Canada's Olympic Roster Preview

With the Olympic Orientation Camp going on this week. There is alot of discussion over who is going to be stiffed of making the team? What half decent forward that is great defensively will make it over a player that has scoring or playmaking ability? Who will be the 3 goalies will make the team? What forwards will play out of postition? Should a defensive d-man like Robyn Regher make it over an offensive powerhouse like Mike Green? I highly doubt it but you never know. I seen stuff that leave you scratching your head the past 3 Olympic Rosters so this will be fun when they announce it in December.

Right now Canada and Russia are the strong Favorites for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Don't under estimate USA, Sweden and Finland. Yes, they are not on the same level as Russia or Canada. But do not count any of them out. Nobody thought Czech Republic had a chance in 1998, but they won Gold. The best team on paper does not always win. The team with the hottest goalie and best chemistry going into the medal rounds win.

Now lets talk about this stacked roster...

You tell me how Marc Savard wasn't even invited to camp, but Shane Doan, Ryan Smyth, Dan Cleary and Patrick Sharp were? He has been one of the top 3 assist guys over the past 6 years. Is he that bad defensively? I personally do not see Spezza making the team. Because, there is guys like Morrow and Gagne that are good offensively but are good 2 way players which can be used on the PK. Plus Gagne was on the 2002 team that won Gold. And I can see an ALL Flyers line of Gagne, Richards and Carter. I do not see St. Louis making the team over a few of the other guys below. I don't think Lecavalier deserves to be on the team but will make it because of his name. He has only had 2 good years. And he is coming off a surgically repaired shoulder.

On to defenseman. I do not see these defensive defenseman making it. Dan Hamhuis, Robyn Regeher, Stephan Robidas, Marc Staal. You got offensive guys like Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Francois Beachemin will not make it either because they are not as good all around as the guys making it. And Brent Seabrook and Drew Doughty are still young and unproven yet. But like I said things change during the year. Down below on my list all the defenseman are good both ways besides Mike Green. Phaneuf did not have a solid season defensively but every one has an off year.

And if ya ask me. Loungo should be the 3rd goalie. Cam Ward has proven how good he is in big games. 5 years younger he has accomplished more than Loungo, especially when it counts the most. He won the cup as a Rookie and won the Conn Smythe. Loungo has yet to get it done in the couple years he made it to the playoffs with the Canucks. Hopefully all 3 of them can get themselves into at least one game. I see Fleury and Steve Mason not making it. Even though Fleury is coming off a Stanley Cup win. He has been inconsistent throughout his career so far. And Steve Mason is just to young and needs to prove it a little more. These two will definitely be on the 2014 Canada Roster, you can bet your house on that one.

If I was running team Canada these would be the lines. That does not mean it is going to be the real roster.


1st Line:
Nash, Crosby, Iginla
2nd Line:
Heatley, Thorton, Getzlaf
3rd Line:
Gagne, Richards, Carter
4th Line:
Toews, Lecavalier, E. Staal
Extras
Morrow & Spezza

D-Men
Green, Niedermayer
Pronger, Phaneuf
Weber, Keith
7th man: Bouwmeester

Goalies
1. Brodeur
2. Ward
3. Luongo

Best Goalie Fights Of All Time

In recent years you hardly see any goalie fights. That is because you very rarely see a good old fashion line brawl. With every player on the ice going at it. Hockey has sure changed alot over time. I kind of miss goalies going at it. It was actually a thing of beauty to see it as it about to happen. The one goalie will come out towards the blue line to challenge the other goalie to come down. Or the goalie will get involved with a player and the other goalie has to charge down and get involved. Some goalies looked so awkward trying to fight with all them pads. And some can just dish out beatings.

Just thinking back from the 80's and 90's. You had Ron Hextall, Garth Snow, Ray Emery, Felix Potvin, Dan Cloutier who were tougher out of all the ones that fought. Even these goalies dropped their blocker and glove. Patrick Roy, Mike Vernon, Chris Osgood, Marty Biron, Sami Salo, Dominik Hasek, Tomas Vokoun, Miikka Kiprusoff, Sean Burke, Byron Dafoe, Glen Healey, Brian Hayward just to name some. The list goes on over them years.

Ron Hextall is a rare goalie not only who won a Vezina in his rookie year. But also scored multiple goals and fought multiple times throughout his career. I myself personally think that Hextall was the craziest goalie. But I don't know if he was the toughest. You always have to love a crazy or tough goalie who also is pretty good on top of it. If two goalies can fight today, I would like to see (Flyers) Ray Emery vs Ben Bishop (Blues). Ben Bishop is the 3rd goalie on the blues now. He is the tallest goalie to ever play in a game. He is a monster at 6'7 and he is only 23. He will get his chance to play eventually. The blues have two old goalies. Maybe we will see this one day after all...


Please watch videos below before voting!!!

