Blackhawks Toews, Keith Headline Canada Olympic Roster
Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith will get a chance to defend their 2010 Olympic gold medals, and will be joined in Sochi by Patrick Sharp.
Unfortunately, the deep group of defensemen headed to the Games left Brent Seabrook off the list. Corey Crawford also did not make the team. Here’s Canada’s complete roster.
The three Canadian players makes 10 Blackhawks headed to the Olympics. Seven had been previously announced. Also, we made the case for Sharp’s inclusion on the roster yesterday.
I really do not know the side of the ice the other Dmen play or how their particular seasons are going, but I am shocked Seabrook didn’t get selected. I wouldn’t have been shocked last year, but this year yes. I think he is playing well and having a pair that already plays together would have been huge.
10 Hawks going to Sochi – outstanding! I’m so happy Sharp made it. It’s too bad Seabrook didn’t make it but he got a gold in 2010 and that’s more than most hockey players will ever get.
The biggest surprise to me was Kruger making it. I know he played on the Swedish national team a couple years ago but didn’t think he had much of a chance to make the Olympic team. Good for him. Less so, but still a little surprised that Oduya made it because all the stud Swedish d-men in the league. It probably helped him to be Hjalmarsson’s d-partner.
I know some don’t care for Olympic hockey due to the less physicality and the more open game with the bigger ice surface, but I love Olympic hockey and I’m really looking forward to following all the Hawks and their respective teams – US, Canada, Sweden, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Let the games begin … soon.
Seabs w/o question should have made it. The most undeserving player on this roster is Nash….18pts on the year that’s a joke.
Seabrook is not better than any of the Right D that made the team. Weber, Subban, Pietrangelo, or Doughty. And much like 2010, Keith will skate with Doughty again. Vlasic and Subban are probably your subs.
Really happy for Sharp. As much as I hate the thought of a player getting injured over there, I love watching the games. I’m so excited to watch hockey at 5am.
Seabs is a right hand shot, was the excuse from most. Isnt he like 3rd in assists for all defenseman in the league. Bcock is probably still sore from Seabs game 7 ot goal. It will be nice when Seabs gets back from Youngblood’s farmhouse, after the break and lays people out because of this.
Most of our ‘older’ players are on teams that wont be playing in all of the games. So it works out in that way they wont get over worked but get to play against teams that will make them better for us. All of the teams that will be in the medal rounds is were our younger players are on… So it works good. Blessing in disguise.
Congrats to all the Hawks that made the olympic teams. Very disappointed that Seabs was left off the team. I guess they wanted even # of left & right handed players, otherwise he would have been there as he his definatly a better player than a couple left handers on the team. I’m also disapointed Crow wasnt in the talks as he has proven to be a winner & a wonderful goaltender. It was a very hard decision for the fellows involved & congrats to them for doin the best they could.
Good luck to all it will be very exciting to watch & I hope they all come back injury free
JS, I would have taken Seabs over Doughty; but just personal preference. I do wonder if Babcock played a role in this, but that would be a little shortsighted for him.
Like ER, I like olympic hockey and will be excited to follow it. I believe this is the last olympics we will see NHL players until the games return to North America.
JS, is that what time you usually are getting in?
I like watching the games, just dont like the interruption of the season and all that comes with it. We will go 36 days without 1 game at the UC. I’m happy for all the players, Sharp really deserved it, and I think he wanted it badly so good for him. I hope all Olympians get a great experience and get through it without any major injuries. Rick Nash ?
Drew Doughty is a ridiculously good defesemen. If Seabrook made the team over him, there would be riots.
RD- oddly, I wake up to go to work at 5am. I’m a highly functional drinker!
Rick Nash makes no sense. He’s having his worst year as a pro. I’m pretty sure Canada is capable of fielding 2 teams that could compete for gold.
So I just noticed the Sharks had 42 shots last game. Wow. Fooled me.
Pretty big list again for the Hawks. Less weird than the Bobby Ryan thing. Hopefully no one gets injured.
