Vancouver Canucks

By BCapp on Dec 8, 2009

Hey great post as always.

I’ll focus on the American b/c its a change

First, I can basically guarantee you Komi will make the team as its GM’ed and coached by Burke and Wilson and Burke we’ll take him, if for no other reason then to save face for signing him as a FA.

As well Callahan has gone ice cold, and while he hasn’t been red hot, I think Okposo would make it over him.

As well JVR and Connoly/Pominville we’ll put up a fight, but JVR is too young.

I also feel like Modano we’ll make it, because if he is playing he’ll be on the team, just like Canada would have put Sakic on the team.

Cheers!

By BCapp on Dec 9, 2009

I am gonna read Canada’s info later and we can discuss that.

But in regards to Komi, I am not denying he hasn’t earned the spot. But I just don’t see Burke being a big enough man to admit that. I can see Komi making it over Orpik and we’ll see if Bogosian (as a non-camp guy) gets the call, though he definitely deserves it.

EJ - Rafalski
Martin - Whitney
Komi - Suter (shut down line)
Bogosian

Is a pretty damn solid D-core. Whitney has also underwhelmed this year. He is far from bad, but he hasn’t been great.

In regards to Callahan I’ll say flat out, I don’t enough about the Rangers so I’ll take your word.

I still say Modano will make it as he is the face of American hockey, even if he doesn’t get much minutes. Though there is a good veteran core there, particularly around Langenbrunner/Drury/Rafalski.

Though I would argue that Thomas isn’t really a typical ‘veteran’ as he’s never been to the games for the Americans and spent most of his career in the A.

Do you agree Miller has locked in the #1 unless he collapses?

By BCapp on Dec 9, 2009

I think its pretty clear in Canada it will be Brodeur/Luongo fighting for #1 and Price/Turco/Fleury for number 3 with Fleury in the lead (I personally think it should be Price…and I am a TML fan)

By john bennett on Dec 10, 2009

Dec 10/09 My Team Canada at this point:
(Forward L to R) ,(1) nash, crosby, iginla (2) toews, getzlaf, perry (3)marleau,thornton, heatley (Checking line) morrow, m. richards,
j. staal, (Extra forward) brad richards (Defense left-right)
(1) niedermayer- weber (2)pronger- boyle (3) keith-doughty plus
bouwmeester (Goal) brodeur,fleury, luongo
This is a very serious line-up based on size, experience,speed,
youth, current year stats, face-off success, dependability,flexability
leadership, Honorable mention to: stamkos, carter,penner,zajac
fisher,st louis, lecavalier, m. green, regehr and sadly, e. staal

By BCapp on Dec 10, 2009

Hey John,

I agree with most things, but a couple differences.

1) this is probably a meaningless difference, but I think the Getzlaf line would be the third line as it is a powerhouse/checking/offensive line

While the Thorton line is more directly offensive and those are usually considered second. But again this doesn’t really mean anything.

2) I can’t see St. Louis not making this team. He has had an incredible year and over recent years he has been the most succesful and consistent of that old killer tampa line.

As well He is probably Canada’s second best RW (Iginla than Perry/St. Louis), although for this team, Perry will have more to offer, because we have more skilled guys (like St. Louis) than power forwards (like Perry).

I also don’t see how J. Staal has played his way onto this team. There are plenty of players who can play just as strong a defensive game/on the PK who have much more offensive potential. I’d take Carter over him. Possibly even Fisher.

I’ll explain Fisher. Fisher is having an incredible year and is a noted two way player who can play wing and C.

The most important tangible that Fisher brings however is the ability to play well and keep in game mode with limited ice time. A lot of the other players on this team are used to bbeing stars and may not be able to play well without enough minutes to keep them pumped.

3)In regards to B Richards being the extra forward, I really believe that that has to go to Stamkos. While we are SO deep at C we can’t guarantee him a spot, but he has played his way into a spot on this team. He has the 3rd most goals in the league in the last 50 regular season games.

4)I don’t see why everyone puts Neids on this team. He hasn’t earned it this year. He just hasn’t played that well. We have enough veterans on this team and he doesn’t need to be on it. And if he does make it, he has to play with Pronger b/c htey are better than the sum of their parts.

I also think Regehr has earned a spot as the best Canadian shut down D.

While I love Doughty and think he has earned it, I don’t see him getting it because of youth and lack of experience. Maybe the 7th spot.

I also believe b/c of chemistry reasons Keith should play with Seabrook.

And I heard an interesting point from some commentators that only Green or Boyle will make this team, not both…And I agree. This is what I see:

Pronger-Weber
Keith-Seabrook
Boyle-Regehr
Bouwemeister.

