Vancouver 2010 Part II - The Cuts

The Cuts:

Now for the players I took a pass on. Naturally, a strong argument can be made for any of these players; some of them people will undoubtedly wonder why they're even on my list, and for those absent, some will wonder why they didn't make the short-list. Here is my short-list of bubble players who didn't make the cut.

Daniel Briere - Briere is quick, shifty, and has the soft hands of a sniper. He is equally adept at setting up plays as finishing them, and can play under intense pressure situations. Defensively he's not a liability, offensively dangerous; on the big ice surface, his agility would be a welcome addition to Team Canada’s offence. However, while Daniel Briere brings with him an impressive skill set, each of the bubble players I’ve chosen fills a particular niche within the team. Nash brings his unbelievable stick skills and foot speed, Gagne with his speed and two-way savvy, Staal with his all-around ability, decision making, and net presence, Getzlaf with his poise, patience, and balanced play, and Spezza with his unparalleled passing and puck movement skills. While Briere is a considerable threat on offence, he is simply not able to fill those gaps to the level that these other players can.

Marc Savard - While Savard is an excellent playmaker, and prolific point getter, like Briere, there is simply no room for the skill set he brings. His skating is not as strong as Gagne or Nash, his playmaking ability is not up to the level of a Spezza, Crosby, or Thornton, and he doesn’t provide the big body presence, poise, and savvy of a Getzlaf or Gagne. While he is an invaluable asset to his club team, there is simply no room on a team as tight as Canada.

Mike Richards - Two years might seem like a country mile from here, because in that time, it might very well be impossible to cut Richards from the team. In his young career, Richards has captained the Canadian Junior team to a gold medal, brought his Junior club, the Kitchener Rangers success in the playoffs, and has quickly become an integral part of his NHL club, the Philadelphia Flyers. Seeing Mike Richards play reminds me a lot of another monstrous player for Sweden that you might recognize: Daniel Alfredsson. Richards displays plenty of poise, two-way savvy, and like the aforementioned Alfredsson, his feet never stop moving. He is currently on par to eclipse his previous season highs, and he has been referred to with reference as the future captain of his NHL club. Whether in the coming seasons he separates himself from the rest of the pack is something only time will tell, and he is certainly a case that will have to be revisited in the 09/10 season.

Brendan Shanahan - Brendan Shanahan has had immense success, both at the NHL level as well as the international level. His previous involvements with Team Canada have all been successful, and the skill set and leadership he brings to any team would be valuable indeed. However, this is no ordinary team, and these are no ordinary players. While Shanahan is still effective in the offensive zone, his skating has never really been his strongest asset, and on the big ice, strong skaters are essential to a winning team. In 2010, Shanahan will be pushing 40 years, and with the combination of age, skating ability, and his skill set, it would be impossible to fit him within the structure of the team. Shanahan, you will be missed!

Rod Brind'Amour - Yes, I had “Rod the Bod” on my short-list. Most pundits, websites, and armchair hockey fans wouldn’t even mention his name on a list as “prestigious” as the one Canadian brass looks at. However, there are a number of reasons why I think Rod Brind’Amour should at least draw significant consideration. Brind’Amour is a born leader, both vocally and by example, his faceoff skills are impressive, and he is a warrior through and through. Aside from Adam Foote, there is no player who exhibits the toughness, both physical and mental, that Rod Brind’Amour does. While he is not the fleetest of foot, or the best puck mover in the league, he is solid in both ends of the rink, an invaluable penalty killer, he is consistently effective in the faceoff circle, he has been consistently productive for the last three seasons (including this one), and his play without the puck is probably as strong or stronger than his play with the puck. However, when looking at the skill and skating level of some of the names that were taken (and even some of the names that weren’t), there just simply isn't any room for Brind'Amour and his unique skill set.

