Team Canada

Here is the last of the big names to reveal their Olympic Hockey Tournament Roster, and definitely one of the biggest, Team Canada.

Goalies:
Martin Brodeur (Devils), Marc-André Fleury (Penguins), Roberto Luongo (Canucks)

This is probably the best collection of goalies in the tournament. Russia has some darn good ones, but how can you get much better than this collection of 3? 55 total wins this season between the 3. Combined average of 2.30 GA. Averaged save percentage of .916. Total of 5 shutouts between the 3. By number, the Russians have better GAA, and more shutouts, but the Canadian goalies have more total wins than the Russians, and the wins are the things that matter the most. All 3 of these guys are more than stout in the crease, are able to play the puck, and move it a lot like a third defensemen. They are also not reckless with the puck. They don't make stupid decisions, so that is a good thing! I figure the 2 that will see that most time will be Brodeur and Fleury. Luongo has had some injury problems this year, and Fleury is coming off a Stanley Cup Championship and is just overflowing with confidence. You really can't go wrong with any of these 3 goalies.

Defense:
Dan Boyle (Sharks), Drew Doughty (Kings), Duncan Keith (Blackhawks), Scott Niedermayer (Ducks), Chris Pronger (Flyers), Brent Seabrook (Blackhawks), Shea Weber (Predators).

A very solid set of defensemen here. There are a couple of names I'm not totally familiar with, Doughty and Keith, but the rest are all selections that I recognize. Dan Boyle is a good one to have on the power play and 5 on 5. He moves the puck and leads a great break-in. Pronger and Nidermayer both have great experience and are so smart at both ends of the ice. Pronger is also a punishing presence down low and right in front of the net. So far, so good for the selections with Canada!

Forwards:
Patrice Bergeron (Bruins), Sidney Crosby (Penguins), Ryan Getzlaf (Ducks), Dany Heatley (Sharks), Jarome Iginla (Flames), Patrick Marleau (Sharks), Brenden Morrow (Stars), Rick Nash (Blue Jackets), Corey Perry (Ducks), Mike Richards (Flyers), Eric Staal (Hurricanes), Joe Thornton (Sharks), Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks).

One word to describe this set of forwads. LOADED. This is an amazing collection of forwards. What a combination of players with finesse, skill, power, and size. I imagine you will probably see Geztlaf and Perry remain on a line together. And just imagine the possibility of seeing Sidney Crosby playing on a line with Jarome Iginla. Who can keep up with that? I mean, putting any kind of stats next to these names is basically meaningless because you just have no idea what they are going to do when they get to play together!! Just crazy.

Team grade: A+

If there is another team that is at this level, it is team Russia. I would count on seeing those two teams be seeded 1 and 2 when they get into the quarterfinals, with an epic clash of the titans in the gold medal game. Honestly, there is no reason that we shouldn't see, aside from scheduling that would put them against each other earlier, a gold medal match between Russian and Canada. I cannot wait!

Well, the last team that we will wait for is that of team USA, which we will get during the winter classic in Boston on New Years Day!

I hope that you all had amazing 2009's, and that you all have amazing 2010's!