What is the best goalie fight ever?
	Hextall vs Potvin
	Roy vs Osgood
	Cloutier vs Salo
	Vernon vs Roy
	Snow vs Shields
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Ron Hextall vs Felix Potvin


Patrick Roy vs Chris Osgood


Dan Cloutier vs Sami Salo


Patrick Roy vs Mike Vernon


Garth Snow vs Steve Shields

Top 10 Good Players + PIMS

Here is a list for all you Fantasy Owners out there. Now I know all leagues do not have Penalty Minutes (PIMS). Most that do have PIMS has it as a positive thing. There are leagues out there that count that as a negative which is also kewl in a way. To each his own. I enjoy PIM's because it gives owners a chance to grab players they might not normally have. A player that is borderline that gets PIMS might become all that more an attractive signing if you are struggling in that category each week. A great player that fights and gets PIMS has even more value. Here is a great example of what I mean from a back in the day standpoint. There was a year when Bob Probert had these stats:


Now tell me you wouldn't of loved to have him on your fantasy team that year. That would of been a comparable year to what Hossa just had all around. And he is a superstar. Damn, Probert even had 15 Power Plays goals to top it off with that monster year.

This a list of players that are good that PIMS help their value. None of these players are superstars yet.

1.  Cory Perry
2.  Scott Hartnell
3.  David Backes
4.  Dustin Brown
5.  Alex Burrows
6.  Milan Lucic
7.  Steve Ott
8.  Brandon Dubinsky
9.  Ryan Malone
10. Sean Avery

Brodeur The Ageless Wonder

Martin Brodeur is 37 years old, and is still at the top of his game. Yes he suffered his first major injury of his career last season. But that does not mean he is going to start going down hill from here. Marty, probably has 3 good years left in the tank if he has the desire and passion. Hasek was in his 40's and still posting great numbers. So don't expect Brodeur to slow down now either.

Defensive Mastermind Coach Jacques Lemaire is back again to coach his former team. I expect guys like Parise, Zajac, Elias and Langebrunner's stats to drop off a little bit. On the other hand I expect to see Broduer's GAA and SV% to improve a little from last years. As the team will be focusing more on the defensive end.

I can see Brodeur getting about 37 wins this year on a Devils team teetering around the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th spot all year. If their coach would let their offensive stars do their thing. Then I can easily see the Devils making the playoffs, winning more games and Brodeur can easily get 40 Wins. Like I said already I see his stats improving, not that they were bad last year in the games he played in. Over his career he plays in about 90% of the teams games or more. Even as he has gotten older that hasn't changed one bit. Whether he has had Stevens, Niedermayer, Daneyko, White, Oduya, or Paul Martin in front of him. It is still the same ole' Martin Brodeur between the pipes.

He is the best goalie I have ever seen over so many years straight in a row with the same team, which hardly ever happens anymore. He never cared about money or being the highest paid goalie. When he is done he will virtually have almost every record for a goalie's career. I am glad to say I watched him play his career out from when I was 12. And I actually understood how great he was while he was still playing. Nobody will break his records. Goalies just do not play in that many games a season anymore.

For fantasy owners out there. If you are drafting in a one year league. I see Brodeur going in the the top 3 of goalies. If you are drafting a keeper league. I would take him 3-7 range out of all goalies taken. You will get a few good years and you can even trade him after the 1st year. For owners in franchise leagues that have Brodeur. I strongly suggest debating on whether to keep him or get something really good for him while his value still holds strong. Most people would pay out their @$$ to get a dominate goalie like that.

The Kings Playoff Chances

For years now the Kings have been rebuilding and stocking up on top propsects. Will this finally be the year the Kings take that next step and make the playoffs again. They have not appeared in the playoffs since 2001-2002 when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche.

This will be Terry Murray's 2nd year as coach. They have some very good young talent on the team. Along with a hell of alot more Propsects to come out. They have Frolov, Kopitar, Brown, Smyth, Handzus, Stoll and Justin Williams. To go along with youngsters like Wayne Simmonds, Teddy Prucell, Oscar Moller, and Brayden Schenn who they drafted 5th overall this year. Frolov is now 27 and needs to take his game to the next level. He seems to never improve. Koptiar only had 66 points last year. But in 47% of the games he played in he did not have a point. He needs to become a more consistent player as he matures. He does have a chance to be a real star one day.

Their defense consists of emerging superstar Drew Doughty who had a decent rookie year as D man in the NHL. 22 Y.O Jack Johnson (3rd overall in 2005) who has lot of unlocked potential. They brought a very good stay at home guy through free agency in Rob Scuderi (Pittsburg). They have veteran O'Donnell who is probably playing his last year. Along with Matt Greene who is tough and good defensively. Other spots can possibly be filled by either Great D-Man Prospects. Such as Thomas Hickey, Colton Teubert and Vyacheslav Voinov if he comes over. These few players will be battling with these rookies for a spot on the team. Raitis Ivanans who is a tough guy\fighter. Denis Gauthier who has been back and forth in the minors.

