Team Canada Sochi has been declared ... Wow some Suprises

[Bargnani_]

Hockey Canada has announced its 25-player men's roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

The complete Canadian roster is as follows:

Goaltenders: Roberto Luongo, Carey Price, Mike Smith

Defence: Jay Bouwmeester, Drew Doughty, Dan Hamhuis, Duncan Keith, Alex Pietrangelo, PK Subban, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Shea Weber

Forwards: Jamie Benn, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchene, Ryan Getzlaf, Chris Kunitz, Patrick Marleau, Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Patrick Sharp, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Jonathan Toews

 

[maurice93]

Biggest surprise to not make the team was Martin St. Louis, IMO. I did not expect Yzerman to pass on one of his own players, when he had a good case to make the team.

This was Yzerman's team - he should have made the call. I would have preferred St. Louis over Marleau.

 

[richaceg]

I was expecting Eberle to be in the team...

 

[maurice93]

But lets be honest, these borderline decisions are not going to make that big a difference -- players 17 through 25 were not going to have huge roles. Its not like we shouldn't be able to come up with a good 3 lines and top 6 D at any point in the tournament.

 

[Ironhead]

It appears TSN was caught off guard with Marleau, they did not have a 'card' of him to put on the right side of the TV screen.

Subban made it, I like that.
No Leafs, none deserved it anyway as far as Canada is concerned.

 

[Ironhead]

Now who among the named players will be able to go out and make a good checking line ?

 

[Bargnani_]

Now who among the named players will be able to go out and make a good checking line ?

Jamie Benn, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter

 

[wazup]

I was expecting Eberle to be in the team...

lol.

 

[Cypher]

Wonder if Marleau would even have made it if Couture had not broken his hand the other night. St Louis deserves to go.
I would have made room for Lucic too. Need at least one player who puts the fear of god in the opposition

 

[shack]

Lucic. Need at least one player who puts the fear of god in the opposition

Not in a tournament like this with international refs. I think with the bigger ice he'd actually be a defensive liability having to cover a larger area with below average skating skills.

I was a little surprised Thornton is not on. He's around top 5 in scoring and a skilled big body.

 

[superstar_88]

Thornton is slow. They built a team where everyone has speed. That's why Carter is in.

 

[Cypher]

I realize they put a lot of stock in skating, but on such a skilled team there should still be room for players whose intensity is tough to match. Carter is a good player but can blow hot and cold; Nash really seems to have made it on past international reputation as he is having a decidedly ordinary season thus far. And Marleau, well for years he has been a core player on a team that until recently was notorious for underachieving in the playoffs. In other words, he has a track record of disappearing when the games count.

I'll take Couture, St Louis and Lucic with their intensity and compete over those guys any day.

 

[ICEman72]

I agree...Nash made it on past reputation. IMHO, he does not deserve to be there this time especially at the expense of a much better skater like Giroux. Also surprised at the Mike Smith pick. I'm guessing he will be the third string but still. I think Crawford would have been a better pick. Our defence is a little thin but we don't have strong Canadian D men anywhere right now, at least when you compare with past teams anyway. It's going to be a tough one this time around. Lu needs to step up his game and at the first sign of trepidation on his part I'd yank him for Price in a heartbeat!

 

[harryass]

I think St Louis would have been a better choice than Nash. For the reason of having familiar players together, Stamkos and St Louis. Same reason on defence with Keith and Seabrook

 

[lovelatinas]

Doesn't matter who Yzerman picks (team Canada can have a 50 player roster) because the Russians are winning this Olympics.

 

[the_big_E]

They are so deep at forward there was always going to be disappointments.

In my opinion, Nash, Marleau, & Carter scream 'meh'. Not too thrilled about Kunitz either but I get why he was chosen.

Obviously want them to succeed, but something about this team doesn't quite sit right.

 

[tribunus]

Still trying to wrap my head around Kunitz being on this team. You pick elite talent for a tournament like this, not average guys who ride shotgun to the best player in the world.

For me it would be Kunitz, Carter & Benn (or Duchene) out. St Louis, Giroux & Couture in.

I don't mind Nash & Marleau. They're battle-hardened on the international stage and can still fly on the ice. I don't get the Carter appeal. Is he really that good a skater? Benn & Duchene are great young players but they should have been part of the next wave that will include Hall, Seguin...etc.

 

[Bargnani_]

Still trying to wrap my head around Kunitz being on this team. You pick elite talent for a tournament like this, not average guys who ride shotgun to the best player in the world.

For me it would be Kunitz, Carter & Benn (or Duchene) out. St Louis, Giroux & Couture in.

I don't mind Nash & Marleau. They're battle-hardened on the international stage and can still fly on the ice. I don't get the Carter appeal. Is he really that good a skater? Benn & Duchene are great young players but they should have been part of the next wave that will include Hall, Seguin...etc.

IF you recall in Vancouver Crosby got off too a slow start in tournment and I guess this may avoid that ..

 

[bullitt]

lotsa choices, I can see where stevie y and his staff could get in a jam. its a good team imho, but would have loved to have seen Richards, girouex, on the team. nash , not this year, st.Louis should have replaced him. I honestly think mike smith might give luongo, and price all they can handle. seabrook should have been on this team also.

 

[Bargnani_]

Doesn't matter who Yzerman picks (team Canada can have a 50 player roster) because the Russians are winning this Olympics.

I think the Russians are either going to win Gold or crash and burn under the presure of playing in their own country ...