Transcendant Talents, Tantalizing Matchups, and Heart Stopping Agony... Just Another Day at Anton's

In a single elimination game anything can happen, which is why you must keep as players of transcendental talent on your team as possible. Would the 1998 Olympic team have beaten Dominik Hasek and the Czechs if Mark Messier had gone to Nagano? Well, not likely, but I do believe that we would have won had coach Marc Crawford given a penalty shot to Wayne Gretzky. You have the all time greatest player sitting on your bench when you absolutely need the puck past the goaltender and you look past him? Sure, the Great One was in his late 30s, a step slower with both the feet and the hands, but penalty shootouts in the semi-finals of the Olympic tournament are when transcendental players shine. It might have been Messier somehow finding a way to score in overtime, or it might have been Gretzky scoring on a penalty shot to keep us alive (it certainly didn’t help that another of those transcendental players, Mario Lemieux was 18,000 miles away in his sweatpants at the time, retired from hockey). I cannot help but wonder about how the shootout would have gone, had we put the puck on the stick of Gretzky, Lemieux, Steve Yzerman (who was on the team, but also did not shoot), Joe Sakic, and Paul Kariya (who were both on the team, but injured). Of course, the Dominator was at the top of his game in ’98 and perhaps he stonewalls all those guys as well, we’ll never know, which some would say means I should stop thinking about the possibilities, but there is value in ensuring that we do not make thee same mistakes going forward. I was thinking about this the other night when I read that captain Mario had offered to give up his spot on the Olympic team for Sydney Crosby. Crosby is a unique selection choice at this point, he is not a given as he will be for the next Olympics, but at the same time, he has come in to the NHL and shown that even at 18 he can excel at the top level, that the hype about him is valid. So, at some point a decision is going to be made about him in a more direct way than for any other player. And, almost precisely because of 1998, if it were me making the decision, as it will be bellow, I call Syd the Kid’s name, because even at 18, he is that transcendental player which raises a team to greatness.

1st Line: C – Joe Sakic (36) – Colorado Avalanche (assistant)
RW – Jerome Iginla (28) – Calgary Flames
LW – Mario Lemieux (40) – Pittsburgh Penguins (captain)
D – Scott Niedermayer (32) – Anaheim Mighty Ducks
D – Adam Foote (34) – Columbus Blue Jackets

2nd Line: C – Vincent Lecavalier (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning
RW – Danny Heatley (24) – Ottawa Senators
LW – Simone Gagne (25) – Philadelphia Flyers
D – Chris Pronger (31) – Edmonton Oilers (assistant)
D – Scott Hannan (29) – San Jose Sharks

3rd Line: C – Brad Richards (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning
RW – Sidney Crosby (18) – Pittsburgh Penguins
LW – Alex Tanguay (26) – Colorado Avalanche
D – Wade Redden (28) – Ottawa Senators
D – Ed Jovanowski (29) – Vancouver Canucks

ChK Line: C – Joe Thornton (26) – Boston Bruins
RW – Shane Doan (29) – Phoenix Coyotes
LW – Kris Draper (34) – Detroit Red Wings
Alt – Ryan Smyth (29) – Edmonton Oilers
Alt – Dion Phaneuf (20) – Calgary Flames

In Goal: Martin Brodeur (33) – New Jersey Devils
Roberto Luongo (26) – Florida Panthers
Jose Theodore (29) – Montreal Canadians

Hard Cuts…

Were does one begin to whittle down 81 players to 23? It’s like eating the whole plate at Anton’s Pasta, if you want that “I ate the whole thing” pen, you just have to pick up your fork and get to work… Every great team begins in goal, so that’s where I began. Nine players, three spots and really not even that complicated, because there are only four worth considering: Brodeur, Luongo, Theodore, and Marty Turco. For this tournament, Brodeur is still our starter. He’s had a slow start, but I think the rust from a year off will whittle away and he’ll be back to his top form (which is to say, best in the NHL). I gave Luongo the nod over the other two to start for the 26 to 30 team, so he gets the backup nod, and I give it to Theodore by a hair over Turco (although I wouldn’t fault those who feel it goes the other way).

