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Canadian Olympic orientation camp roster announced

I'd select Nash for sure. He's the type of player who seems to really thrive when on a team of other players of his calibre.
 
L K said:
I mean, Jarome Iginla had a great 2010 Olympics too and a very strong second half to the season/postseason last year.  I certainly wouldn't want him on the Olympic roster though.
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Maybe, but I wouldn't necessarily rule it out either. I look at the '02 team with guys like Nieuwendyk and Yzerman and the '10 team with Niedermayer and I think there's real value in taking the guys who've been there before and who provide leadership even if they're not tearing up the league. Playing ability aside Iginla would be my #1 choice for Team Captain right now and considering that he's on pace for a 25 goal, 54 point season it's not like he couldn't contribute on the ice either.
 
Bullfrog said:
I'd select Nash for sure. He's the type of player who seems to really thrive when on a team of other players of his calibre.
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So he was good with crappy players on the Jackets and crappy with good players on the Rangers? They just beat us 7-1 and he got 0 points >_>

I would like to also add that only 3 players didn't get a point that game on his team.
 
losveratos said:
Bullfrog said:
I'd select Nash for sure. He's the type of player who seems to really thrive when on a team of other players of his calibre.
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So he was good with crappy players on the Jackets and crappy with good players on the Rangers? They just beat us 7-1 and he got 0 points >_>

I would like to also add that only 3 players didn't get a point that game on his team.
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They obviously didn't need him. Maybe he took it easy?

I've never been a Nash fan, but I'd definitely pick him to play for Canada.
 
losveratos said:
Bullfrog said:
I'd select Nash for sure. He's the type of player who seems to really thrive when on a team of other players of his calibre.
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So he was good with crappy players on the Jackets and crappy with good players on the Rangers? They just beat us 7-1 and he got 0 points >_>

I would like to also add that only 3 players didn't get a point that game on his team.
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He made a number of very good plays and a couple of pretty sick dekes. He's been injured this year, but scored at a point-per-game last season. He's very, very talented.
 
Dreger and McKenzie made their final predictions, which are probably as accurate as you're going to find. Doubt there will be much change from this.

Couture - Crosby - Stamkos
Benn - Toews - Perry
Duchene - Getzlaf - Giroux
Sharp - Tavares - Nash
Bergeron, St. Louis

Keith - Doughty
Bouwmeester - Weber
Vlasic - Pietrangelo
Boyle, Subban

Price - Luongo - Smith
 
More than anything else I like the defense. Very mobile and intelligent group with a good mix of offensive gamebreakers and steady two-way types.

They're also loaded to the hilt with forwards who can take faceoffs... with 10 capable centers out of that group. I guess it allows them to be super aggressive in the faceoff circle. Getzlaf gets kicked out? Fine, Giroux and Duchene can take the draw.
 
Defence seems pretty much set in stone.  No alterations there.

Smith as the third goalie -- I'm not so sure about.  Wouldn't have a problem with Crawford, Harding (health depending), maybe Fleury, even Brodeur.

My personal opinion is that Thornton, E. Staal, Neal, Hall or Seguin would be better options than Nash.
 
Snoopzilla said:
Dreger and McKenzie made their final predictions, which are probably as accurate as you're going to find. Doubt there will be much change from this.

Couture - Crosby - Stamkos
Benn - Toews - Perry
Duchene - Getzlaf - Giroux
Sharp - Tavares - Nash
Bergeron, St. Louis

Keith - Doughty
Bouwmeester - Weber
Vlasic - Pietrangelo
Boyle, Subban

Price - Luongo - Smith
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The big questions marks will be Kunitz and Nash, IMO. I think Subban makes it.
 
I don't know how you take Smith.  .910 last season and .911 so far this season is not Olympic calibre.  In all seriousness, Bernier or Reimer would be better 3rd options.  I know it likely won't matter but still.
 
Potvin29 said:
I don't know how you take Smith.  .910 last season and .911 so far this season is not Olympic calibre.  In all seriousness, Bernier or Reimer would be better 3rd options.  I know it likely won't matter but still.
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I've never quite understood the love affair with Smith. I mean, he had a good season 3 years ago and has been middle of the pack since then. Heck, he had a hard time making any real impact in the NHL before that season.
 
Potvin29 said:
I don't know how you take Smith.  .910 last season and .911 so far this season is not Olympic calibre.  In all seriousness, Bernier or Reimer would be better 3rd options.  I know it likely won't matter but still.
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I would take it a step further and say, outside of 2011-2012, in what year has Mike Smith been one of the three best Canadian goaltenders in the NHL.  He plays in a defense first system in Phoenix and outside of that 11'-12' season (2.21 GAA .930 SV%) he is a career .907 SV% (.913 SV% with it included).

Other Canadian goalies having better years AND better career numbers:

Bernier - .928 SV% (Career .918%)
Harding - .933 SV% (Career .918%)
Luongo - .922 SV% (Career .919%)
Price - .927 SV% (Career .916%)
Reimer - .922 SV% (Career .916%)

Other Canadian goalies with similar stats:
MA Fleury - .919% (Career .910%)
Mason - .922 SV% (Career .907%)
Holtby - .910 SV% (Career .919%)

Then you have Brodeur who the game has clearly passed by at this point but you never know with the Olympic committee.
 
Just to add to the Smith debate I watch him 30 times a year and these days he is a not a team first player.  He seems to crap on his teammates a lot even though he is not playing well.  Now exactly what you want from a guy starting as 3rd stringer.
 
Something to keep in mind, and I'm not sure this happened but I assume it has, but whoever is the 3rd goalie on the team is probably going to be the guy who responded best/most enthusiastically to the question of "How would you like to be on Team Canada but realistically never play?". Keep in mind we're not talking about Vancouver here. We're talking about someone who would have to fly halfway across the world, probably not bring their families and spend two weeks watching hockey from a Russian press box. This is opposed to having two weeks off with family to do whatever you want.

So if rumours are leaking that Smith is the guy in that spot, I don't know if my first instinct would be to assume that Steve Yzerman can't figure out the intricacies of SV% but rather that Mike Smith is the guy who was best suited to that particular role.
 
Peter D. said:
Defence seems pretty much set in stone.  No alterations there.

Smith as the third goalie -- I'm not so sure about.  Wouldn't have a problem with Crawford, Harding (health depending), maybe Fleury, even Brodeur.

My personal opinion is that Thornton, E. Staal, Neal, Hall or Seguin would be better options than Nash.
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Even if it's Nash's skillset they specifically want (big, fast and highly skilled) they could just take Carter instead who's playing a lot better right now. Doesn't come with the reputation Nash has as a great international performer, but still.

I'd probably lean towards not taking Nash, but I trust their judgement. He's worked really well on lines with Toews and Getzlaf in the past.
 
Potvin29 said:
Now apparently Couture is out 3-4 weeks: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440579  A few guys who will be question marks to be healthy.
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That's disappointing. I really wanted him to make this team and come in on a tear. Not sure if either will happen now.
 
Team Canada roster to be announced at 11am this morning.  Available to be seen on TSN tv/radio, Sportsnet, CTV, CBC.
 
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