The NHL Off-Season Thread Starts With a Bang

notyoueither · August 10, 2009, 18:36

Oh, geez. Funny, but...

I think I'll take a bit before jumping in on the group stomp of the kid.

Ben Kenobi · August 10, 2009, 19:07

Whats the difference between Patrick Kane and a canoe?
A canoe tips.

Flubber · August 11, 2009, 08:13

Originally Posted by notyoueither

Oh, geez. Funny, but...

I think I'll take a bit before jumping in on the group stomp of the kid.

I don't see a group stomp--hell I even said the charges are "beyond unbelievable"-- its tough for me to believe that ANYONE gets in a fight over 20 cents

Kontiki · August 11, 2009, 09:42

I heard an excerpt from an interview with the cabbie's lawyer this morning. He flat out said that this thing had been blown out of proportion and that it's extrememly unlikely that any felony charges are actually going to result from this. None of which excuses Kane's actions, but it sounds like it might not be as big a deal as first reported.

notyoueither · August 11, 2009, 11:44

Originally Posted by Flubber

I don't see a group stomp--hell I even said the charges are "beyond unbelievable"-- its tough for me to believe that ANYONE gets in a fight over 20 cents

I was referring to the universe beyond Poly.

snoopy369 · August 11, 2009, 11:52

Originally Posted by Kontiki

I heard an excerpt from an interview with the cabbie's lawyer this morning. He flat out said that this thing had been blown out of proportion and that it's extrememly unlikely that any felony charges are actually going to result from this. None of which excuses Kane's actions, but it sounds like it might not be as big a deal as first reported.

Precisely ... I have the same feeling I had about the Duke lacrosse scandal. A DA going way overboard for publicity. If the cabbie really did get beat up, they should be charged with that, but robbery is absurd to the point of stupidity.

Asher · August 11, 2009, 12:18

The Kane thing is starting to turn around for him:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/679392

Patrick Kane's cabbie didn't have licence: Report

The cab driver who is the alleged victim of a beating by NHL star Patrick Kane and his cousin on Sunday didn't have a valid driver's licence at the time of the incident, the Buffalo News reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said Jan Radecki, 62, also has two drunk driving convictions.

Radecki had a cab licence in the City of Buffalo since May 1996 and became licensed with the city for a Chrysler minivan in 2003. Radecki's driver's licence, however, was revoked in December 1998 after he refused to submit to a chemical test, according to state Department of Motor Vehicle records. He was issued a conditional licence by the agency after the incident.

Four months later, in April 1999, Radecki's licence again was revoked, this time for a driving while intoxicated charge, according to state records.

According to City Court records, Radecki pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated charges in February 1999. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail and three years' probation.

Radecki's lawyer, Andrew LoTempio, told the News:

"I know he went into [Alcoholics Anonymous] and has not drank since then."

His client also served no jail time for the conviction because the 15 days was a suspended sentence, he said.

LoTempio told reporters Monday he believed the incident was blown out of proportion, suggesting Radecki had mistaken the Kanes for college kids when he picked them up at 4 a.m. Sunday in a nightclub district.

LoTempio said it is usual for cabbies to lock riders in the cab to make sure they pay.

The Kanes paid $15 for a $13.80 fare, and got $1 change. The alleged beating and robbery took place when the cabbie said he did not have a further 20 cents for the two.

The Kanes have a felony hearing scheduled in Buffalo City Court on Monday. Patrick Kane has been invited to the Team USA Olympic Orientation camp, starting Monday.

Kane's lawyer, Paul J. Cambria Jr., said he would ask that the hearing be rescheduled for later next week. He also said he believes Kane will be exonerated once all the evidence comes to light.

Flubber · August 17, 2009, 18:58

Here's the listing of the remaining available free agents-- There isn't a whole lot exciting there although there are still a few that could make real contributions. Do you see any one you want your team to pick up ?? The article is copied from nhl.com .

