Interesting notes from Dreger

I woke up this morning and groggily turned on the television to see Sportscentre talking about our beloved team. I was still half asleep while I listened to this, and I was too lazy to wait to watch it again in the unforgivably long morning loop (really, this new girl they have on there MAY be more annoying than McGuire... I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'...).

Babcock had a quick interview where he said that about "95% of the team HAS been decided on". Darren Dreger expanded on this, with just a single week left to go before the announcement:

• Phaneuf will NOT be on the team
• The 7th defenseman will be one of Green, Bouwmeester or Doughty
  
• There are about 18 guys fighting for the last 3 spots on the team. Martin St. Louis is one of those guys (my heart is breaking... /sarcasm). Apparently Milan Lucic is being strongly considered for a spot on the squad

The time of the announcement is nearing, and it looks like the pieces are all falling into place...

WHAMMO!!

PERFECTLY TIMED UPDATE: Just after publishing the story, I checked out the CTV Olympics site, and came across this article, which says the field has been narrowed to 15 forwards and 8 defensemen. When asked, Steve Yzerman did not confirm nor deny that all of those players attended camp this summer... the plot thickens

Contrary to popular belief...

If you ignore something, that won't make it go away...

I'm talking of course about this...

I've mentioned before that we have to be negative because we're a blog. Like any good sports fan, I am superstitious. I have my rituals, and my quirks, and so because of this I didn't even bring up the point to Matty about discussing possible injuries to key players. I figured if I just stayed positive and didn't bring up any concerns about something like an injury happening, then all the boys would be fine and we'd be celebrating a gold medal in February 2010.

Well now that's gone out the window and it requires a post.

You see, the problem is that, whether the brass of Hockey Canada want to admit it or not, half this team is picked. Crosby is ON the team. Crosby could come out of the gate, get no points in the first month of the season (as if) and he'd still be on the top line come the Olympics. He's just that good, and everyone knows it. He's on the team. They're saying the injury isn't serious, but the shroud of secrecy in the NHL surrounding injuries is so ridiculous that I'm sure a ripped Achilles could be classified as a "day-to-day lower body injury" by some of the spinners out there.

The other half of the team will be made up from "bubble" guys. This gang will be playing their asses off this year in hopes of making what is surely to be one of the greatest and most hyped teams of all time.

The big difference between these groups is that these "locks" are irreplaceable. Sure, you can throw another guy on the top line, between Iggy and Nash, and I'm sure they'd be fine... but they wouldn't be Crosby. If Jordan Staal is named to the team (not saying he will be, just saying is all) and in January he tears his ACL getting hit going hard into a corner, he can be replaced by a guy like Lucic (who we love here at Twentyten) and I don't think the team suffers too much from it. Some guys can be replaced, some can't, it's that simple.

Don't get me wrong. I am definitely not wishing harm upon J. Staal or anyone else who is a possibility to make the team, I'm just starting to hit the panic button a little early on injuries to the team.

Injuries are a part of hockey, and I understand that. We can't ask our guys to go out there and play soft in the regular season, or wrap them in bubble wrap, because these guys are going to be playing hard for a spot on the roster and that's what's going to get them there. But I am going to pray to the hockey gods, and I believe you Twentyteners out there should do the same, to keep our boys healthy through this NHL season so that we can go out there with the team that is supposed to be out there, at least with the guys who we can't afford to be miss.

Put it on the board - Matty takes Red

Pack your bags we're goin to camp.

This household, for one, is eager to see what happens this Thursday night during Team Canada's Red vs. White game.

Now, since I got on the topic first...I get first pick. I take the Reds...Put it on the board Dewey, the Reds will dominate when the puck drops Thursday.

And why you might ask??? Because they'll need to. Take a peak at the Team Red line-up and you'll see a whole whack of guys who are sitting on the bubble, or who as of yet are on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot this winter.

For quick reference, this is how I have "Team Red" lining up:

Goaltenders:

(Starter) Roberto Luongo
(Back-up) Cam Ward

Defensive Pairs:

1 - Chris Pronger & Dan Boyle
2 - Dion Phaneuf & Robyn Regehr
3 - Brent Seabrook & Drew Doughty
4 - Dan Hamhuis & Stéphane Robidas

Forward lines:

1 - Jeff Carter & Eric Staal & Milan Lucic
2 - Corey Perry & Vincent Lecavalier & Patrick Sharp
3 - Ryan Smyth & Joe Thornton & Patrick Marleau
4 - Dan Cleary & Jason Spezza & Derek Roy

It's pretty safe to say, at least I'll say it, that Spezza is a long shot for the final cut. But I also think that there is just not enough room for all three of E. Staal, Lecavalier and Thornton either. Especially considering that Carter is a Centre-iceman himself. Should be interesting to see how they make out at camp.

