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Pierre's Picks: Who will be on the 2010 Olympic team
Call it a team of All-Canadian Monsters.
As we approach the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, there will be no shortage of talent available for executive director Steve Yzerman to call upon as he forms the roster of the men's Olympic hockey team.
Olympic hockey analyst Pierre McGuire has joined in the debate, offering up his selections for who he thinks will be pulling on the maple leaf sweater one year from now.
While the choices will be difficult, there are plenty of cornerstones to consider.
Just three years ago, Sidney Crosby was not a part of the squad that finished out of the medals at the Torino Games. That roster omission likely won't be repeated this time. Also, Torino returnees Jarome Iginla and Vincent Lecavalier could be considered locks to make the roster.
That's the easy part. After that, it's anybody's guess. Take a look at Pierre's picks and add your name to the debate by submitting your comments below.
Goalies
Martin Brodeur (Montreal, QC)
Canada’s ultimate pressure-treated goaltender, winning 3 Stanley Cups, Olympic gold and a World Cup during a glittering professional career.
Roberto Luongo (Montreal, QC)
Considered Martin Brodeur’s heir apparent as Canada’s international goalie of record partly on the strength of two gold medal performances at the World Championship.
Carey Price (Vancouver, BC)
Won over a country at the 2007 World Jr. Championship when he stared down the U.S. in a semifinal shootout showdown and then beat Russia for gold.
Defencemen
Dan Boyle (Ottawa, ON)
Is a coach’s dream – a one-man transition team with all the right moves to move the puck forward and generate offence from the back end.
Jay Bouwmeester (Edmonton, AB)
Recorded a natural hat trick for Canada winning consecutive golds at the 2003 World Championship, 2004 World Championship and 2004 World Cup.
Brent Burns (Ajax, ON)
Had a 2-goal performance in Canada’s gold medal loss at the 2008 World Championship and earned tournament best defenceman honours.
Mike Green (Calgary, AB)
Has established himself in less than two seasons as the world’s best goal-scoring defenceman and a virtually unstoppable force on the power play.
Scott Niedermayer (Edmonton, AB)
Is the only player in hockey history to win a Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior title.
Dion Phaneuf (Edmonton, AB)
Plays a high risk, high reward game – blasting slapshots and opponents in a style of play that screams: Beware if you dare to cross him.
Shea Weber (Sicamous, BC)
May play in the heart of country music but he’s pure rock and roll on the ice combining toughness and talent as well as any NHL defenceman.
Forwards
Jeff Carter (London, ON)
Has followed up a sensational World Junior career for Canada by developing into an elite NHL goal-scorer – all without compromising his defensive duties.
Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, NS)
Has represented Canada only once at the senior level, but oh how he represented the country in 2005 – accumulating 16 points in just 9 games.
Shane Doan (Halkirk, AB)
Scored the championship-winning goal for Canada at the 2004 World Cup and is a two-time gold medalist at the World Championships.
Simon Gagne (Ste. Foy, QC)
Has earned berths on each of Canada’s last three entries in best-on-best tournaments: the 2002 and 2006 Olympics and 2004 World Cup.
Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK)
Has been the very epitome of strength down the middle in the NHL after averaging a remarkable 1.5 points per game as a two-time World Jr. medalist.
Dany Heatley (Freiburg, GER)
Has scored a national team record 34 goals in major senior international competition for Canada and was named 2008 World Championship MVP.
Jarome Iginla(Edmonton, AB)
Will be forever remembered as the man whose clutch two-goal performance at the 2002 Games helped deliver Canada’s first Olympic gold medal in 50 years.
Vincent Lecavalier (Ile Bizard, QC)
Is a big game player, setting up the Stanley Cup winning goal in 2004 and four months later sending Canada to the World Cup final with an overtime goal vs. Czech Republic.
Brenden Morrow (Carlyle, SK)
Has represented Canada 5 times in senior competition, but forged his place in the Canadian hockey consciousness with an awe-inspiring 2008 playoff performance for Dallas.