Forwards Current team '08-09 stats Scuttlebutt

Miroslav Satan Pittsburgh 17-19-36 in 65 GP Satan has been among the NHL's most consistent scorers for the past decade. But he didn't mesh as a linemate with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin and is coming off his worst season since 1995-96. He'll have to prove his scoring touch hasn't disappeared.

Robert Lang Montreal 18-21-39 in 50 GP Lang turns 39 in December and is coming off an Achilles tendon injury, potentially cutting down on the number of interested teams. But before he got hurt, he showed he still had something left in the tank.

Michael Peca Columbus 4-18-22 in 71 GP The former Selke winner may still have some value as a checker, penalty-killer, faceoff man and leader. But he's now 35, and injuries have taken away most of his offensive ability.

Ryan Bayda Carolina 5-7-12
in 70 GP Bayda, a college star at North Dakota, finally managed to play a full season in the NHL after bouncing up and down between Carolina and the AHL for five seasons.

Blair Betts N.Y. Rangers 6-4-10
in 81 GP Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom (who signed with Calgary) formed one of the NHL's best penalty-killing tandems last season. But Betts is coming off a serious facial injury, and no one is rushing to sign checkers and penalty-killers.

Maxim Afinogenov Buffalo 6-14-20 in 48 GP Afinogenov's play has dropped off severely in the past two seasons, during which he's also been plagued by injuries. He's all but certain to be somewhere else in the fall.

Dominic Moore Buffalo 13-32-45 in 81 GP Moore, a mid-tier center, was having a decent season for Toronto before being dealt to Buffalo at the trade deadline. He's a nice No. 3 center but might be stretched as a No. 2.

Petr Sykora Pittsburgh 25-21-46 in 76 GP The 32-year-old is coming off his 10th consecutive 20-goal season, but he was a non-factor in the playoffs, playing in only seven games (just one in the Final) and producing only 1 assist. He'll need a new home.

Todd Bertuzzi Calgary 15-29-44 in 66 GP The former All-Star is nowhere near the player he was earlier this decade, but he showed in Calgary last season that he still has some hands and offensive ability left.

Eric Perrin Atlanta 7-16-23 in 78 GP The soon-to-be 34-year-old still has good wheels. But finding a job may not be easy after his offensive output fell from 45 points in 2007-08 to 23 last season.

Rob Niedermayer Anaheim 14-7-21 in 79 GP Brother Scott is back in the fold, but Rob's future is still undecided after an up (14 goals) and down (minus-17) season with the Ducks.

Alex Tanguay Montreal 16-25-41 in 50 GP Like Lang, Tanguay is coming off an injury-ruined season. His point production has dropped from 81 to 58 to 41 in the past three seasons, and he'll have to take a shorter-term, lower-value deal to find a new team.
Nikolai Zherdev N.Y. Rangers 23-35-58 in 82 games Zherdev, New York's top scorer last season, became a free agent when the Rangers walked away from his arbitration award. Though he's still not yet 25, Zherdev's poor showing in the playoffs won't help his bid to get the kind of deal he feels he deserves.

Manny Malhotra Columbus 11-24-35 in 77 GP Malhotra has never lived up to his lofty draft status (No. 7 in 1998), but he's a competent third-line center who's had to play a line or two above his offensive ability with the Blue Jackets. He'd be a good fit and a good value in the right situation.

Taylor Pyatt Vancouver 10-9-19 in 69 GP The former first-rounder is still only 27, but he's never had more than the 37 points he managed in '06-07 and '07-08.

Kyle Calder Los Angeles 8-19-27
in 74 GP He's now 30 and hasn't reached double figures in goals since 2006-07, so Calder is going to have to take less money and a short-term deal if he hopes to keep an NHL job.

Andy Hilbert N.Y. Islanders 11-16-27 in 67 GP Hilbert is a hard worker in all three zones, has some offensive ability and can also kill penalties. He'd make a solid bottom-six forward for someone.