I think that both Lucic and Perry can do themselves a lot of good with a strong camp and a strong scrimmage against the likes of Crosby and Iginla, but in the end, I think the two of them are fighting for the same spot, and may be both on the outside looking in.

Either way, I take the Reds (only times I'll ever cheer for a team names the Reds) in a 6-5 victory. Lucic with the winner at 18:54 of the third, on a pass from a streaking Staal.

Put it on the board.

WHAMMO!!

They probably wanted to make sure there were still some "Z" on the jerseys at camp.

Several things about this:

1 - He won't be taking Getzlaf's place when things are all said and done come this winter.

2 - He shouldn't be there over Savard.

3 - Spezz...watch out for Lucic in the corners.

Will be very interesting to see how the "sometime" wonder responds to this.

More to come on this for sure.

WHAMMO!!

This again???

Common guys...seriously, the only player who will need insurance for camp this summer is...well...anyone who goes into the corners with Lucic.

Did we mention that WE LOVE LUCIC?!

Also, the Russian defense is gonna get pasted in Vancouver...but will it matter with all the goals they have the potential to put up?


WHAMMO!!

Fire Pierre McGuire

For those unfamiliar; this post is inspired by this blog.

Once again, our friends (and obvious twentyteners) at CTV have allowed Pierre McGuire to have his say on our twentyten team. I cringe every time I read anything written or spoken by the man, and alas…this time was not much better.

Below, I highlight some of the contradictory, blatantly obvious, and rambling musings of McGuire's article

When asked what he thought about the five goalies selected to camp:

“Those are the five that should be there.” Those are the five best right now that are Canadian…”

Really Pierre…Really??? You agree that those five are the best five to be there…really? Why don’t I take you you back to an article from only two weeks ago (June 26) where you discussed the potential goalies who could make up the twentyten roster. (Found Here).

To recount: Brodeur, Luongo, Ward, Fleury…and oh who? Price and Osgood? …and, oh wait a minute, no mention of Mason.

So, let me get this straight Pierre.The five chosen for camp are the best Canadians right now. There have been no games played since your last musings two weeks ago when you included two goalies who were not invited, and did not include the goalie that canadatwentyten.blogspot.com correctly predicted would be invited

When asked if he saw any players not invited to camp, playing their way onto the team:

“I could see Marc Savard because he'll be watching Milan Lucic a lot…”

I don’t even know what that is supposed to mean. Those two, in case you haven’t notice O Shiny Bald One, play very different types of games. I fail to see how Savard will make the team by watching Lucic.

“Ed Jovanovski if he has a tremendous start to the year. Maybe Chris Phillips if he has an amazing start…”

OH COMMON!! If these guys aren’t even in the top 16, they aren’t going to be in the final seven.

When asked why he thought Steven Stamkos was left off the camp roster:

“When you look at it, Ryan Getzlaf right now is ahead of Steven Stamkos…”

That’s not insightful…that’s painstakingly obvious. To recap: Getzlaf, almost a point a game through four NHL seasons (91 & 82 the past two) and not to mention a Stanley Cup. Stamkos: yes, a nice hockey player and soon to be All-Star, but really Pierre…
really???

When asked about possible defesive pairing taking shape:

“Phaneuf and Weber in the 2005 world juniors were an unbelievable tandem against Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin during the whole tournament and in the gold medal game.”

I just laughed at this one, in light of a recent post by Dewey.

When asked about Brian Burke calling Chelios personally and extending an invitation to an off-ice role:

“Steve doesn't have to call and apologize to anyone. This isn't highschool hockey or the local house league. These are big time players. Anyone that plays hockey for money understands. It's a cold hard world.” …then just rambles on and on and on.

Nevermind the non-sensical nature of his response here. I have already made clear…several time…how Stevie Y can reach out to a certain hockey icon and offer him an off-ice post with the twentyten team.

Pierre’s final words of wisdom:

“Anyone that's a fan of Canadian hockey should be impressed.”

Close Pierre, close. But it shoulda been, “And if you’re a fan of Canadian hockey, get excited…”

Keyboard Cat... play our friend Pierre away...

I can see Cleary now the rain has gone...

