Looking Ahead - Part 2

Part 1 looked at the members of the 2010 team, who won gold for Canada. I took the delicate steps of keeping certain aspects of the team together for the 2014 run in Russia, while spending the time to take a look at some players who will not have a renewed ticket to the Winter Olympics in 2014.

At the end of part 1, team Canada only has 8 open spots consisting of (1 goalie, 3 Defencemen, and 4 Forwards). So without hesitation let's get into it.

Goalie
I don't expect any incoming goaltender to usurp the top 2 spots held by Luongo and Fleury going into 2014. So any additional goaltender would get to sit in the press box in a suit (Jersey over top is optional), during games. In addition, being an excellent body in net during practice. So while being chosen as the 3rd goaltender doesn't have much glam compared to a starter or even a backup it does provide a vehicle to be in that Olympics setting over a 2 week period. Living in the athletes' village, watching a team develop within 2 weeks, and watch up and close the most competitive hockey aside from the Stanley cup finals.

If you look at the leading Canadian goaltenders you'll notice this' years Olympians Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Marc-Andre Fleury are sitting 1,2,3. That's a pretty easy correlation to understand why they were the Canadian representatives in Vancouver this season. Sitting 4th is Jose Theodore who at the tender age of 33 is enjoying a better season (wins wise) than his Hart trophy winning year in 2002. He'd be 37 by the time Sochi rolls around. And let's be fair his season totals between 2002 and today have been up and down and would be better suited for the cross-country events in the Olympics than in between the pipes. Age unfortunately takes out a portion of top 10 Canadian NHL goaltenders from consideration. Dwayne Roloson, Marty Turco, Chris Mason are all having solid seasons for their respective teams. This leaves the choice to the likes of: Ray Emery, Steve Mason, Michael Leighton, Dan Ellis, and Cam Ward. This focus on youth looks forward to the future. Yes, that is correct in terms of selecting a 2014 team, picking a suitable 3rd goaltender may situate Canada nicely for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Being held in either: Annecy, France; Munich, Germany; PyeongChang, South Korea(I'm secretly pulling for S. Korea on this one, but I expect politics to take over and Europe wanting to host their first Winter Olympics since Lillehammer 94').

Not to be confused with Pyongyang

With that list, it does cause one to hum-hah the possibilities with no goalies really popping out. If one goalie that does pop out it would have to be Cam Ward. In only 5 seasons in the NHL this goalie already has a Stanley Cup, and World Championship. To become a member of the triple gold club by the age of 30 in Russia 2014, would further contribute to the successes of this young goaltender.

Defence
As stated earlier, my 2014 team needs only 3 replacements on D to replace the likes of Pronger, Niedermayer, and Boyle. Truth be told, only replacing Niedermayer bothers me. As his leadership and presence on the ice was reassuring, and if you are a defenceman. Reassuring is definitely a good quality to have. Pronger skating 4 years down the road might change my thoughts on euthanasia (anti-reassuring). The picks for defencemen are a bit more important than choosing a 3rd goaltender as these 3 skaters will definitely be on the ice skating against the best in the world.

Mike Green, a player who arguably should have been taken in 2010 will easily receive a invitation to Russia. It will provide an excellent setting for Mike Green to solidify his comparison to the great offensive defenceman, Paul Coffey. By this time, Green will have had 4 solid shots to playing in a cup final in the NHL playing for the Capitals. If that is the case, the argument that his shotty defensive play may be left at the wayside or he may improve it between now and then. Even more apparent is his ownership of the title as league leader in points for a defenceman. If he stays in the top 5 for points over the next 4 years, how can you not take him to Russia?

Dion Phaneuf, his time in Calgary can be simply labeled a tragedy. Especially for all those Calgarians who bought themselves a Phaneuf jersey. I can just imagine all the individuals who wore their Phaneuf jersey with pride at the beginning of season. Fast forward 3 months later, I imagine those same individuals walked a bit faster to and fro to make sure to sit down as soon as possible to hide the back of their jersey. Better yet they could have just gone to a Flames game. No one stands up at those anymore, do they? For Phaneuf though, he's been given a new start in Toronto thanks to the hands of Messiah GM (Brian Burke). I can't imagine a defenceman in the NHL now with a bigger upside; who isn't a rookie this year. It's hard to say whether he'll develop into this prototypical hybrid defenceman who has an offensive gift along with the grit to defend and check on the back end. Not to mention an NHL 09 cover, along with an invitation to the 2010 orientation camp. Or wait....how could I forget its his destiny.

Lastly, Ian White the player Phaneuf was traded for in the blockbuster pre-olympics trade from TOR to CGY. Both players who needed a change of environment in hockey heavy cities but both posses tremendous upside. For the most part the same paragraph pertaining to Phaneuf could apply to White except for more focus in the defensive zone. I also doubt there was as many White jerseys in TOR as there were Phenuf jerseys in CGY. If there was a similar number that would be eerie but if you really think about it. Who else would you have on the back of your jersey as a TOR fan?

Forwards
With 4 spots left on my 2014 roster, rejuvenating the forwards with some young talent sounds like a good way to end things. I am for the time being leaving the 13th forward up for grabs for the time being (I got for 4 years right?). So those 4 spots turns to the 3, which fortunately makes the list a bit easier to choose as 2 of them will feature the likes of 2 number one overall picks: Steven Stamkos (2007) and John Tavares (2008). The magical last pick goes to Jeff Carter, the player who was one ankle ligament away from playing in Vancouver this past February and what better way to repay his readiness by inviting him to Russia in 2014.

Now time to put it all together.....

In Net
Roberto Luongo (A)
Marc-Andre Fleury
Cam Ward (new)

Back End
Drew Doughty
Duncan Keith
Shea Weber
Brent Seabrook
Dion Phaneuf (new)
Ian White (new)
Mike Green (new)

Front End
Sidney Crosby (C)
Jarome Iginla(A)
Rick Nash
Ryan Getzlaf
Jonathan Toews
Corey Perry
Eric Staal
Dany Heatley
Mike Richards
Jonathan Tavares (new)
Jeff Carter (new)
Steven Stamkos (new)


SOTD - Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun
(amazing cameos)