RE/Nash, he has only played 27 games but the individual stats for NYR in general are pretty comical.
I could still see Seabs and Crow making the team as Olympic Teams have until February to name injury replacements.
If a Dman gets hurt, Seabs is probably next man up, and isn’t Luongo already injured and dealing with a bad groin etc. I’m not sure if Team Canada would pick Josh Harding based on his numbers this year or Crow, although Harding is out with some sort of illness right now, I’m sure that would be resolved by Feb.
By the way to EbonyRaptor – Oduya was on the 2010 Team for Sweden, and I think that Hjalmarson & Oduya helped each other get on the team.
WCZ – yep, you’re correct. I forgot Oduya was on the 2010 team. I do think the chemistry angle was probably part of the decision to take them both.
I believe Seabrook doesn’t make the team for two reasons. Firstly they wanted equal LD and RD and secondly foor speed on the big ice. All the Canadian D are fleet of foot and will not get beat easily.
Toews and Kane were givens. I am super happy for Sharp and his wheels will be great on the big ice.
Crawford would have been a better pick than Smith and injury would not have been an issue as he would have been the 3rd goalie and probably doesn’t play.
Rick Nash was a surprise to me as well. They should of had marty St. louis or James Neal. A lot of fire power on the Canadian team and the top three combos in the NHL going right now in Crosby-Kunitz, Toews-Sharp and Getzlaf-Perry.
Sweden probably has the next best team. The Russians better hope to score in bunches as they have no D whatsoever.
Few interesting moves for team Canada. Mike Smith and Bobby Lou were hardly deserving in net. Is Price the starter?
Claude Giroux left off the team? The guy is a legit superstar. Logan Culture, an upcoming star. Did I also see John Tarvarse didnt make it? Also a legit star
Dan Halmous makes the team??? Does he have blackmail pictures of someone????
I personally love the Olympic and am excited to watch.
To SouthSideHawkMan:
Tavares is in for sure, he’s a stud– he got 3 more points tonight for 8 in 24 hours. And Giroux might be first injury replacement, especially if a really skilled guy goes down.
Ultimately, this is good news for the Hawks…if there is one player that really needs time off to rest, clear his head and heal, its Seabrook. So many concussions over the past 3 seasons left Seabs not the same player he once was…he’s really coming back into that level of play this season, and this break will only make him better…
Nice to see Sharpie make the squad…I think ER is right about Oduya…likely made the Swedish team because he is paired with Hammer…to me, Kruger was a shoe in…he’s the kind of player that will make the Swedes harder to beat, especially with their goaltending.
The only guy who I can quibble about on that Canadian team is Rick Nash. All the other picks look right. To include the defenseman. With all due respect to Seabrook, I pick every single one of those other guys over him. It’s a numbers game. Hell, Toews is an “extra” forward on that team.
Incredible Rufus…Toews is NOT an extra forward on ANY team…any team starts with Toews…
When TSN did their players poll as to who they would start a new franchise around, Toews was the top choice of not only the players, but the Coaches and GMs…
Babcock has already stated publicly that you build Team Canada with Toews and then add to it…
During the Olympics when asked who his best player was, Mike Babcock simply said, “Whoever is playing with Jonathan Toews. ”
Directorate Awards also went to Brian Rafalski (United States) for best defenceman, and to Jonathan Toews (Canada) for best forward.
I can only assume he’s trolling.
Sr Brad, the official pronouncement from the Canadian Olympic Selection Committee has both Toews and Sharp technically listed as “extra forwards.” Reading is fundamental. Of course Toews is SUPREMELY important to Team Canada and a great coach in Mike Babcock amply knows that. But look at the roster chief. Read the press release. Toews is technically listed 5th in line on the Canadian Center list. Sharp is listed 5th in line on the LW list.
Can you show me a link to that roster list, chief?
I’m really looking forward to this roster where Toews and Sharp are listed as extra forwards! Don’t keep me waiting Rufie!
Damn Rufus is a straight up TROLL! LOL