We're into the second half of the hockey season, and the push for the playoffs begin!

Team Canada Watch UPDATED

Written by: Jesse Michael on 29th October 2009

Team Canada Watch *UPDATED* | read this item

After last week, I took some flack for not having Chris Pronger even on the bubble for the team. A part of me feels like he’s going to be there, but not enough right now to consider it. Maybe another couple strong weeks of play will allow him to squeeze into my top seven. For now, a graphic display his face will have to do for all of those Pronger lovers out there.

	Forwards
Rick Nash	Sidney Crosby	Jarome Iginla
Eric Staal	Ryan Getzlaf	Corey Perry
Dany Heatley	Joe Thornton	Jeff Carter
Brendan Morrow	Mike Richards	Jordan Staal
	Jonathan Toews

Highlighted Players:

Eric Staal: Very very slow start for Staal this season. Whether it be compared to last season where he started off slow, or the lack of Eric Cole on his wing, Staal needs to produce more if he wants to secure his spot on the team. He is about 75% guaranteed a spot no matter what, but there is that 25% of wiggle room for Steve Yzerman and co. to change their minds and go with more of a hot hand.

Jonathan Toews: After being demolished by a check from Cancuks defenseman Willie Mitchell, Toews has been out ever since with a concussion. All signs are pointing towards a full recovery. However, with a kid on the bubble to be a 13th forward, he will need to come back and prove he belongs after this setback.

Defencemen
Scott Niedermeyer (C)	Shea Weber
Jay Bouwmeester	Dan Boyle
Dion Phaneuf	Mike Green
Duncan Keith

Highlighted Players:

Shea Weber: After a slow start – on a terrible team – Weber has started to play at the pace where he began last season. He has six points in ten games, and is a +/- 0 for a team that has surrendered almost twice as many goals as they have scored. If he continues his strong play on a weak team, he should be a lock for Team Canada.

Goalies

Martin Brodeur

Roberto Luongo

Marc-Andre Fleury

Highlighted Players

Marc-Andre Fleury: This guy has been flat out unbelievable this season. Coming off the long playoff run to the Stanley Cup, many thought he would suffer the post-cup hangover like many goalies do at the beginning of the season. However, Fleury is second in the league in wins with nine, and looks to be putting separation between him and Cam Ward for the third spot.

Taxi Squad: Shane Doan, Patrick Sharp, Chris Pronger

Bubble Players

Standouts

Ryan Smyth: Smyth has another impressive week. He potted a goal and four assists, allowing the Kings to keep pace with the rest of the Western Conference. Continued play like this will for sure give Smyth a legitmate chance of making the roster.

Martin St. Louis: Another solid week for St. Louis as his ten assists now put him sixth overall in the league. His 13 points rank him 19th overall, but with the continued maturation of Seven Stamkos and if Vinny Lecavalier can wake up, there’s no reason to think that St. Louis could make the team.

Patrick Marleau: Marleau continued his strong play this past week, scoring nine points in six games played and was also named the leagues third star of the week. Like the rest of the bubble players, he will need to continue his torrid scoring pace if he wants to make the team.
-

Mid-Card

Brad Richards: He has simply been on fire through his first ten games this season. He has 15 points in ten games, and is a solid +7, helping Dallas to fifth in the conference right now. He is a solid two-way player, and could be placed in a fourth line checking role, or on the top powerplay…he’s just that versatile.

Steven Stamkos: A short week for the Lightning, but Stamkos still put up three points in two games, pushing his total to eleven on the year. He ranks tenth in the league in goals, and with the injury to a young guy in Toews, Stamkos could be the one to fill that goal scoring spot as the 13th forward.

Andy McDonald: A regression week for McDonald, as he only picked up one point in four games played. He needs to pick up the offence if he wants to even be considered for the final spots.

Rough-Go’s

Vincent Lecavalier: Vinny still hasn’t had an eye-opener week yet. It was a slow week for the Lightning as mentioned, and he put up two points in two games. He is almost on a point per game pace, however he will need much more than that if he wants to lock up a spot on the team. Especially with others playing much better than him.

Milan Lucic: His broken hand has all but ended the dream of Lucic making this year’s squad. He should for sure be there in 2014 – if they’re allowed to go.

Marc Savard: Like Lucic, his injury has all but solidified that the only team he will be playing for this year is the Bruins…when he’s healthy.

Topics: 2010 Team Canada, 2010 Team Canada Hockey, 2010 Vancouver Olympics, 2010 Winter Olympics, Brad Richards, Eric Staal, Hockey Canada, Jonathan Toews, Marc-Andre Fleury, Martin St. Louis, Patrick Marleau, Ryan Smyth, Shea Weber, Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier

Nausso Nausch says:

October 30, 2009 at 4:05 pm

No Leaf players??

Latest Headlines

In The News

Sarnia’s Kujawinski ready for U-17 Hockey Challenge

Sarnia’s Kujawinski ready for first taste of international competition at the U-17 Hockey Challenge, competing with Team Ontario at the end of the month in Windsor, Ontario