And I say the order on goalies is Brodeur, Luongo, Fleury.

Cheers:)

And Jason can’t wait till next week to start this again!

By john bennett on Dec 11, 2009

Dec 11/09 A good response from BCapp on ‘ My Team Canada’ at
this point. Some further comments, (1) the order of the lines #1,2,
3, …, matters not, . . . ,whomever babcock chooses to use for
whatever match up, is the key. (2) I really like marty st louis, plays with a huge heart, led all point scorers in World’s in Zurich last April plus an all star there,. . . ,yes having a good year but I don’t like his goal output, his -4, age 34 and size although he is a very
powerful little bugger, (3) Others have also mentioned they can’t see J. Staal. I like the fact that he’s a big moose with a great reach,
he can skate fast, he’s won a Cup, a 1/2 draft and he might give some of those big Russian F’s or D something to think about. Size
will be a factor here, ( if we get there). Who handles ovechkin,
malkin,kovalchuk? I watched big volchenkov bounce mike richards
all over the ice in Ottawa’s 2-0 win over Flyers last night, (4) yes,
mike fisher, with or without the girlfriend has much to offer, . . . ,
speed, size, right hand shot, PPG’s and game winners, definitely a contender. Like stamkos a ton with those big goal totals although
he’s fallen off somewhat, of late and now he’s hurting a bit.
b richards is a cerebral player with very big stats this year, espec
the assists, . . . , can play LW or his natural center, great on the point on the PP, also a former Cup and C Smythe winner, a very
versatile guy, great in ‘big game’ situations. I can’t argue with your comments about s nieder but he is a BC boy and he is a 100 %
future ‘hall of famer’ and he’s won everything. Will be hard for our
‘brain trust’ to keep him off the”Team.” I do like regehr as another
left hand shot and someone must go. Tough choices !
I still think doughty should be there. The last I looked, he leads all
our D in goals, is high in PP and GWG’s, 1/1 in shootouts, a great
plus 10, yes young at 20 but cool as a cucumber under pressure
and growing in leaps and bounds again this year. The total player.

I do prefer combos that play together F or D, hence good argument
for keith, seabrook, getzlaf, perry, that big san jose threesome.

Finally, jon toews is an absolute “must” on this team IMO. He has it all, . . . , team captain at age 21, size, speed, smarts, face-off and
SO success, a plus 12 a gives a total effort constantly. It’s all
about X’s and O’s, isn’t it ? Stay tuned until Dec 30.

By BCapp on Dec 11, 2009

Hey man,

All good points. I’ll see ya back here next week!

Hahaha
Cheers.

By john bennett on Dec 11, 2009

Dec 11/09

Jason,

Jordan Staal would not have to be a major scorer, if he plays on this team. I agree, a checking line role would be his best fit, . . . ,
isn’t that supposed to be Mike Richard’s spot though ? But what ’s
been going on with those Flyers, lately ? Some big things seem to
be wrong in that dressing room. This leads the discussion on to
Jeff Carter who many feel was an absolute lock for a roster spot,
[perhaps because of the 46 goals last year], but IMO, he hasn’t done nearly enough to have a position as of this date. If Carter goes on, who comes off the roster ?

If Marty St Louis, [generally responsible defensively], does connect with Getzlaf and Perry, he would likely have to move over to the left side, [normally, he's a left hand shot who prefers right wing], but Perry is the natural right winger. I believe MSL could make that adjustment easily.

The checking line is the threesome I’m struggling with the most.
The unofficial consensus picks a while back seemed to be, (LW)
Morrow, (C) M. Richards and (RW) Doan. To this date, Doan seems to be a long way off a roster position. Perhaps, Mike Fisher, [Right], another natural center, could slide over to the right side teaming with Morrow/M. Richards. Fisher is big, fast and rugged and is having a record season, so far. Whoever plays RW
on our checking line might well have to face Alex Ovechkin at some
point during the tournament. That checker will have to be one very tough dude, although OV wanders all over the place.The entire line
will have major responsibilities here but I think I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Got to remember, . . . , it’s one game at a time.

One large downer for me, as of this date, has been the combination of Eric Staal’s enormous talent and his horrific season. Very little time for ES to really light things up. I know the
“brain trust” would love it if he did. There are even experts who are
prepared to plant Staal on the final roster right now. I don’t believe
he’s earned a spot yet and time is quickly running out.

Canada will ice a super team to be sure. I’d just like a nicely
balanced group, . . . , you know, the “team” mindset not the
individual “star” mindset.

By john bennett on Dec 12, 2009

Dec 12/09

Good points, Jason, . . . , I agree. JB