Willes Speculates on Massive Turnover of 2014 Olympic Team Roster

The beauty of this exercise, of course, is it will all change again when the Canadian men's hockey team is selected for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

By then, Sidney Crosby's complicated neurological issues might be sorted out. By then, Ryan Getzlaf might have undergone a successful surgery to have his head removed from his posterior. By then, Rick Nash might have undergone the same procedure. And Eric Staal. And Patrick Marleau. And ... never mind. You get the picture.

There's also a group of youngsters who, in two years, might be ready to step on to the game's biggest stage. That's assuming, of course, that stage is being used by the NHL. http://www.theprovince.com/sports/have+mighty+Olympians+fallen/6177105/story.html#ixzz1mw6cQu69

Shacks' Take: Ed's right, this is a fun exercise and the turnover rate from the 2010 team looks like it could be extensive.  Of course I disagree on a few of his selections but it's impossible to make a list like this without some disagreement.  The only pick that makes me question Willes' sanity is his inclusion of Dion Phaneuf.  He still makes too many dumb defensive decisions to be included in the top 7 blue liners from this country.  Here's my list and changes from Ed's group:

Forwards

Steven Stamkos, Claude Giroux, Jonathan Toews, Jason Spezza, John Tavares, Scott Hartnell, Patrice Bergeron, Corey Perry, James Neal, Patrick Sharp, Joffrey Lupul, Martin St. Louis Ryan Getzlaf.

I've replaced Seguin, Neal & Couture with Lupul, St. Louis & Getzlaf.  Lupul is having too good of a season to pass on, St Louis is still the most underappreciated forward in the league and Getzlaf's size and experience up the middle is too important.  Seguin, Tavares & Spezza are too similar, one has to go and I just prefer the other two players.

Defense

Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Kris Letang, Brian Campbell, Michael Del Zotto & Alex Pietrangelo

As I mentioned earlier, Phaneuf wouldn't make my top 12 let alone 7 and I've also replaced Boyle.  Del Zotto and Pietrangelo are the best defensemen on two of the best teams in hockey. They're ready and as Drew Doughty proved in 2010, youth can excel in this tournament if they are playing at their peak.  I kind of hope Doughty is back and ready by this time because he was the second best d-man on the 2010 team behind Keith.

Goalie:

Starter Roberto Luongo

Back ups Mark Andre Fleury, Carey Price

It's hard to argue with Ed's selections on the keepeers.  Luongo won gold at the last Olympics and is playing great right now.  Just like Brodeur in Vancouver, he gets the start based on his past performance but has a short leash.  If he stumbles, Fleury's in.

This specualtion is fun but it is completely irrelevant at the moment.  As much as the list has changed in the two years since Vancouver I expect it to change just as much in the next two year before Sochi.  I'm sure we'll fun with this list several times more before 2014.