Team Canada 2014



Too early?....perhaps. But, I say it's never too early. Of course, NHLers may not even go to Sochi. For our purposes we'll say they make the right call and shut down the league in order for the top talent in the world to play.


Team Canada 2010 had five members of the World Junior Champion team from 2005, firstly let's see if there are five players from the 2009 Junior squad that could be Olympians in 2014.

Goaltender Dustin Tokarski is having a nice pro debut with Norfolk in the AHL and Chet Pickard is also having a nice debut with teh other Admirals in Milwaukee. Both have work still to do to become NHL starters let alone elite players. Defenseman Tyler Myers should by 2014 be a top flight player, he's almost there now in 2010. Ryan Ellis and Alex Pietrangelo could very well be NHL stars by 2014, but for now they're OHL stars.


Among the 2009 Junior forwards, I'd imagine that John Tavares will be an elite player by 2014 worthy of Olympic consideration. As well, Jordan Eberle should be with Edmonton next year and could develop into a top player. Jamie Benn has 15 goals as a rookie for Dallas and Evander Kane 14 for Atlanta and may very well be considered for the next Olympic team. Cody Hodgson could be a star one of these years if he ever stays healthy.


Let's have a first look at what could be Team Canada 2014.


Goalie

Roberto Luongo

Marc-Andre Fleury

Steve Mason


Luongo will be 34 by the next Games and should be the number one again.


Defense

Duncan Keith

Drew Doughty

Shea Weber

Brent Seabrook

Jay Bouwmeester

Tyler Myers

Mike Green

Marc Staal


Four returnees from this year. Bouwmeester and Green can take the spots of Pronger and Niedermayer, Myers and Staal will develop into Norris candidates by 2014.


Forward

Sidney Crosby

Ryan Getzlaf

Dany Heatley

Rick Nash

Mike Richards

Corey Perry

Jonathan Toews

Eric Staal

Steven Stamkos

Vincent Lecavalier

Jeff Carter

Milan Lucic

John Tavares


Eight returnees on the forward side, Heatley will be 33 and Lecavalier will be 34. Jarome Iginla will be 36 by then and may very well make the squad, but going with Tavares. Guys on the bubble could be Jordan Staal, James Neal and perhaps soon-to-be rookie Jordan Eberle. Taylor Hall could very well be a dark horse by then and may even be a shoe-in by then.

The debate begins now...

Comments

horchy said…
Although the U.S. had the youngest team in the olympics, the amount of potential(likely)returnees on team Canada shows that youth is one of their assets too. Toss young Colorado stars Chris Stewart and Matt Duchene into the mix as well.
March 16, 2010 at 12:36 AM
Nitzy said…
Agreed Horch, I may even put one of those two ahead of Carter or Tavares. Who knows if even Cody Hodgson could be an NHL sniper by 2014.
March 17, 2010 at 8:25 PM
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