Early Olympic Picks

While the Leafers are making a futile late run at the playoffs (if only the season was 90 games instead of 82) it's time to turn our eyes to the upcomming 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Since I'm still waiting for my phone call from Hockey Canada to help with the team, I thought that I would submit my short list of players for Team Canada.

Forwards
Jarome Iginla - Sidney Crosby(A) - Eric Stall
Jason Spezza - Joe Thornton - Dany Heatley
Vincent Lecavalier - Martin St. Louis - Brad Richards
Rick Nash - Joe Sakic(C) - Daniel Briere

Defensemen
Dion Phaneuf - Brian Campbell
Ed Jovonoski - Chris Pronger(A)
Wade Redden - Jason Bouwmeester

Goalies
Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo

Picking a team for Canada is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Some could argue cases for one or two others to make the team instead of who I chose (i.e. Marc Savard instead of Brad Richards, Mike Riebeiro in place of Sakic) but I like the team I've put together. Having Sakic as captain adds experience and depth to the hockey team and provides shelter for heir-apparent Crosby to just do his job. I think the line of Spezza, Thornton and Heatley would dominate at just about every level with thier size, speed and creativity with the puck. The defence pairings are just thrown out there since they're all top two D-men and leaders on their respective teams. Brodeur and Luongo are locks. While Martin will most likely get the first look as starting goalie, we all know Roberto is very capable himself and deserves a spot. I didn't even bother putting down a third goalie for the team. Whether you bring in Cam Ward, Marty Turco, Martin Biron, or even a young Carey Price just to gain experience they aren't going to see any playing time behind Brodeur and Luongo. If you wanted to bring in a third goalie just for the players to shoot pucks at during practise then Kelly Hrudey can do double duty with the CBC and at least make the rest of the team feel good about themselves by scoring a lot before the main games!

Foppa's Back !!

Aside from Mats staying with the Leafs, the best news near the NHL trade deadline was Peter Forsberg returning to the Nordiques... oops I'm sorry the Colorado Avalanche. I've always liked Forsberg - ever since his junior days in Sweden and winning and Olympic Gold medal in 1994. Lindros was all the craze during the 1991 draft, but I kept my eye on Peter (and another kid, Yannick Perreault - but that's a different blog post).

When the Nordiques picked up Lindros and subsquently traded him for Forsberg among others [Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Chris Simon, 1st round selection in 1993, 1st round selection in 1994 plus cash] in was the move of the century. Sure Lindros was good but he's no Forsberg (see Goodbye Eric blog post).

But what's not to like about Peter Forsberg. He's got soft hands and can put the puck in the net; he's one of the best set-up men in the past 20 years (just ask Milan Hejduk); he fights hard for the puck; doesn't mind getting his nose dirty and gives his 110% on each and every shift. I'm sure it won't be the Forsberg of old (1.25 pts per game average), but it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up with 12 points in Colorado's last 15 games - he's just that kind of guy. Having Forsberg in the line-up should ensure that the Avalanche will at least hold onto their playoff spot, and perhaps even move up a spot or two to fifth or sixth place, which at the very least would mean avoiding Detroit or Dallas in the first round. Fifth place might not be where you'd want to be either, meaning at current NHL Standings you'd have to face a strong Anaheim team, but anyway... the Avs got stronger by picking up Peter and have increased their chances to go far int he playoffs.

One other quick point about Peter - his choice to return to Colorado. Forsberg declined a $15million 3-yr deal from the Blackhawks, said no thanks to Ottawa, Detroit among others and opted to go play with his good buddy Joe. He's just an all around good guy that Peter Forsberg.