Scott Wheeler
02/10/2013
Over the past week, as the 1-year countdown to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics kicked off, 7 members of the WWAC staff created what they think will be the rosters for Team Canada’s squad. The rosters were required to adhere to the following criteria and are listed below:

1. 12 forwards and 2 extras (14)

2. 6 defensemen and 2 extras (8)

3. 3 goalies (starter listed first)

4. 7 ‘taxi-squad’ members or ‘almosts’

Dave Hamilton’s Selections:

Eric Staal - Sidney Crosby - Steven Stamkos

Rick Nash - Claude Giroux - Corey Perry

John Tavares - Jonathan Toews - Jordan Eberle

Mike Richards - Patrice Bergeron - James Neal

Ex: Jamie Benn + Taylor Hall

Duncan Keith - Alex Pietrangelo

Shea Weber - Drew Doughty

Michael Del Zotto - Kris Letang

Ex: PK Subban + Justin Schultz

Carey Price - Cam Ward - Roberto Luongo

Almost: J. Spezza, T. Purcell, M. St.Louis, P. Sharp, B. Richards, D. Boyle and MA. Fleury.

Scott Wheeler’s Selections:

John Tavares - Sidney Crosby - Steven Stamkos

Eric Staal - Claude Giroux - Jordan Eberle

Rick Nash - Jonathan Toews - Corey Perry

Patrick Sharp - Patrice Bergeron - James Neal

Ex: Joe Thornton + Patrick Marleau

Kris Letang - Alex Pietrangelo

Shea Weber - Drew Doughty

Marc Staal - Duncan Keith

Ex: Brent Seabrook + Michael Del Zotto

Carey Price - Roberto Luongo - Marc-Andre Fleury

Almost: J. Spezza, M. Lucic, R. Getzlaf, J. Benn, T. Hall, PK Subban and C. Ward.

Kurt Popp’s Selections:

John Tavares - Sidney Crosby - Claude Giroux

Rick Nash - Steven Stamkos - Marin St. Louis

Jordan Eberle - Jonathan Toews - Corey Perry

Patrick Sharp - Mike Richards - Jerome Iginla

Ex: David Clarkson + Logan Couture

Kris Letang - Alex Pietrangelo

Dustin Byfuglien - Shea Weber

Dan Boyle - Drew Doughty

Ex: Duncan Keith + Dion Phaneuf

Carey Price - Marc-Andre Fleury - Corey Crawford

Almost: P. Marleau, J. Thorton, J. Spezza, E. Staal, R. Getzlaf, B. Seabrook and PK Subban.

Dante Martella’s Selections:

John Tavares - Sidney Crosby - Steven Stamkos

Eric Staal - Claude Giroux - James Neal

Rick Nash - Jonathan Toews - Corey Perry 

Mike Richards - Patrice Bergeron - Patrick Sharp

Ex: Jordan Eberle + Jamie Benn

Shea Weber - Drew Doughty

Kris Letang - Alex Pietrangelo

Duncan Keith - Marc Staal 

Ex: Brent Seabrook + Brian Campbell

Carey Price - Roberto Luongo - Cam Ward

Almost: L. Couture, R. Getzlaf, B. Richards, M. Del Zotto, D. Girardi, D. Boyle and MA. Fleury.

Stefan Hoogerbrugge’s Selections:

Sidney Crosby - Claude Giroux - Steven Stamkos

Ryan Getzlaf - Jonathan Toews - Corey Perry

Eric Staal - John Tavares - Jordan Eberle

Milan Lucic - Patrice Bergeron - David Clarkson

Ex: Skinner + Nash

Drew Doughty – Shea Weber

Brent Seabrook - PK Subban

Marc Staal - Kris Letang

Ex: Duncan Keith + Alex Pietrangelo 

Carey Price - Cam Ward - Marc-Andre Fleury

Almost: J. Neal, L. Couture, J. Staal, D. Girardi, D. Phaneuf, R. Luongo and T. Hall.

Owen Durkin’s Selections:

Evander Kane - Steven Stamkos - Claude Giroux

Taylor Hall - Sidney Crosby - Jordan Eberle

Jamie Benn - Jonathan Toews - Tyler Seguin

James Neal - Patrice Bergeron - Corey Perry

Ex: Ryane Clowe + Eric Staal

Michael Del Zotto - Shea Weber

Dion Phaneuf - Alex Pietrangelo

Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook

Ex: Dan Hamhuis + Kris Letang

Cary Price - Roberto Luongo - Cam Ward

Almost: D. Doughty, D. Clarkson, J. Tavares, J. Lupul, D. Hamilton, J. Bernier and S. Robidas.

Tim Wilcox’s Selections:

Jonathan Toews - Sidney Crosby - Steven Stamkos

John Tavares - Claude Giroux - Corey Perry

Jamie Benn - Patrice Bergeron - Jordan Eberle

Eric Staal - Joe Thornton - Rick Nash

Ex: Tyler Seguin + Jordan Staal

Drew Doughty - Shea Weber

Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook

Marc Staal - Alex Pietrangelo

Ex: Kris Letang + Michael Del Zotto

Cary Price - Roberto Luongo - Cam Ward

Almost: J. Neal, R. Nugent-Hopkins, M. St.Louis, J. Skinner, J. Bouwmeester, D. Boyle and M. Brodeur.

In total, 28 different forwards were selected by our writers for slots available to only 13-14 of them, not including those on the ‘almost’ train back to Canada. Similarly, 14 defensemen were among the rosters selected (7-8 actual spots) with names like Boyle and Girardi not once making the cut and a total of 5 goalies were interchangeably swapped throughout with Carey Price remaining the constant. This means double the amount of actual players were considered into lineups that could be argued are as competitive as the next and as the saying goes “Canada could ice two teams capable of Gold”. 

Who would make your roster? Whose roster has the best shot at that back-to-back medal of the golden variety?

@scottcwheeler

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