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Team Canada Watch UPDATED

Written by: Jesse Michael on 26th November 2009

Team Canada Watch *UPDATED* | read this item

Some major developments on this week’s edition of the Team Canada Watch, specifically at the forward position with one name being knocked out of a roster spot, and one more in danger of losing his position too

Jordan Staal has been replaced by Shane Doan. My first inclination was to have Ryan Smyth take his position, however now that he’s hurt, and with Doan’s continuous great play, he has earned the fourth line grinder spot that he’s excelled in so many times before.

Eric Staal is still hanging onto his position along side Getzlaf and Perry, however if he does not produce now that he’s back from injury, a player like Patrick Marleau or Steven Stamkos will get a major push to fit into that second line role.

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

*denotes new addition

Cold

Brendan Morrow: Struggling recently to find his offensive game, the usually consistent Morrow only has two points in his last five games. Although he’ll be counted on more for his defensive play, he is usually near a point-a-game pace by this point. Players with more points than him? Look to the likes of Tomas Plekanec, Maxim Afinogenov, and Brooks Laich.

Hot

Corey Perry: Perry has been on FIRE this season and looks like he won’t be slowing down any time soon. He is fifth right now in league scoring with 28 points in 22 games, and has flourished alongside Ryan Getzlaf in Anaheim. Look for these two to play together in a pivotal scoring role for Canada.

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

Cold

Chris Pronger: Right after I put him onto the squad, Pronger goes and has a tumultuous five game stretch where he only have one point and was even plus/minus. His sturdy defensive play has earned him Norris Trophy talk, but with the offensive numbers going down, it’s hard to keep him in that consideration. He should make Team Canada, and should play with Scott Niedermeyer, both of whom are very comfortable with each other after playing together in Anaheim.

Hot

Duncan Keith: After a slow start to his season, Keith has ramped it up the last five games, scoring eight points and is +9. He has almost surely locked himself down a spot on Team Canada, as long as he continues his strong play and does not get injured. He has helped the Chicago Blackhawks to eight straight wins, and should be rewarded with a brand new contract in the coming weeks. If not, he will be a sought after defenceman come free agency this summer.

Goalies

Martin Brodeur

Roberto Luongo

Marc-Andre Fleury

*Taxi Squad: There will be no taxi squad this year. Players can be added up until the Olympics only if a roster player is injured.

Bubble Players

On Fire

Patrick Marleau: It’s almost nearing a lock that the entire line form San Jose will go to Vancouver if they keep up the torrid pace they’re all on. Marleau has 27 points in 26 games, including nine power play points, something that is very key at the Olympic games. If Eric Staal continues to flutter, look for Marleau to move into his spot.

Brad Richards: Richards continues to fly under Team Canada’s radar. No one at length has spoken of the numbers he’s putting up on a strong Dallas team right now. Sitting sixth in the league in scoring with 30 points in 22 games, Richards should begin to get consideration for the third checking spot now that Ryan Smyth is down with an injury.
-

Heating-Up

Steven Stamkos: Can this kid make any more of a statement to Steve Yzerman that he wants on this year’s team? Stamkos has 26 points in 22 games, including 15 goals; none prettier than the goal of the year candidate against Anaheim. Many think, including myself, that Stamkos will be this year’s version of Crosby in 2006, when he tore up the league and was left off the roster.

*Dustin Penner: It’s time that Penner is done being ignored. Granted, I don’t think he will make the team, but after having a bounce back year in which no one expected him to do anything, he should at least be considered. He has 26 points in 25 games to lead the struggling Oilers.

Vincent Lecavalier: Vinny has started playing better recently with six points in his last five games. He is starting to pick up his game at the right time, but it’s not helping that he’s being outdone by his 19-year-old line mate Stamkos.

Cold As Ice

Dan Cleary: Cleary has been struggling mightily lately. After heating up in early November, Clearly only has two points in his last five games and was a -3. Considered a long shot to make the team, he was invited to camp based on his play from the last two Stanley Cup playoffs. Not to say Clearly doesn’t have a chance, but unless he picks it up, or there are some serious injuries to the checking line on the team, he could be out of the running

Ryan Smyth: Smyth’s Olympic chances were starting to become big news in Canada, with the veteran forward playing resurgent hockey in Los Angeles. However, an upper body injury has likely forced him out of the lineup for an extended period, and potentially off of Team Canada’s radar completely.

Topics: 2010 Winter Olympics, Brad Richards, Corey Perry, Dustin Penner, Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Mike Green, Patrick Marleau, Ryan Smyth, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Team Canada 2010, Vancouver Olympics, Vincent Lecavalier