Their Goalie situation looks very solid. Jonathan Quick had a very good year for being on a poor team. The 23 year old only played in 44 Games. And somehow managed to post 21 wins on that team in half a season. His stats were 2.48GAA with a .914 SV% along with 4 Shutouts. They also have 27 year old Swedish, Erik Ersberg. He has been solid and put up decent numbers in his 42 career NHL games over 2 season. And don't forget about prospect Jonathan Bernier. Who was a 11th overall pick for the Kings in 2006. His name has fizzled off lately. But he will have his chance to take over this year if someone falters. The only question is if he can keep the job once he ever does win it.

Their team has a very good core, but not any superstars. They traded Cammalleri away last year which was a bad move. Because he was going to be a free agent and they didn't want to pay him. Yet they will trade for a guy like Ryan Smyth who is making 6.5 MIL! Does that make sense? They traded a young O'Sullivan for an older injury prone Justin Williams. That was a move I really questioned when it happened. They also overpaid for Anze Kopitar. He will be making 6.0 Million this year. And to me he just hasn't shown he was worth that contract yet.

I once again do not see them making playoffs. I see them finishing 10th in the West. Until they can land that big time scorer or power play specialist. I do not see it happening. They should have been more active in Free Agency. I think Afinogenov or Zherdev would be a perfect fit for that team. And they are both still available. According to NHL Numbers they have 8.5 MIL of CAP space. But will they use it to improve?

Can Havlat succeed in Minnesota?

Last year on a team with young superstars. The team leader in points with 77 Points was Martin Havlat. Are you shocked it wasn't Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane? I am actually shocked that he had his first full season. He played in 81 games that is amazing for him. Mhmmm, remember Eric Lindros had that one healthy season with the Rangers where he played in 81. That was just an illusion.

What I am trying to say is that don't expect Havlat to play the whole season every year. He might play in 70 Games I will give him that. But he is now 28 and the older you get especially for an injury prone player. The more you break down. I am not hating on him. Just saying, if you are in a keeper league. Do not over pay for him. Trade for someone not as good offensively but at least they do not miss games. Or even for multiple draft picks. If this is a new draft. I see him going around 40th out of all forwards just because of his past history.

With all that said if he can get some chemistry with Mikko Koivu and Pierre Marc Bouchard. He can have a very productive season. Especially if he plays in 70 games. They have a new coach. No more of the defensive minded Jacques Lemaire. So I can see guys like Koivu and Bouchard finally being able to show their true talent.

Martin Havlat's best season was while he was on the Senators. It was 2003-04 where its the first time he averaged a point a game. 68 Points in 68 Games. And the only time he was over 30 goals when he finished with 31 Goals. I expect to see him hit that 30+ goal plateau again. Especially as he will be the go to guy on the Wild. He was never a main guy always a sidekick. Now is his chance to shine and also prove that he can put together a couple of healthy seasons.

Like I said before I would not trade the house to land him on my Fantasy Team. Nor would I pick him over a forward just as good that is always healthy. If you get him in a later round in your fantasy draft and he pans out you will look like a genius. He does have a very good chance to succeed on his new team, especially since he will be getting alot of playing time. To all those owners who have him or wind up picking him. Lets keep our fingers crossed XXXXX

Is Turco still a top Fantasy Goalie?

Alot of people are down on Turco after a bad year. He finally proved he was not a choke artist in the playoffs 2 and 3 years ago. But now people are questioning whether where to pick Turco in Fantasy Leagues (Single Season and Keeper). If this is a keeper league I would pick him around 18-28th goalie picked. If this is a one year league I would take him around 12-18th out of all goalies available. The reason being he will be 34 the middle of this August. But if he is available he is a steal. He is not real old yet for a goalie. He probably has a few good years left in him. The whole Dallas Stars team in general had a bad year.

This was the first bad season of Turco's career. And 33 wins on a non playoff team isn't that horrible. It was only the 2nd time in his career that he had a GAA over 2.50. It was actually 2.81 this past season. And it was also the 2nd time his Save Percentage was below 90.9%. It was at 89.8% this past year. So all and all to me it seems that Turco was just a resemblance of his team. His other semi good season was in 2005-06 when the Stars also did not have a great record.

I do not expect the Stars to be great like they were at one time. But I do expect them to have a better year as the younger guys mature and the older guys like Modano and Lehtinen get weened out. I think Turco's number will be a little bit better next year. I predict a 36 Wins, 2.53 GAA and 91.2% with 3 Shutouts as my prediction.

If your in a Keeper League and you want Turco get him now while you can. His trade value is at an all time low. A good goalie is hard to acquire so get him now while he is Low. If the season starts and he plays good, his value is going to go up or the GM who has him might not want to part with him anymore. You have to take Risks to win leagues. This seems like a nice gamble if the price is reasonable to obtain a Goalie that will start in 66-70 Games. Remember alot of players have off years even the greats. Hopefully with Turco it will not become a habit. So to answer the question in the title. While he is not a Top Fantasy Goalie anymore. He is a very solid one and very reliable when the Stars are playing good hockey in front of him.