Mike Comrie Ottawa 10-17-27 in 63 GP Comrie's value is down after the worst season of his career. But the five-time 20-goal scorer is still just 28 and could be a bargain if he's finally over the injuries that slowed him in '08-09 -- and willing to take a big pay cut.

Mats Sundin Vancouver 9-19-28 in 41 GP The Canucks hoped adding Sundin at midseason would be the last piece needed for a long playoff run, but he never really found his game after joining the team in January. At 38, he's in the twilight of his career.

Defensemen Current team '08-09 Stats Scuttlebutt

Martin Skoula Minnesota 4-12-16
in 81 GP At 29, Skoula doesn't bring a lot of offense to the table, but he's been a reliable minutes-muncher for years and owns a Stanley Cup ring from his days in Colorado.

Mathieu Schneider Montreal 9-23-32 in 67 GP Even at 40, Schneider remains a useful offensive force on the blue line, especially on the power play.

Marc-Andre Bergeron Minnesota 14-18-32 in 72 GP Bergeron owns one of the NHL's biggest slappers from the point but struggles in his own zone. He could thrive in the right situation.

Christian Backman Columbus 2-5-7
in 56 GP Backman was something of a disappointment for the Blue Jackets, who acquired him from the Rangers last summer. He might benefit from a change of scenery.

Philippe Boucher Pittsburgh 3-6-9
in 41 GP He's now 36 and hasn't been healthy for a full season since 2006-07, when he scored 19 goals for Dallas.

Francis Bouillon Montreal 5-4-9
in 54 GP Bouillon is coming off an abdominal/groin muscle tear that kept him out for the last two months of the season (except for a brief playoff cameo appearance). He turns 34 in October, so the pickings may be slim
.
Jassen Cullimore Florida 2-8-10 in 68 GP He's now 36 and has never produced more than 5 goals or 17 points in a season, so the 6-5, 240-pounder may find a limited market.

Darryl Sydor Dallas 3-12-15 in 73 GP At 37, Sydor's resume includes a couple of Stanley Cup rings. He can serve as a mentor for young defenders and still contribute on the ice.

Dennis Seidenberg Carolina 5-25-30 in 70 GP The almost-28-year-old is coming off the
best season of his career and showed he can play major minutes (22:19 average ice time in '08-09).

Goaltenders Current team '08-09 stats Scuttlebutt

Manny Fernandez Boston 16-8-3 2.59 GAA With Tim Thomas firmly in place as the starter in Boston, Fernandez will have to look elsewhere if he has any hopes of getting a job. He's played more than 44 games in a season just once in his career (2005-06, with Minnesota).

Olaf Kolzig Toronto 2-4-1 3.66 GAA "Olie the Goalie" has 303 career wins -- but he's 39 and coming off an injury-plagued season. To extend his career, Kolzig will need to find a team with a young starter that needs an experienced backup/mentor.

Curtis Joseph Toronto 5-9-1 3.57 GAA At 42, Joseph is likely to have a hard time getting a chance to extend his regular-season victory total past 454.

Manny Legace St. Louis 13-9-2 3.18 GAA One season after making the All-Star Game, Legace spent the last half of 2008-09 in the minors after Chris Mason took the No. 1 job. At 36, his options get slimmer by the day.

Kevin Weekes New Jersey 7-5-0 2.42 GAA Had the first winning season of his career in 2008-09, but he couldn't hold the starting job in New Jersey after Martin Brodeur was injured and will likely have to go elsewhere.

Marc Denis Montreal (in AHL)
27-18-0
2.46 GAA Journeyman backup is looking for a job after a solid season with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Hamilton. Denis has more than 300 games of NHL experience, but has spent almost all of the last two seasons in the minors.

Guynemer · August 17, 2009, 21:02

I think Mike Comrie, at the right price, would be a steal for any team. He's still young, and he's got the talent.