Paul Kariya - Paul Kariya, like Rod Brind’Amour, brings a very valuable and very unique skill set to his team. He’s experienced success, both internationally and in the NHL (although he hasn’t won a Cup yet), and brings with him a positive attitude and leadership skills. His experiences with Team Canada have been productive, and in the 2002 Olympic tournament, generated many quality scoring chances with his blazing speed, bullet shot, and adept finishing skills. Unfortunately, the speedy Kariya can be a one dimensional player at times, and while his foot speed will serve him and his team well on the big ice surface, he can’t open that ice up as well as players like Staal, Thornton, or Heatley. His finishing skills are admirable, but are not equalled by his passing, and many players like Getzlaf, Staal, and others present more of a balanced package, which can keep goalies a little more on their toes. While I would like nothing more than to select Kariya (if anything to represent the Asian population), he simply isn’t good enough to make the cut. And that is not a knock against Kariya, that says something about the amount of skill available to this team.

Jonathan Toews - Toews has a bright future ahead of him in the NHL, but as of now, is only in his rookie season. Even Sidney Crosby was passed over for selection in the 2006 Winter Games, and Toews, while holding vast potential, is no Sidney Crosby. There are still two years left before the 2010 games, and that may be time enough for Toews to prove his worth, but one look at the talent available for selection, and becomes abundantly clear just how high of a mountain he needs to climb. Be that as it may, he is certainly a case that will need to be revisited in two years in 2010. Best of luck, Jonathan Toews.

Shane Doan - “Doaner” as he’s known, brings another unique blend of checking, scoring, and physical presence to the team. In the 2004 world cup, he played alongside Joe Thornton and Kris Draper on a “checking line” which dominated the tournament. However, as much as I like the game that Shane Doan plays, and the skill set that he represents, unlike Ryan Getzlaf, I don’t believe it’s a skill set that will translate well onto the bigger ice surface. While both are very physical players who display two-way savvy, Getzlaf’s poise, patience, and natural flair for playing in the middle are all translatable to the larger ice surface, while Doan’s run and gun style and tight checking are more conducive to a smaller surface. It would be fun to watch how Doan adapts to the larger ice surface, but that is a luxury that these kinds of tournaments do not afford.

Brenden Morrow - Brenden Morrow brings a very similar skill set to that of Shane Doan; a physical, run-and-gun, two-way playing style which can dominate the smaller ice surface, and check opponents into the ground. Unfortunately, like Doan, this style suffers from the same drawbacks, as checking opponents becomes more difficult, particularly when speedy, puck moving forwards are given larger areas to work with. Cutting out time and space becomes more difficult, and that is a keystone to Morrow’s game; forcing offensive zone turnovers and opportunistic play.

Dan Boyle - Last of the “big 4” for Tampa Bay, Dan Boyle is slick and fast. He can make clean, crisp outlet passes, rush the puck, and quarterback the powerplay. Boyle has developed into a very balanced defenceman for both Canada and his NHL club, making him a very difficult cut. His style of play lends itself nicely to the big ice surface, but he lacks the size and international experience of other bubble players like Jovanovski and Bouwmeester. However, Boyle’s leadership qualities, foot speed, tight defensive zone coverage, ability to quickly and effectively move the puck out of the danger zones, and transition offence would be a welcome addition to the team. Boyle's direct competition would be Brian Campbell and Ed Jovanovski, who may very well be interchangeable on the team.

Rob Blake - Age has become a factor with Rob Blake, as he is just too slow. Being a “complete package” defenceman means relying heavily on skating and positioning as cornerstones of his game; both of which have never really been Blake’s strongest assets. In his younger years, he could rely a little heavier on his foot speed to get himself out of trouble, but now with the onset of age, he is a step slower, and doesn’t have that impeccable positioning to keep him out of trouble, nor the foot speed to give him the recuperative ability get him out of trouble when he gets in deep. His body is not as well conditioned as Foote or Brind’Amour, so playing into his 40’s is going to be a problem, and in short, despite his vast experience and success internationally and in the NHL, his swan song has sung, and his boat has left. Thanks for the many great years, Mr. Blake, you will be missed!

