Sochi – Preview GO CANADA GO

The Olympics are a great event, something that I look forward to every four years. It’s a time that the entire country put’s their energy into cheering for the red maple leaf, whether its figure skating, snowboarding, luge, bobsled or biathalon it really doesn’t matter we cheer for the best from our country to make us proud and hopefully come away with some hardware for their efforts.

There isn’t a sport though that is more heavily cheered for in this country then Hockey. Team Canada might be the most over analyzed over exposed team in the history of sport, and rightfully so, since September I’ve had numerous conversations with friends, co-workers and complete strangers about how Canada should build our team, who should be or shouldn’t be named to the roster and what the expectations for success are (There is only one answer to that last question).

The time is here. Later this week Team Canada’s Men’s Ice Hockey team will begin its quest to repeat as Gold Medal Olympic Champions, and I for one can’t wait.

The Forwards

Arguably the most skilled roster in the tournament, the team’s biggest strength might be down the middle. Canada boasts the best player in the game in Sidney Crosby, but the other centers are no slouches either, Jon Tavares, Jonathan Toews, Ryan Getzlaf, and Patrice Bergeron round out the top 5 C’s.

On the wings the talent doesn’t end either. Even with the injury to Steven Stamkos, who was replaced by Martin St.Louis the Canadians look good. Matt Duchene and Chris Kunitz are my only question marks among the forward group. Watch for Rick Nash to have a huge impact in these games, he’s got a ton of experience on the bigger international ice and is always a contributor when he’s wearing the Red Maple Leaf.

This forward group isn’t necessarily huge in size, but there are some big guys that will be able to press on the fore check and give opposing defenses something to think about when playing in the corners. But this team is built around skating and skill, not something tough to do when you are picking from the talent produced by our country.

The Defense

Much like the forwards this is a talented group. Led by Shea Weber this group is talented, Drew Doughty, Alex Pietrangelo, Duncan Keith, Jay Bouwmeester lead a very strong top five. PK Subban, Dan Hamhuis and Marc Eduard-Vlasic round out the group. It will be interesting to see who’s paired with Shea Weber who will most likely be the big minute muncher on the team. It’s also assumed that Jay Bo and Pietrangelo will be kept together as a pair.

Either way you look at it there isn’t another team in the tournament that has the talent on defense that Canada does. Mike Babcock has a ton of options for power play and penalty kill. No matter what pairing is on the ice the coach will be able to be confident that they’ll be able to handle the top talent of any other team in the tournament.

The Goalies

Roberto Loungo, Carey Price and Mike Smith are the three tenders going to Sochi, It’s assumed that barring injury only Loungo and Price will be the two that see action between the pipes, which one of them gets the majority of the starts.

Goaltending is probably the big question mark right now for the Canadian team, none of the three have been spectacular since the team was announced and none of the three have much if any playoff success. Loungo does however have an Olympic gold from when he backstopped the 2010 version of the team. I’m of the opinion that it will once again be Loungo that leads the team this time around.

My Projected Lines

Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Jeff Carter

Patrick Sharp – Jonathan Toews – Rick Nash

Jon Tavares – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry

Jaimie Benn – Patrice Bergeron – Matt Duchene

(Extras: Patrick Marleau, Martin St. Louis)

Duncan Keith – Shea Weber

Marc Eduard Vlasic – Drew Doughty

Jay Bouwmeester – Alex Pietrangelo

(Extras: PK Subban, Dan Hamhuis)

Roberto Loungo

(Extras: Carey Price, Mike Smith)

The Outlook

In international hockey teams can dress 20 skaters, one extra forward and one extra defenseman is the obvious choice. I’d put money on Subban being the extra defenseman and either of St. Louis or Marleau can fit in with any of the forward lines.

Canada is in what would be considered to be the weakest group consisting of Austria, Norway and Finland. I’d much rather the team faced a few tougher challenges in the preliminary round. Either way this team is built for speed and skill and have what it takes to win the gold.

On Paper Canada is far and away the best team in the tournament, however, there are teams that can beat Canada on any given night, a hot goalie or a bad start can be killers and regardless of group placements a gold medal isn’t a given, Canada hasn’t been successful on the big ice surfaces but once again I think they are built for success this year.

I made a joke to Alex yester day when he posted the team USA preview for the tournament, “Alex I figured you could post the US piece earlier so that at least you’ll have the chance to be first at something” I’m still quite pleased with myself from that one.

Alex Has Canada losing the gold medal game to Sweden, a very powerful team, I’m going to take Canada for the gold in a tough game against the Russians, and Sweden beating the US for the Silver Medal, but who knows anything can happen.

GO CANADA GO!!!!!!!!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JJ9d97sd64]