Canadian Olympic Roster

The odds-on favorites to win gold will have the added pressure of playing in their hockey-crazed homeland in February, and the Canadians have a roster that looks to have very few, if any, weak spots. Four lines of forwards that could be starting lines on any professional team, 3 of the best goalies in the world and some of the most defensively sound defensemen on ice will be expecting nothing less than Olympic gold when they take the ice in Vancouver.

Goalies
Martin Brodeur: The greatest goalie in NHL history will look to win his 2nd Olympic gold medal. The seemingly ageless netminder continues to pile up wins, saves and shutouts for the Devils, and leads the league with 42 games played, 29 wins and 6 shutouts.

Marc-Andre Fleury: If it wasn’t for a brief midseason slump, I would say Fleury would have actually been the frontrunner for the starting job after winning the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh last season, and starting this year off very well. He has cooled a bit as of late, reflected in his 2.62 GAA and .971 save percentage.

Roberto Luongo: Luongo got his yearly injury out of the way early this season, and has come back just as strong as ever. He has a miniscule 2.30 GAA and has 23 wins already this year.

Defensemen
Dan Boyle: A veteran defenseman who can score, set up goals and man the point on a powerplay while still being one of the top defenders in the league. Boyle has 9 goals and 37 points this season.

Drew Doughty: The Kings’ 2nd overall pick from 2008 is already one of the best at his position, as evidenced by his selection to this dream team. With 34 points already, Doughty contributes offensively while remaining a lockdown D-man in his own end.

Duncan Keith: Another young blueliner for the Canadians, Keith is currently 8th among NHL skaters with 33 assists. He has a great +18 rating, and will likely be paired with teammate Brent Seabrook.

Scott Niedermayer: His +/- rating is the lowest in years, but Niedermayer is still one of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL today. He’ll be the captain of the Canadians in Vancouver.

Chris Pronger: In the first year with his new team in Philadelphia, Pronger has been very solid, with 32 points and a +18 rating. Pronger is big, he’s mean and he’s dangerous at both ends of the ice.

Brent Seabrook: Seabrook doesn’t offer as much offensively as the rest of the Canadian defensemen, but he’s still got 20 points this season. His +24 rating is 3rd in the league.

Shea Weber: Another big bruiser on the Canadian blueline, the 6’4 Weber is not as well known as his teammates (playing in Nashville will do that) but he’ll be aiming to change that in Vancouver.

Forwards
Patrice Bergeron: the playmaking center from Boston was a bit of a surprise addition to the roster, and may be replaced after suffering a broken hand.

Sidney Crosby: Inexplicably left off of the 2006 roster, Crosby is a great young leader, and already has a Stanley Cup win under his belt. His 30 goals are good for 2nd in the league, and he’s one of the best faceoff men in the game today.

Ryan Getzlaf: A big power forward with great hands and a tough mean streak, Getzlaf has 33 assists and 45 points this year.

Dany Heatley: One of the best shooters in the league, Heatley has come to life playing alongside Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Don’t expect that line to be changed in Vancouver, as all three men have great numbers this season. Heatley is in the top ten in goals and points with 27 and 51 this year.

Jarome Iginla: One of the best leaders in the game today, Iginla does whatever his team needs to win. He scores, hits and even fights when necessary.

Patrick Marleau: A lot of people counted the veteran center out when he was stripped of the captaincy in San Jose. Rather than folding, Marleau has flourished, and leads the league with 31 goals.

Brenden Morrow: Another leader on a team full of leaders, Morrow is another talented power forward that will likely be expected to throw his weight around in Vancouver and create plays for some of the more gifted scorers.

Rick Nash: Exciting to watch, Nash is the complete package. He’s a perfect power forward with velvet hands and a wicked shot. Showed great chemistry with Iginla and Crosby on a potentially lethal first line combination.

Corey Perry: Perry ranks in the top 25 NHL scorers in goals, assists and points. He’s speedy, gritty and will be a great energy player for the Canadians.

Mike Richards: One of the best penalty killers in the game today, Richards is always a threat to score while killing. Starting to sound like a broken record, but the young leader is the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Eric Staal: Another talented forward with plenty of size to go with his skillset, Staal has scored at least 70 points in every year since the lockout. He missed some time with an injury this year, but has 30 points in 33 games this year.

Joe Thornton: Perhaps the best passer in the game today, Thornton’s chemistry with Heatley and Marleau is undeniable, and the best line in the NHL should be kept together for at least the start of the tournament.

Jonathan Toews: One of the bright young stars in Chicago’s successful new team, Toews has 14 goals and 36 points already. He’s a complete player, with great offensive talent and good defensive skills.

Roster Depth: Excellent
Medal Chances: Strong