's top line, night in and night out. I don't think he has a very good shot at Team Canada, but it's great to see a healthy Bergeron thriving in Beantown.

- I originally had Duncan Keith as Team Canada's seventh defenseman on my original roster. Scratch that. Keith continues to get better, and has made great strides in the offensive zone this year, as well. His gap control is other worldly, and the overall fashion in which he is able to utilize his speed and quickness is something special. Smarts and speed, when combined...good for Chicago, bad for everyone else...

How 'bout them Predators?

Nashville is 11-3-1 in their last fifteen games, and have climbed to within three points of the Blackhawks in the Central Division.

Barry Trotz's uncanny ability to keep this team in the thick of things in the Western Conference is truly mind blowing when you compare the talent of the Predators to the other teams out West.

Martin Erat, a player I have always felt is underrated due in large part to playing for the Predators, as well as often playing with, for lack of a better phrase, a bunch of stiffs, has been on an absolute tear of late. Nine points in his last five games, including six goals, with at least one goal in each of his past four contests. The one year the Preds actually had some talent up front, Erat connected for 57 points in 68 games. Usually left with the daunting task of providing secondary support with linemates that could hardly be considered top-sixers in the NHL, Erat has played with Jason Arnott and Steve Sullivan over the past three games. I'd liken his game to that of his fellow countryman, Ales Hemsky...

Nathan Gerbe, the last forward cut out of Sabres' Camp, finally got his first call-up of the season on Wednesday.

He didn't disappoint.

Playing on a line with Derek Roy and Drew Stafford, Gerbe stepped right into the lineup and gave the Sabres the emotional spark Sabres' management had hoped for.

Gerbe helped set up the first Buffalo tally, knocking the puck into the corner, and then going to the front of the net and setting a screen, allowing Steve Montador's shot from the point to beat an unsuspecting Jose Theodore.

But Gerbe's night got a whole lot better in the second period, when the little guy was able to bank a shot off of Theodore's skate and into the back of the net for his first career NHL goal. His ability to find ways to score (he was standing on the goal-line when he scored) has been what has propelled him into the NHL. Gerbe is generously listed at 5'6'', but he he is really closer to 5'4.5''

His passion and desire is visible to everyone - including his teammates. When Gerbe got his first call-up last season, the entire Sabres' team stopped skating and began to tap their sticks on the ice.

How can you not root for a guy that makes a 5'9'' Derek Roy look like Yao Ming?

Stevens out, Laviolette in; Rangers Floundering

Who would've guessed that on the first Saturday of December the New York Islanders would be in front of both the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers in the Atlantic division standings?

When a team as talented as the Flyers looses six of their last seven outings, getting shutout in their two most recent games, heads will, and should, roll.

Paul Holmgren's decision to axe John Stevens was a necessary move. Although Steven's did, what was in my estimation, a solid job of helping the organization begin to turn things around in his first full season with the Flyers in '07-'08, it was clear that the team needed a change. Stevens is a very young coach - the Flyers seem to be in need of somebody with experience; somebody who can set a firm tone for the team and in the locker room.

Rumors abroad have it that there is a schism amongst the players in the Flyers' locker room. Captain Mike Richards' relationship with the Philly media has progressively deteriorated. The team, as a whole, has looked flat for far too long a stretch of games. All of these problems necessitated a change. New Coach Peter Laviolette has experience, a Stanley Cup ring, and an up-tempo offensive system that could be greatly beneficial for a very talented Flyers lineup.

Coaching change or not, the Flyers will fail to reach their potential as a Stanley Cup contender if Mike Richards and Jeff Carter continue to play below their capabilities. Richards has been committing far too many turnovers and hasn't looked quite like himself since the latter part of last season, while Carter has been snakebitten in the goals department for the last few weeks, now.

If Peter Laviolette can get his newly acquired locker room in order and find a way to get his top two forwards to play top-notch hockey, the Flyers will be just fine...

Marian Gaborik is second in the league in points and first in the league in goals. So why have the Rangers amassed just 13 points over their last 19 games?

No secondary scoring. So-so to downright bad defensive play. Injuries to their top two centers. It's not exactly rocket science.

However, for Coach John Tortorella, finding answers to these problems may be close to it. Ales Kotalik is goal-less in his last nine contests (playing him five minutes a game and not on the power-play has a lot to do with it, doesn't it Mr. Tortorella?). Chris Drury, Ryan Callahan, and Christopher Higgins have combined for just eight (eight!) goals. Wade Redden's absence has resulted in the Rangers throwing out three rookies on defense, which means that five of their six defensemen in those games have been 25 years or younger. Going against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin with a rookie defenseman on each of your three defensive pairs...yikes!

Not exactly the recipe for success.