In what was clearly an exciting day for hockey fans from coast to coast (especially a certain two in Halifax), yesterday Stevie Y and the Hockey Canada brass made their preliminary intentions known by selecting the 46 players who will battle for a spot on the twentyten team at this summer's evaluation camp. Dewey's sophisticated post from last night, mentions several of the odd, as well as, blatantly apparent omissions from the list. It's worth nothing, that all-in-all we are on the same page when it comes to our view of the omissions. The same can be said of some of the odd, as well as blatantly apparent additions to the camp roster, of which I will highlight a few.

First thing's first:

Danny Cleary - Not only is Cleary now "Havin a time", but the rugged sniper from Harbour Grace, N.L. is goin to camp. Now don't get me wrong, I love what a guy like Cleary brings to an NHL team (54 goals over the last three seasons with a talent heavy Wings team). He's tough, he's talented, he can play big in big situations, he has a cup...but really??? invited to camp ahead of guys like Savard, Spezza, Stamkos? While he does bring more sandpaper than those three; guys like Lucic, M. Richards, Morrow and Doan should, and will in my summation, be the guys to fight for those checking line roles. Being the political junkie that I am, I can only assume that the Cleary pick has much more to do with an ethic of regional representation and balance, similar to how our Prime Minister chooses his cabinet based on regional considerations. Cleary goes to camp as the Honorable Member from Newfoundland, Minister of Really good playoff beards. But he won't be making the cut to 23, and you can take that to the bank. Just the same...Congrats Cleary, this should somewhat vindicate your being left off three consecutive World Junior teams, at a time when you were a prolific junior scorer.

Andy McDonald: In a word...er, in a phrase: Out of left field? Just guess I didn't see this one coming. Especially considering the three "S"'s left of the camp roster, not to mention Andy's teammate Brad Boyes. Of course he has answered the bell for Canada before at the World's and has been a solid point producer, despite missing half of last year.

Stephane Robidas: In a word (two)...mais quoi? Robidas is a stone cold shocker to me. Yes, he's a former Q league All-Star and best defenseman, but how is he there over guys like Coburn and Campbell? He may be a fiesty little sh*t with a ton of heart, but like the two above, will not be a member of the twentyten team.

Alright, now to mention the pleseant surprises of this year's camp roster:

Milan Lucic: WE LOVE THIS GUY!! Funny dynamic though, that he makes the camp roster while his more accomplished teammates, Savard and Patrice Bergeron are left out. As I saw someone post on twitter yesterday...maybe he'll knock some sense into Heatley at the camp.

Francois Beaucheman: Another guy who I would go to war with...and I bet if you asked them, Pronger and Neidermayer would say the same. Does this guy just go about his business and get the job done or what? He'll really garner some serious consideration from the twentyten braintrust with a great camp and solid start to the season.

Yes there are others to talk about, but hey...we've got seven months still to cover until we head to Vancouver.

I Love Lucic

I have a problem.

A problem I'm not too keen to admit. See, I am almost as opposed to the Boston Bruins as I am Pierre McGuire. Actually, that's harsh, as I hate McGuire more than anything, but I DO hate pretty much every sports team in the New England area. Pats, Red Sox, Celtics, those smug bastards who are the Revolution and of coursethe Bruins, but this problem is growing far too much for me to deny anymore.

I love Lucic.

Milan Lucic that is.

I remember the first time I saw Lucic play was in the Memorial Cup (aside: how hard is it to listen to Peter Loubardias call a game?) a few years back. Loved the kid then, he had that intensity that I love to see in young players. He hit, he scored, he was then drafted by the Bruins not long after. I still didn't know much about the kid. Being too lazy to look any information up on him, and of course not wanting to listen to Pierre McGuire on draft day (I watch it muted, never understood the whole "Claude Giroux" thing until about a year later, still didn't laugh) I went along, blind to the fact that this kid is a joy to watch play, and he's not too bad at it either.

Now to say Lucic deserves to be on Team Canada in 2010 is a little more than a stretch, no matter how strong my man crush may be. He doesn't fit in on the team as a scorer. I don't know he's as good as any of the guys I'd have on my checking line above him. But Team Canada seems to have a history of bringing role players. I don't know that Team Canada NEEDS the role that Lucic brings, and the kid is still maturing and isn't above taking bad penalties. I would absolutely LOVE to see Milan get the call to at least attend the first camp this summer (our lists coming soon), just to see how he reacts in this situation.

Lucic plays a tough game that I love. I know I'd definitely have him on my team, but would I have him on my Team Canada? I can't say he's quite there yet, but I'd love to give him a shot...