In defense I again started with the locks: Niedermayer, Pronger, Foote, Redden, and Jovo are all still at the top of their game and deserve to play in Italy. Now, two spots remain from a pool of 18 players, which makes things tough. So, I revert to slicing the dead wood off the bottom: Adrian Aucoin, Steve Staios, and Sheldon Souray are good but not that good. Eric Desjardins is not the player he once was, nor is Jay Bouwmeester the player he soon will be (despite his excellent performance at the 2004 World Cup). There are a group of guys in their prime (Dan Boyle, Kyle McLaren, Derek Morris, and Brad Stuart) who despite considerable abilities, didn’t make the 26-30 squad and thus are easily eliminated. Which leaves Rob Blake, Nick Boynton, Eric Brewer, Chris Phillips, Hannan, Barret Jackman, Phaneuf, and Robyn Regher, of whom Boynton and Jackman just aren’t quite in the same league. Blake was a hard cut, but at 36, I feel he has slipped and the team has enough veteran leadership to withstand his loss. I chose Hannan, because he is the top defensive presence of those players remaining and I felt the team could use one more solid defensive blue liner. Now, choosing the alternate is tricky. You want someone who can step in a play a big role if say Niedermayer (knock on wood that he doesn’t) goes down in the tournament (players lost before the Olympics begin may be replaced), so I chose Phaneuf, because he does everything well, is a 20 year old franchise defenceman (which could also read, transcendental player) and will benefit by being with the team. I would consider pre-tournament injury replacements from among those final three (Regher, Phillips, and Brewer) with possibly Blake and Bouwmeester thrown in as well.

The forwards were the most plentiful, so I started by eliminating anyone who didn’t make their own age group (seems reasonable don’t you think?). 10 gone, 39 left, 13 spots… hmmm… we need some gimmies. Well, Mario’s the captain and even at 40 if he wants to go he gets my “C” and a plane ticket. Then we have Sakic and Iginla who remain his line mates. After them, Thornton, Lecavalier, Richards, Gagne, and Heatley are all locks given their prior involvement, stature, and current level of play. Despite what some people think, you cannot send the “best” players (by which they mean top scorers) and stack them any which way and expect success – position and a solid checking line are important. Thornton centered the checking line so exceptionally well at the World Cup, that I would again ask him to play that role (I think it speaks to his character as a team guy that he accepts the role with such vigor, something the acerbic press in Boston should remember) and if you’ve read the opening four columns of this series you know I love his line mates from ’04, so accept your invitations Mr. Doan and Mr. Draper. All of which leaves me with 3 spots left… time to shave off the bottom of the pile. Eric Lindross, Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, Rob Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan, Glenn Murray, Jeff O’Neil, Marc Chouinard, Brendan Morrison, Patrice Bergeron, Michael Ryder, Pierre Marc – Bouchard, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter are all eliminated either because they’re just past their prime, not yet at their prime, not quite good enough, or “damaged.” Finally we have to look at things positionally. The top line is filled, as is the second line (the Lecavalier-Gagne-Heatley), and the checking line. Richards is a perfect third line center (which means a sound two-way guy), so all that remains is two wings for him and an alternate player. For the moment, lets forget about the alternate, so I can immediately eliminate checking line players Kris Draper, John Madden, and Michael Peca, although if someone on the checking is injured these would be the guys to whom I’d look for a replacement. Also, while young centers Jason Spezza and Eric Staal are having exceptional seasons, they are not (yet) better than any of the centers already selected. Their time will come, but for now they must wait. I’ve already said I would include Crosby, who would be a natural fit on the right side of Richards line. Which leaves the left wing and four players: Steve Yzerman, Tanguay, Smyth, and Martin St. Louis. Really, it’s like deciding which you’d rather drink, Guinness, Stella, or Phillips Espresso Stout. Any way you look at it, you’re going to have a great drink… In the end, I left St Louis off, because he’s had a slow start to the season, but if in the next month he gets it going, he might be a natural choice to pair with line mate Richards. I left Yzerman off because I think his body has finally reached that point where it is not competing with the precision he’d like. Thus, he narrowly lost out to Smyth for the alternate spot. I like Smyth because I think he could fill a role on any line if asked. St Louis would likely be the player I called if someone hurt themselves prior to the games, although there really is always a place on my team for Stevie Y.

Linear Deliberations…

I think I pretty much covered my goaltender and forward decisions above and the defensive pairings are fairly logical, strong defensive presence to support superb two way player.

Eight Ball Says…

Well, we all know that Canadians expect this team, no matter who Gretzky selects to play, to come home with the gold. I like this particular roster for its depth, versatility, blend of savvy veterans and agile youngsters. It has playmakers, goal scorers, and an abundance of size (the feature which really distinguishes Canadian hockey, our blend of skill and power). I do not think that gold can be guaranteed any longer, goaltenders from other countries are just too strong (the Fins could easily ride Kiprusoff to a gold medal) and I of course am phobic of those darn Czechs… still, this team would have some great players from whom to choose 5 penalty shooters, transcendental players who would score when the chips are down, of course I don’t think my heart could handle it (I knew I shouldn't have eaten that entire pasta, with a cream to boot...), I’d be collapsed on the floor missing the finals moments as Crosby raced towards the net, gave his leg kick, juked, turned, put the puck on his back hand and…