Rick Nash (Brampton, ON)
Has been a breathtaking offensive force not only in the NHL but for Canada at the World Championships, where he has scored 21 goals in 27 games.
Mike Richards (Kenora, ON)
Is every bit the heart and soul player Philadelphia and Team Canada icon Bobby Clarke was, the player Richards is most often and most appropriately compared to.
Marc Savard (Ottawa, ON)
Is a point per game NHLer who holds a unique distinction for players of his skill level – he has never represented Canada at a major international event.
Joe Thornton (London, ON)
Has been the NHL’s premier playmaker over the past 4 seasons and earned most valuable player and scoring title honours at the 2005 World Championship.
Jul 02, 2009 | 7:34 PM ET
Good team but lets show Heatly if he doesn't want to play for Ottawa or Edmonton then we don't want him playing for Canada. We have enough talent in Canada with out needing this guy. Playing on team canada should be an honor for proud canadians, not people like him . God knows he may back out at the last second any way if there was a chance he could get on a better team.
Jun 24, 2009 | 6:53 PM ET
i think one of the hardest jobs stevie y has ever had will be picking this team pierre . i like your picks but there are so many great players left out . i think if we had 2 teams we would have gold and silver lol ! the player i think you didn't include , but as a substitute , who i would have on my team anytime is eric staal! he should be on the team not on the substuitute list !!!
May 09, 2009 | 7:55 PM ET
I'd pick these guys: between the pipes: Luongo, Ward, Steve Mason; blue line - Boyle, Weber, Phaneuf, Bowmeester, Seabrook, Keith, Green; forwards - Iginla, Doan, Crosby, Arnott, Getzlaf, Carter, Mike Richards, Eric Staal, Heatley, Whitney, Stamkos, Toews, Savard.
Apr 06, 2009 | 5:25 PM ET
Phaneuf out, put in someone with solid +/- like Duncan Keith Price out, give Mason a shot How about taking a look at Bryan Little or Mike Cammalleri at forward
Mar 13, 2009 | 11:36 PM ET
if I were to choose the team today for 2010,I will choose as follows Defence Dion phineuf\ Robert Regr Mike Green Dan Boyle best smart D in Canada Scott Niedermayer\Brian Campbell Centre Sidney Crosby best Centre in Canada Joe Thorton Secondary scoring very important Jeff Carter PHI\ Mike Richards Eric Stall ( Give satll family a at a game) Right Wing Jarome Ignila best Right wing in Canada Martin st Lois Todd White( Love the way he plays everyday) Shane Dawn (More experience) Left wing Simon Gagne PHI No doubt knows the game Dany Heatley Rick Nash best Left wing Mike Cammalleri\Ray Whitney (Why not give then a chance Goalie Martin Brodeur and hope Scott Clemmensen does not no revenge on him as American team goalie Roberto Luongo can't get any more better that this Steve Mason\ Strong early starter Jose Theodore ( can still show he can do the job) Posted by Johnboiy
Mar 06, 2009 | 8:22 PM ET
I agree with these selection other than Price at his current pace, but who know where he'll be next season. Bottom line is the 3rd string goalie should go to an up-and-comer like him or Mason. Otherwise I'd hold the positions of Gagne, Savard and Doan open to whoever is hot at the time. I'd hate for Hockey Canada to make the same mistake as Turino by leaving the hot sticks of Cheechoo, Crosby and Staal at home. I think the rest of the forwards are safe bets.
Feb 20, 2009 | 10:17 AM ET
St. Louis and Cammaleri, Setoguchi should not make this olympic team. The 2 former players are first year smoke shows and we won't know whats underneath for a few years yet. Cammaleris in a contract year so who knows who shows up to the Olympics with him. Setoguchi is playing on probably the best team in the league right now so his numbers are going to be inflated like crazy. What happens when he doesn't have the chemistry of his line mates and what if he can't mesh on Team Canada. We can't afford to ask these questions. Furthermore if I ever see a player for team Canada try a "Spinorama" I might sh!t myself. Possibly the most selfish play in hockey. If it works, great you look like a champ but how many times has Campbell lost the puck and the other team has had 2 on 1s the other way while Campbell skates to the bench like a tard. No thank you. I can here the commentators now, "Ooooh spinorama!! Campbell falls, loses the puck and Ovechkin, Semin and Malkin go the other way on one defenseman. " Sounds like a brillant plan to me.... dumbass. Widemans a good player but he falls into the Setoguchi category. What if he can't show up for the Olypmics, he's only ever had one huge year like this one and he's one the best team in the east, which has been firing on all cylinders since September. His numbers might be a bit inflated as well.