While fixing all of these problems at once may seem to be a monumental task, there is one thing the Rangers forwards need to do that will alleviate many of the teams' problems - get to the net.

Going to net is a means for guys like Drury, Callahan, and Higgins to pick up some dirty goals. Going to net results in power-play opportunities for a team that needs to garner substantial time with the man advantage to generate offense. Going to the net will make this team harder to play against.

Ovechkin Banned, The Instigator Rule

Well, everyone knew this day would come eventually.

The NHL suspended Alex Ovechkin for two games for his vicious knee-on-knee hit on Tim Gleason. And about time, too.

Many around the hockey world, including me, had a major problem with the NHL not disciplining Ovechkin after his slewfoot of Atlanta's Rich Peverley, despite the fact that Anaheim's Evgeny Artyukhin was suspended for three games after committing an eerily similar slewfoot to that of Ovechkin's. Artyukhin was suspended on the same day that Ovechkin slewfooted Peverley.

Star treatment? Uh, duh.

Colin Campbell, the Senior VP and Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL, maintained that Artyukhin is a repeat offender while Ovechkin had a clean slate, which factored into his decisions.

Let's be real, here, Ovechkin did have a history. How about his knee-on-knee hit with Sergei Gonchar in last season's playoffs? His hit from behind on Jamie Heward? His hit to the back of an unsuspecting Danny Briere?

But today serves as a start. Props to Colin Campbell for (finally) making the right call. I have nothing against Ovechkin. He's one of my favorite players to watch, he's entertaining, and the fashion and rate at which he scores goals is other worldly. But the guy is wreck less. I'm a huge proponent of physical place, but you can't run around the ice continually throwing your body into other players without regard for the position they are in.

On the Gleason hit Ovechkin clearly leads with his knee - huge "no, no." Players who repeatedly break the "code" lose a tremendous amount of respect from their peers, and also make themselves targets in the process. Ovechkin may think he is, as he puts it, a "Big Russian Machine" who will never slow down or be injured - but he will, and he has so far this season - twice now (although this knee injury appears to be nothing serious).

Ovechkin would be wise to learn from this. Players around the league don't like these hits one iota. Nor does the league. Playing with a physical edge is part of what makes Ovechkin great. Playing with complete and utter wreck less abandon is what makes him a target - a target for suspension, a target for injury, and a target in the eyes of his opponent...

Speaking of the code, yet again I am reminded of why the instigator rule is, hands down, the stupidest rule in the game today.

In this past Saturday's contest featuring the Rangers versus the Penguins, Matt Cooke tattooed an unsuspecting Artem Anisimov in the head. Moving aside from whether the hit was clean or not, Donald Brashear, soon after, attempted to engage Matt Cooke in a fight, or at the very least, let Cooke know he was there.

Of course, the refs stepped in right away, and everyone in the building knew that Cooke would never actually fight Brashear, and that, because of the instigator rule, Cooke was completely protected. Cooke did answer the bell when challenged by Ryan Callahan - but that's not exactly a huge burden for Cooke to endure; Callahan is hardly what anyone would consider a fighter.

Do you think Cooke might think twice before ticking off the Rangers again after fighting Callahan? I don't. Do you think he might think twice before ticking off the Rangers if he had to tussle with Donald Brashear? He certainly would.

Rangers Coach John Tortorella had this to say after the game:

"Some of these guys that go about doing that and have no fear at all, as far as maybe a little retribution, it will continue. That's why our game is more violent right now. I think guys hide behind that rulebook...The linesman jumps in when someone is trying to take care of business. That should have been left alone. This is where our game is screwed up, as far as I'm concerned. There's just no respect in these types of situations. I think the rulebook has a little bit to do with that."

"Torts" is exactly right. All the instigator rule does is protect cheap shot agitators like Patrick Kaleta, Maxim Lapierre, and Jarkko Ruutu. They knew they can go out on the ice and act like complete idiots because they don't have to fight. That may seem barbaric to some, but it's one of the fundamental purposes of fighting in hockey (or at least it was).

"Alright, you want to take a run at our team's star player? That's fine, but be prepared to hear from our team's heavyweight."

That's how it should be. These agitators are completely protected.

As for the people who have a problem with fighting after clean hits - that's part of being a team! If you see one of your teammates, someone who puts it all on the line for you every night, get clobbered by a Dion Phaneuf open ice hit - clean or not - you're going to want retribution.

Of course, I doubt the league ever takes the instigator rule out of the game. They'll think no instigator rule equates with more fighting, and we all know the league doesn't want that. But it needs to be done. Put the game back in the players' hands; let them police themselves.

Unless more responsibility is given to the players, expect each and every agitator to continue serving their role as village idiot.