Flubber · August 18, 2009, 04:54

Comrie is a player I could see giving a shot

A couple of comments on former flames

Bertuzzi in Calgary was a no-hit big guy who would surprise me with his "did you see that " type moves but ultimately his numbers were mediocre for a guy that got so much quality ice time and PP time. he still has potential I guess but I was quite relieved Calgary seems to have no interest. I was frustrated to see him skating by guys with the puck and he seemed to take a lot of hooking penalties.

Tangs-- anothe player that frustrated me with his unwillingness to hit usually but at least he was small.He also frustrated with his relative unwillingness to shoot but he is one of the better passers in the game. he could be a steal for someone since he should come relatively cheap now

Flubber · August 19, 2009, 10:34

Bert to the Wings?? That surprises me a bit actually.

I am also surprised by some comments I saw that that think Bert "adds toughness". I witnessed Bert's play first hand and he quite simply DID NOT HIT. He took numerous hooking penalties, was useless as a forechecker as he always skated by the puckholder and was not the huge force in front of the net I expected.

That said, he was gifted with the puck. He made numerous 'did you see that' type moves, lots of excellent passes and once he had the puck he was tough to knock off it. But ultimately these flashes of exceptional play were not enough (and many great plays did NOT result in a goal) and his numbers were actually pretty mediocre for a guy that got as much PP time and time with quality players.
So as a Flames fan I am not sad to see him go. He needed to either score more or be more of a physical presence. But I believe he COULD excell. I just don't see him adding toughness unless he completely changes his style of play compared to last year

Flubber · August 19, 2009, 10:37

The Fan 960 guys were discussing tanguay yesterday and their take/information was that Tanguay is not signed yet since he seems to still be seeking a pretty good money contract but also has no interest in going to a team in the basement. their speculation was he might have to choose between better money and the the chance to go to a team that could be reasonabbly good

Lord Avalon · August 19, 2009, 18:08

Hawks' Kane indicted on misdemeanors

An Erie County, N.Y., grand jury has dismissed the felony robbery charge against Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his cousin James, but both have been indicted on lesser charges.

he indictments on assault in the third degree and theft of services are misdemeanors, and a harassment indictment is considered a violation-level offense.

Patrick Kane met with reporters after the final on-ice session at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in suburban Chicago, and he said he wasn't aware of the grand jury's decision on the charges.

"That's news to me to be honest with you, I haven't heard yet," he said. "I'll talk to my lawyer after this. If the felony's dropped, that's obviously a positive step, definitely."

Patrick Kane, 20, and James Kane, 21, will be arraigned at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday.

If convicted, the Kanes could get up to a year in jail.

Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita III says he'll treat the Chicago forward like any other defendant.

Asked if a plea bargain is possible, Patrick Kane's lawyer, Paul Cambria, says there have been numerous discussions but no deal is in place.

"As is the practice in all criminal cases, the assigned prosecutor and defense counsel will discuss a possible resolution of the case short of trial," Sedita said in a statement.

A plea deal would be based on the victim's wishes, the severity of his injuries and other factors, Sedita said. But Kane's celebrity status "is not such a consideration," he said, adding, "Kane will not be prosecuted more leniently or more harshly because he is employed as a hockey player."

The Kanes were arrested after an incident with cab driver Jan Radecki, 62, during the early morning hours of Aug. 9 in Buffalo. Radecki told police they attacked him when he said he didn't have 20 cents in change for the fare.

The cab driver had bruises and broken glasses.

The cabbie has said he wants a public apology from the Kanes, not jail time, said his lawyer, Andrew LoTempio.

"I can't comment as to his point of view," Sedita told The Associated Press. "The name of the action is the People of the State of New York v. the Kanes, not Jan Radecki v. the Kanes.

"We often have domestic violence cases where victims do not want to go forward, but we go forward with it anyway. I'm not saying that's the case here but just to illustrate the point. Obviously, we take a victim's wishes into consideration all the time."

Kane has avoided discussing the legal issues during the three days of activities, although he has made himself available to the media to discuss hockey issues. And he's been generous with his time, signing autographs for the hundreds of fans who have turned up to watch the American Olympic hopefuls skate.