Feb 18, 2009 | 5:33 PM ET
Pierre, the people below me dont know what there talking about. Here is who i think should be on the 2010 Olympic Team Canada: Dany Heatley Sidney Crosby Jarome Iginla "C" Rick Nash Vincent Lecavalier "A" Marc Savard Jeff Carter Joe Thorton "A" Jonathan Toews Ryan Getzlaf Mike Richards Mike Fisher Shea Weber Dion Phaneuf Mike Green Scott Niedermayer "A" Dan Boyle Chris Pronger Roberto Luongo Martin Brodeur Carey Price Extras: Eric Staal Rob Blake Simon Gagne And that is who I think should be on Team Canada and here is why: On the 1st line you have a set up man who can also score in Crosby, a pure goal scorer in Heatley and Iginla. Iginla can also give you a physical presence which makes room for Crosby. On the 2nd line you have a goal scorer/ set up man in Lecavalier, one of the best set up men in the NHL in Savard and a pure goal scorer in Nash. Who can also give you a physical presence. On the 3rd line you have a pure sniper in young Carter, probably the best assist man in the world in Thorton who can also score himself and a goal scorer/ set up man in Toews. Who you know can play his best on thw world stage like he did at the 2007 World Jr's. On the 4th line you have a sniper/ grining power forward in Getzlaf, a hard working but with a good touch around the net in Fisher and the ultimate player Richards, who is lethal in the offensive end but plays probably the best defensive hockey and forward can play other than maybe his linemate Fisher. This line can make an offensive play out of anything and will burry the opposing team if given the chance. Then on the defensive end there is a combination of both scoring and stay at home bone chrushers. In the 1st pairing you have two offensively gifted defensemen who can also demolish you if you have your head down on the rush. In the 2nd pairing you have the best offensive defenseman in the league in Green and have a veteran with offensive and defensive skills in Niedermayer. In the 3rd pairing you have a really good break out man in Boyle and a hard hitting defeseman in Pronger. Which gives you 6 solid defensemen with offensive capibilities. And in goal you have probably the two best goalies in the world with Brodeur and Luongo and I would say in the top five with Price. And if you look back in the record books you would know that Luongo and Brodeur can perform on the world stage. So can young Price though as he did at the 2--7 World Jr's where he back stopped Canda to a GOLD MEDAL. And thats what canadian hockey fans love. And i hope you read this over and right back because i think with this line-up Canada would be unstoppable, just like they were in 2002. Because they have a variety of skill and players which would help them win not like Torino. So please think about this and right back, Also if it is good enough send it to Yzerman. haha.... Your fan and fellow canadian Ronnie. Thanks for the consideration.
Feb 17, 2009 | 7:29 PM ET
i have 4 changes....take out carter, gagne and savard, replace them with jonathan toews, corey perry and eric staal. then replace brent burns with chris pronger---there u have it gold! actually whether with Pierre or my list we are still winning gold...another thing, one guy that nobody evr mentions and who i think is gonna have a breakout year next season and will turn alot of heads is gonna be Nathan Horton
Feb 17, 2009 | 11:37 AM ET
I'd want Toews over Morrow. I agree with the choice between Doan/Toews and I think Doan will be a huge asset. But consider this, Toews revered Doan as a mentor and I think pairing the two at the Olympic stage would really tap Toews' potential. The Heatley, Getzlaf, Nash pairing is a no-brainer. They absolutely dominated during the worlds. I don't know why ANYONE would be opposed to this selection. Mason and Price is a tough choice. Price obviously has the skill set, the composure and the talent to be the next great goalie. But so does Mason.
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