ccreery12

On paper, Team Canada is without a doubt the favourite to win gold at the upcoming Olympics (kicking off on my birthday).  Team Canada is, not so eloquently put, stacked.  Each and every player is a veritable superstar, and I still believe the team could have been better picked.  The Olympic ice surface (much larger than the NHL ice surface) favours speed and skill, the hallmark of Canadian and Russian hockey, as oppose to power and grit.  Rick Nash, Dany Heatley, and Ryan Getzlaf are points of concern for me.  While they are elite players at the NHL level and are undoubtedly extremely talented, I believe that their style of play better suits the NHL than International play.  Nash, Heatley, and Getzlaf are all large in stature, and play a game that is defined by power, each possessing heavy shots and dominant puck skills (epitomized by this video :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBQArUjP89w).  While Nash and Heatley are too skilled to pass up, I think that either Martin St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier, or Simon Gagne would have been superior alternatives to Ryan Getzlaf, whose point production is significantly inferior to St. Louis and Lecavalier.  These three aforementioned players all have blinding speed, and, especially in St. Louis’s case, are extremely shifty, traits that are enticing in international play.  Although St. Louis stands is generously listed at 5’9, Gagne and Lecavalier are 6’1 and 6’4 respectively, easily big enough to fill the size void left by Getzlaf if he were to be replaced.

Team Canada — Fast, skilled, and incredibly deep, Team Canada’s skill and power  coupled with their home ice advantage will be intimidating to the opposition.  Probably the best team in the loop.

Team Russia — Incredibly dynamic and boasting a 1st line that is arguably superior to Canada’s (the Kovalchuk, Ovechkin and Malkin trio), Team Russia will be Canada’s biggest threat in its quest for gold.  Depth is and issue with Russia, as past the first line the talent pool significantly dips.  Depth problems are especially apparent on the blueline, which may ultimately prove to be Russia’s demise. 2nd best team.

Team Sweden — Team Sweden, last tournament’s gold medal winners, are a perennial threat for gold.  Team Sweden exemplifies the adage “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.  While the individuals may not be as skilled as Canada’s or Russia’s, the team might be.   Utilizing a system that promotes puck movement and speed, Sweden has been an international force in hockey and this year is no different.

Team Czech Republic — With a dying star in Jaromir Jagr, the Czechs are a long shot for gold.  Beyond Jagr, Havlat, and up and coming star Tomas Plekanec, the Czechs will have trouble scoring and will need to play a patient and defensive game if they want success.

Team U.S.A. — Headed by the TML duo of Brian Burke and Ron Wilson, U.S.A. resembles the underdog team that captured gold at Lake Placid in 1980.  The team is young and relatively fast and not really much else.  They are thin up front and offensively challenged on D.  The lone bright spot is goaltender Ryan Miller who will have to simply rob the opposition if his team hopes to win.