"It's been a fun week. You see all the support you have in Chicago no matter what fans are behind you," Kane said. "I've been trying to sign a lot for them and do the right thing. Like I said before, you realize that it's a privilege to do those things. Sometimes you have to learn that."

Asked if he was looking forward to giving his side of the story, Kane said that wasn't a top priority.

"That's not a big deal to me. I'm just excited to go home at this point," he said.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4409633

Flubber · August 20, 2009, 09:06

Originally Posted by Pamela

well its Brent Sutter now

and what about Brent?

Asher · August 20, 2009, 16:53

Jose Theodore's 2 month old son died

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/cap...apitalsinsider

notyoueither · August 21, 2009, 23:15

Flubber · August 28, 2009, 12:54

Sad for Theodore-- I always rooted for the guy and wish him the best

Flubber · August 28, 2009, 13:02

Canada's initial lines in the scrimmage

Thursday's pairings
Team Red
Forwards

Marleau-Thornton-Heatley

Morrow-Richards-Carter

Lucic-McDonald-Cleary

J. Staal-Doan ( Gagne injured )

Defencemen

Niedermayer-Weber

Bouwmeester-Burns

Keith-Green

Beauchemin-M. Staal

Team White
Forwards

Nash-Crosby-Iginla

Smyth-Lecavalier-Sharp

E. Staal-Spezza-Perry

Roy-Toews-St. Louis

Defencemen

Boyle-Pronger

Doughty-Regehr

Phaneuf-Seabrook

Hamhuis-Robidas

Its hard to read too much into these pairings but you have to wonder on d if Niedermayer-Weber and Pronger-Boyle are possible on the team matchups. I have seen a number of pundits claiming that Niedemeyer, Pronger and Weber are almost locks to make the team

rah · August 28, 2009, 14:48

I loved the Tribune headline today.

Kane Skates.

I wonder how much he paid the cabbie off?

Wezil · August 31, 2009, 10:18

The Balsillie saga continues...

Does the league engage in anti-competitive practices? I guess it depends on who you ask.

As the possibility of present and future litigation over the Phoenix Coyotes continues to widen, there is another battlefield that is waiting to erupt. The war thus far has been between the National Hockey League and Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie. But the next fight could be between the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Court filings filed late Friday night show a disagreement between the league and its most powerful franchise, dating back to 2006, over whether the Leafs have a veto over another team playing in their territory.

The NHL had taken the position that a franchise transfer into the home territory of an existing franchise would only require a majority vote among the league's board of governors. The Leafs, in a letter hand-delivered to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, strenuously objected, and wrote that the club would "reserve all rights to take whatever actions are necessary to protect their exclusive rights to their home territory."

(continued at link)

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/s...tml?id=1945327

Watching Bettmen and the NHL twist themselves into pretzels over all this has been absolutely priceless. Best entertainment this product has provided in years.

Asher · August 31, 2009, 10:44

And the NHLPA head got fired.

Wezil · August 31, 2009, 10:56

Better than that.... on the recommendation of Buzz Hargrove.

Maybe he can for the NHLPA what he did for the auto workers.

Flubber · August 31, 2009, 16:08

Three columnists are the Callgary Herald (Scott Cruickshank, George Johnson and Vicki Hall) picked their team Canada for the Olympics . They did them separately but they were very very similar in their picks. For what its worth here they are

First Line

Nash-Crosby- Iginla -- unanimous for all three

Second Line

Heatly- Getzlaf unanimous St Louis (2) E. Stall (1)

Third Line

Morrow- Richards- Carter unanimous for all three

Fourth line

Finally unanimity starts to break down

Toews (3)- J. Staal (2)- St Louis (1)-Smyth (1) - E. Staal (1)- Lecaviliar (1)

Spare forward

Savard (1)-Smyth (1)- Thornton (1)

So it looks like serious groupthink and probablyfar too influenced by watching the orientation. how else do people INDEPENDENTLY arrive at unanimous selections for the THIRD line.

