Outlook for Sochi 2014 - Part 2

Canada gained three achievements after defeating the US:
1) The gold medal.
2) Preventing the creation of "Miracle on Ice - Part 2".
3) Push the idea for a CBC documentary titled: "Canada Demoralizing USA - Part Deux".

They always say it is more difficult to defend a championship than winning. Based on the talent displayed in Vancouver, Team Canada will no doubt have to play at another level to repeat as gold medal champions. I have already presented my predictions for how the backend may look in 2014 (if you didn't read it, click here) and here are the forwards.

A reminder that a few parameters were set in making this group:
1) Only allowed to select players who have been drafted at the very least. (Sorry Taylor Hall)
2) Always had in mind that they would be playing on international-sized ice.

3) Players remain on the teams they are currently playing for as of 2010.

** Listed as Player's name (age in 2014)

Forwards:
Staal(29)          Crosby(26)          Iginla(36)
                                               Jeff Carter(29)
Morrow(35)      Getzlaf(28)          Perry(28) 
Milan Lucic(25)
Heatley(33)      Thornton(34)      Marleau(34)
                      John Tavares(23)  Steven Stamkos(24)
Richards(29)    Toews(25)            Nash(29)

Bergeron(28)
Jordan Eberle(23)


Scratches:

Iginla and Morrow will not make the cut due to their age and their inability to play their role in 2014. Iginla was seen as an offensive catalyst and side-kick to Crosby in 2010 but at age 36, I cannot see him being able to keep up with the Crosby and young guns from other nations. Morrow was one of the key players to the 2010 team. His "momentum changing" abilities was invaluable in Vancouver as he was able to spark Canada's offence and the crowd with one punishing hit. But based on what he brings to the table, Canada will be able to fill that role with someone else with more youth.

At age 34, Thornton could still be an elite pass-first center in the NHL. But he is known for disappearing in big games and the Olympics were no different. No, he did not hurt the team. But with the stakes being so high in Sochi, Canada can't afford to have a 34 year old sleepwalker on the ice. 

Marleau was a tough call. He played extremely well at the Olympics as he was great on the penalty kill and chipped in some offence here and there when needed. He is not known to be a vocal leader which will prevent him from being named on the team for intangible reasons. I also question how he will perform on the larger ice surface in Sochi and because of that I have left him off the team. 

Bergeron was believed to be the side-kick for Crosby because of their success in the World Junior Championships. Let's just say management won't make that mistake again. 

Keepers:

Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf, Perry, Nash, Richards, and Staal are self-explanatory. If they can keep up, or increase, their level of play in 2014 they will all be locks to make the team. Dany Heatley is a perennial sniper in the NHL. However, like Thornton, I do question his ability to show up for the "big games."  His numbers in international competition speaks for itself (74 pts in 71 games) and if he is paired with the right players he can still be a key contributor in 2014. 

Replacements:

Jeff Carter: He was the first replacement option for Canada in 2010 and will not be snubbed twice. 

Milan Lucic: I cannot stress how important Morrow was to the 2010 team. He was selected to be an on-ice conundrum for opposing teams and that role needs to be filled in 2014. Enter Lucic. At 6'4'' 220lbs, the Serbian bodozer can reap havoc and chip in a goal or two. 

John Tavares: Yes, he is having an unspectacular rookie season. Yes, he has not lived up to the hype. Yes, he is playing for the New York Islanders. Tavares is on pace for 43 points in his debut season which has created concern that he may not be the superstar everyone envisioned. But before we start throwing him under the Hockey Canada semi-truck lets look at the rookie season totals of other players on the team: Getzlaf-39pts, Perry-25pts, Staal-31pts, Nash-39pts, and Richards-34pts. My point is: relax. In four years, Tavares will prove to everyone that he can be considered an elite game-breaker.

Steven Stamkos: He is potentially on pace to eclipse the 50-goal and 100-point mark in his sophomore season. And he is playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is everything Vincent Lecavalier used to be except I hope that he is smart enough to not sign an 11 year contract with T-Bay.

Jordan Eberle: If you have watched the World Junior Championships in 2009 and 2010 then you know this guy is clutch. Time will tell if he can translate his late-game heroics to the NHL level but in international competition he knows how to score the big goal(s).

Honorable Mentions: Travis Zajac, Matt Duchene, Jordan Staal, Derek Roy, Kris Versteeg, James Neal, Alex Burrows, and Claude Giroux

Management
It would be great to see Steve Yzerman running the show again. If Gretzky gets two shots at gold, why not Stevie Y? I would not mind having Mike Babcock back behind the bench with Lindy Ruff as well. However, I do think Ken Hitchcock's tenure with Team Canada should be over. He has been involved with the last 3 Olympics and someone else deserves a shot. Quite frankly, I question is overall influence on the team. The only time you have your assistant coach in the press box during games is when (1) Their role is minimal in the grand scheme of things (Ex: Bill Moores for the Oilers from 2000-09) (2) There is not enough room behind the bench for everyone (insert fat joke). (3) They're erratic and lose composure more than your players. Hitchcock's body language changed by the minute at the Olympics. When things are going well he looked like the happiest person on earth. But as soon as the team starts crumbling, he looked like this (what do you have in there, Kenny?).

Proposition of Today: "Training Day" is one of my favorite movies of all time. Producer Antoine Fuqua and actor Ethan Hawke have teamed up again for "Brooklyn's Finest." Also joining them are Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes. I'm going to see it within the next few days and I highly recommend this film to everyone. Go check it out and feel free to make comments on it.