Coming through the Pipeline... A LOT of Talent.

Are you excited? You really should be, because the first entry of Team Canada’s three age based teams is, perhaps, the most exciting; it’s the guys who we will be relying on going forward. There is a lot to like in the kids: Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Danny Heatley, Simone Gagne, Jay Bouwmeester, and Robyn Regher were all integral parts of our 2004 World Cup winning team (Lecavalier was the tournament MVP), and newbies Sydney Crosby, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, and Dion Phaneuf are only just scratching the surface of their talents. For the three teams I stuck solely to the 81 candidates Gretzky listed for selection, with the exception being these babies. who didn’t have enough goaltenders or defensemen. So, first I will start by listing the roster according to the lines in which I would play them (and keep in mind that I have guys lined up where I think they would best produce, alongside complimentary players, NOT in the order of who I think is the best, so Brad Richards is this teams checking line center, not because he’s there fourth best center, but because he’s a reliable player to position there, capiche?), then I’ll give you a breakdown of why I made my selections, what’s exciting about the lineup, and how I think they’d do. Players are given with their age and team and goaltenders are listed in the order I’d play them.

1st Line: C – Vincent Lecavalier (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning (captain)
RW – Danny Heatley (24) – Ottawa Senators
LW – Simone Gagne (25) – Philadelphia Flyers
D – Dion Phaneuf (20) – Calgary Flames
D – Robin Regher (25) – Calgary Flames (assistant)

2nd Line: C – Jason Spezza (22) – Ottawa Senators
RW – Rick Nash (21) – Columbus Blue Jackets
LW – Sidney Crosby (18) – Pittsburgh Penguins
D – Jay Bouwmeester (22) – Florida Panthers
D – Barret Jackman (24) – St. Louis Blues

3rd Line: C – Eric Staal (21) – Carolina Panthers
RW – Patrice Bergeron (20) – Boston Bruins
LW – Pierre-Marc Bouchard (21) – Minnesota Wild
D – Dan Hamhuis (22) – Nashville Predators
D – Brent Seabrook (20) – Chicago Blackhawks

ChK Line: C – Brad Richards (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning (assistant)
RW – Michael Ryder (25) – Montreal Canadians
LW – Mike Richards (20) – Philadelphia Flyers
Alt – Jeff Carter (20) – Philadelphia Flyers
Alt – Steve Eminger (22) – Washington Capitals

In Goal: Andrew Raycroft (25) – Boston Bruins
Cam Ward (21) – Carolina Hurricanes
Marc-Andre Flurry (20) – Pittsburgh Penguins


Hard Cuts…

With the youngsters the only cut from the 81 was Anaheim’s Joffrey Lupol. A talented young winger, there really just wasn’t a spot for him. If he could be counted on as a defensive forward then he’d have had a place, but instead I went with the more versatile Pierre-Marc Bouchard and the “veteran” Ryder. For the third goaltender I added Marc-Andre Flurry, there might be better goalies under the age of 25 right now (Vancouver’s Alex Auld comes to mind), but Flurry is our goaltender of the future and he might as well get some experience in camp with the guys. Hamhuis, Seabrook, and Eminger were my defensive additions. Each is having a good season offensively, though each needs work in their own zone.

Linear Deliberations…

I’m not going to lie to you, I had a lot of fun with the first two lines of this team. The top line is just awesome and will be added as a unit when I make my Olympic team selections. Lecavalier, Gagne, and Heatley is a potent combination of scoring touch, ice vision, speed and toughness. The second line has gifted playmakers Crosby and Spezza giving the biscuit to super sniper Nash. It’s a young line and might not be super responsible defensively, but it’ll certainly score a LOT of goals. The third line is a little less exciting, but Staal has been the biggest surprise of the young season and Bouchard is a gifted little playmaker. Bergeron gives the line a physical power forward to crash the net. The checking line is a little of a shambles. That was the hardest part of this team, finding grinders to man the checking line. It isn’t particularly surprising, because the young players who will have gained recognition in the league are the ones who put the puck in the net. Building a reputation as a great checking line forward takes a little longer. Yet Brad Richards is a lock for the Olympic team and he’s a solid defensive scorer, so much the way the national team asked Thornton to man the checking line in the World Cup, so I would ask Richards to guide a hodgepodge checking line. For a young forward, Mike Richards has shown solid defensive attributes (likely the result of playing for hardnosed coach Ken Hitchkock) and Ryder really is relegated there. Jeff Carter is the alternate forward, a good young player, just not quite good enough.

The defensive pairings were pretty easy, the Calgary guys are a natural fit together. Regher’s stay at home defensive responsibility blends well with Phaneuf’s abundant abilities. The same can be said of the second grouping, where Jackman is a solid force in the defensive zone and Bouwmeester a great quarterback. Hamhuis and Seabrook would see time on the ice, but likely more often split apart and thrown out there with Regher and Jackman as a safety blanket. A young defense, they’re quite capable, but prone to the mental lapses of youth (the brunt of which I still make daily…).

Eight Ball Says…

This team is awesome and they would definitely score a lot of goals, but they’re a little weak at the back and in goal. Raycroft is a solid NHL net minder and he’s getting better, but there’s no way I’d want him in net for our one and only team (especially given his, and Boston’s, terrible start to the season). The top two lines would dominate the opposition and we might be able to win some shootouts against the Russians or Swedes, but the lack of some seasoned gritty vets who ensure that the little things happen would ultimately undo our kids against a balanced team like the Czechs or one of our older clubs. Still, it’s exciting to see how many guys 25 or under (12 by my count) will be serious considerations for the Olympic team and the experience that Lecavalier, Heatley, Gagne et all are getting now will only make them seasoned vets sooner. Only, skilled seasoned vets, still with young legs… You’ve got to admit, the thought of all that talent skating for Canada in the next three, four, or (in the case of Crosby) five Olympics well... it’s pretty exciting, don’t you think?