My Team USA and Team Canada Rosters

OH CANADA

FORWARDS:

Dany Heatley – Joe Thornton – Patrick Marleau

Rick Nash – Sidney Crosby – Jarome Iginla

Brendan Morrow – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry

Vincent Lecavalier – Mike Richards – Shane Doan

Ex: Eric Staal, Jonathan Toews, Martin St. Louis

DL – I think Team Canada’s offense is pretty self-explanatory. You can make some arguments for Steven Stamkos, but I think Morrow and Doan will make the team based on their experience and the leadership they bring. They need those types of players.

DEFENSE:

Chris Pronger – Scott Neidermayer

Dan Boyle – Shea Weber

Mike Green – Dion Phaneuf

Ex: Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith.

DL – I am not sure how many defensemen they are taking; my guess would be seven. I think the top-four is set in stone and I kind of went off the map with Green and Phaneuf starting over Doughty and Keith. I love Doughty’s game and he is going to be GREAT, I just think for this winter, Green and Phaneuf are a bit more proven and bring a little bit more to the table as far as the Olympics are concerned. No one in the game plays like Mike Green and despite Phaneuf’s attitude and locker room problems in Calgary, he is still one of the most complete defensemen in the league. I do believe that Doughty’s skill is on par with all the guys listed in front of him, in my eyes he simply is an odd-man out to be a started. But I do think he will make the team over Keith.

GOALTENDERS:

Roberto Luongo

Martin Brodeur

Marc-Andre Fluery

DL – I don’t think I really need to explain? It’s the Luongo and Brodeur show. I think Luongo gets the start.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

FORWARDS:

Zach Parise – Paul Statsny – Patrick Kane

Bobby Ryan – Joe Pavelski – Phil Kessel

Dustin Brown – Ryan Kesler – Ryan Malone

Tim Connolly – Chris Drury – Jason Pominville

Ex: James van Riemsdyk, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie

DL – No this is the Team USA World Junior roster; it’s the youth movement in America. I think for team USA to compete they need to start over. There are a lot of new names on this list and I think a younger American team will be hungrier. No disrespect to Modano, Knuble, Gurein , Tkachuk, etc. But I think the youth movement is the way to go. I think Gomez has played himself off the roster, much like Jeff Carter did for Team Canada and if Pominville doesn’t get that spot, Jamie Langenbrunner will. Keep in mind there is A LOT of young up-and-coming American talent in the NHL Cory Schneider, Max Pacioretty, Peter Mueller, Brian Lee, Blake Wheeler, Nathan Gerbe, Jack Skille, Tim Kennedy and recent top draft picks Colin Wilson and Jordan Schroeder.

DEFENSE:

Zach Bogosian – Brian Rafalski

Ryan Suter – Erik Johnson

Brooks Orpik – Paul Martin

Ex: Jack Johnson, John-Michael Liles

DL - To be honest, I don’t think they’re many USA defensemen around the league to pick from, but I like this group. I’m a HUGE Zach Bogosian fan and think he and Brian Rafalski will do fine as the top-pair. The Team USA defense could be better…and once you read Team Canada’s you really see the difference in skill.

GOALIES:

Ryan Miller

Tim Thomas

Craig Anderson

DL – I think Ryan Miller is playing amazing right now and has the best goalie in league this season. That bodes well for the American’s and the team in front of him. If Miller can get in a groove and steal some games, who knows how far this team can go.