Brian Campbell - If "slickness" was a trait, Brian Campbell's got it in spades. His ability to move the puck on the powerplay and confidence with the puck are difficult to match, and he carries with him a penchant for open ice hits (apropos R.J. Umberger of the Flyers in the 05/06 playoffs and others). Unfortunately, while Campbell possesses a most desireable skill set, I had to reject Campbell for mostly the same reasons as I rejected Boyle. While he is able to do a number of things very well, there a number of Canadian defenseman who can do the same things he can do, but do them better. And while he can run the powerplay with aplomb, significantly better than a d-man like Phillips, Phillips is far tighter on the defensive zone coverage, is more physical in the defensive zone, has better recuperative ability, and makes cleaner and smarter outlet passes.

Shawn Horcoff - I know many people would not even consider Horcoff for the Canadian Olympic national team. Some of you might think that I'm adding his name on my short list just because he was selected for the All-Star team. Not so. For anyone who's seen this guy develop, they know that Horcoff brings much more to the Oilers than just being a first-line centre. The argument could be made that Horcoff doesn't have the skill to be a true top-line centre, and that argument might be justified. He doesn't have the mind-bending puck control of a Rick Nash, or the easy skating stride of a Jay Bouwmeester, or even the wicked release of a Martin Havlat or Thomas Vanek. What Horcoff does bring to the team is blazing speed, tenacious forecheck, a nose for the net, and the typical Oiler attitude of going "balls to the wall" 110% until the whistle blows to end the third period. And unlike other tenacious forecheckers like Draper or Fisher, Horcoff owns a much more desirable offensive upside, and much like other Oilers, has the ability to simplify his game when things aren't going right. However, all that being said, as much as I'd like to see Shawn Horcoff play in a Canadian jersey, I just don't think there's room for him on a roster as tight as Canada's.

Robyn Regehr - Robyn Regehr was another very difficult player to cut, because of what he can bring to the team. International experience and success, big body presence, physically intimidating with a mean streak, and positionally sound. However, there are other players who possess these attributes, and have an offensive upside to boot. Regehr, while relatively sound positionally, lacks the foot speed to keep up with quicker forwards, particularly on the big ice, and this could lead to critical breakdowns in the defensive zone coverage. He is not able to recuperate as quickly as other defenseman, and at the end of the day, he's a bit of a one dimensional player. As far as defensive defenseman go, Robyn Regehr is at the top of many people's lists, but in terms of finding a roster spot on Canada's already tight roster, there's just no room.

Brad Richards - Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe winner in 2004, part of the “big 4” in Tampa Bay, Brad Richards is arguably one of the most intelligent puck movers in the NHL, and one of the few forwards who can effectively quarterback a powerplay. Brad Richards was one of the most difficult cuts to make; his success and experience both internationally and in the NHL speaks for itself, his intelligent decision making, and his clutch ability to produce in a big way at the most crucial times under the most intense pressure make him a valuable commodity. However, with the leadership of players like Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, Jarome Iginla, Ryan Smyth, and others, his experience pales in comparison. Players like Eric Staal and Ryan Getzlaf are also intelligent puck movers, but carry with them a hard, physical edge that Richards lacks. His clutch play and two-way savvy will be missed, but on a team like Canada’s, there is only room to fill the essential gaps, which leaves Richards on the outside looking in.

Shea Weber - While many people have Shea Weber on their lists, I personally didn't select him for my team, and I'll tell you why. While he may have internation experience playing along side Dion Phaneuf at the World Juniors (as Bob McKenzie was apt to point out), and while he may bring a good, hard physical edge to the team, and while I certainly like what he brings to a team, in my opinion, he's simply too raw. Defenseman like Phillips and Bouwmeester have far greater potential as shut-down defenders, and both can skate far better than Weber. Phillips, Boyle, and Campbell are all better puck distributors than Weber, and Phillips and Bouwmeester have the potential to be equally physical, and Jovanovski and Phaneuf (along with other Canadian defenseman I selected) can play with a real mean streak and hard physical edge. There's nothing that Weber can bring to the team that hasn't already been selected for. However, we're still two years away from the Olympics, and things can change greatly from here till then. Weber, who is already the No. 1 defenceman for Nashville, still has time to develop into an elite tier defenceman, which he has the potential to do. At this point, I wouldn't take a player like Weber over players like Phillips or Bouwmeester because of their skating and puck distributing abilities, but Weber makes a strong case to be revisted in 2010.