One Year To Sochi – MY Team Canada For The 2014 Olympics

As the defending champions in the Men’s Olympic hockey tournament, there will be pressure on Steve Yzerman, Kevin Lowe and the rest of the management for Team Canada to repeat as champions.  It will be a tough task, almost as tough as selecting the 23 – 25 man roster to represent the country.

February 5, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) play the puck during the third period of an NHL game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

So one year away, here is the team I would select.  As the NHL and NHLPA want the rosters expanded to 25 player for injury and logistical issues, that is what I will go with.  I will start with the “locks”, and move on to the “bubble” players and then list some outside shots who could make a dent over the next year, and then pick my team.

LOCKS – will be on the team

IN THE CONVERSATION – The players on this list will be in the conversation and the rest of the roster will likely be selected from this group

NEED MORE LOOKS – Over the next 6 months of hockey between February and December, these players could force the management of Team Canada to take a second look at them.

ON THE OUTS – Players that were on the team in Vancouver but not likely to get a look for 2014 either due to retirement, age, injury or a slip in level of play.

MY TEAM

So without further delay, here is the team I would take to Sochi if I were selecting it today.

FORWARDS

Steven Stamkos – Sidney Crosby – Jordan Eberle

Corey Perry – Jason Spezza – Rick Nash

Claude Giroux – Jonathan Toews – James Neal

Patrice Bergeron – Mike Richards – Scott Hartnell

John Tavares – Eric Staal

DEFENSEMEN

Drew Doughty   –   Shea Weber

Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook

Alex Pietrangelo – Marc Staal

Kris Letang – Dan Girardi

GOALTENDERS

Carey Price

Roberto Luongo

Marc-Andre Fleury