On d the selections were even more unanimous. All 3 named the same 7 with only some variations on which pairing they were in (although the first 3 named were always in the top 4.) Likewise Regeher and Weber were always in the "3rd pairing" or the spare.

Pronger
Bouwmeester
Boyle
Neidemeyer
Keith
Regehr
Weber

Goalies

1. Brodeur (2 firsts and a second)
2. Luongo ( 1 first and two seconds )
3. Fleury (unanimous)

--------------------------------------------------------------

So there you have it. For all the talk about how competitive the camp and the competition will be, these three pundits all came up with pretty much the same team. Even where they differed it was to add a different long time vet like Thornton instead of Lecaviliar. No one took a flyer of tough as nails Cleary or a homer pick like Phaneuf. No one thought that the last Olympics means no more for Pronger (smaller ice in Vancouver should help Pronger). hey and Shane Doan was picked by no one? Its like thanks for all those years and leading our team so much at the worlds but this time its nope-- I thought someone would select him.

Is the team this obvious ??

Personally I hope that someone like Tavares or Stamkos will just set the league on fire so much in the first 20 games that they cannot be denied-- and they should not be denied-- The Crosbie lesson from 06 is to take the super-hot new guy ahead of some vet who is having a so-so season

Kontiki · August 31, 2009, 16:20

Is that the actual ranking for d-men? If so, I'd think that Neidermeyer should go where Bouwmeester is, Weber where Neidermeyer is and Bouwmeester where Weber is.

Ben Kenobi · August 31, 2009, 16:37

Three columnists at the Callgary Herald

Unanimous selection of Iginla on the first line?

We have much better up and coming players.

Asher · August 31, 2009, 16:42

up and coming doesn't cut it for the present.

Flubber · August 31, 2009, 16:57

Originally Posted by Kontiki

Is that the actual ranking for d-men? If so, I'd think that Neidermeyer should go where Bouwmeester is, Weber where Neidermeyer is and Bouwmeester where Weber is.

Pretty close

THey did it by naming 1st , second and third string pairings and I roughed it out-- a 1-2-2 and a 1-1-3 are zbout the same to me but I put Niedemeyer 4th so I could say the first 3 were all in the top 4. If I had actually ranked them by bthe pundits choices it would essentially be Proger first with the next three essentially tied.

Pronger 1-1-2
Bouwmeester 1-2-2
Boyle 1-2-2
Neidemeyer 1-1-3
Keith 2-3-3
Regehr 3-3-spare
Weber spare-spare-3

Flubber · August 31, 2009, 17:15

Originally Posted by Ben Kenobi

Unanimous selection of Iginla on the first line?

Its not that shocking actually. the Tsn and sportsnet commentators have pretty much put him in there as one of the 6-7 absolutely "must be there" type guys and in orientation he was matched with Nash and Crosby (two other "cannot miss" on almosts all the pundits lists.

So that particular prediction is not THAT Calgary biased and is being made by lots of Toronto and vancouver based media as well

Flubber · August 31, 2009, 18:11

Here's the Hockey News' take on the team. They don't do lines.

Originally Posted by Flubber

A lot can change in four months.

It's reasonable to assume that a number of things will happen in the early stages of the NHL season that will alter Steve Yzerman's vision for Team Canada before he makes the final selections in December.

However, this week's orientation camp in Calgary did offer a few hints at where some players currently stand in the eyes of the Olympic brass. As camp wrapped up Thursday, Yzerman acknowledged that there was a logic to the line pairings.

"There's some purpose to who's playing with who," he said. "But things change dramatically."

One player he'll no doubt be watching closely is Brenden Morrow, who was limited to just 18 games for the Dallas Stars last season because of a torn ACL. Morrow didn't look out of place during the orientation camp scrimmage while playing on a line with Mike Richards and Jeff Carter - two players that many feel will be at the Games in February.

Of course, he'll have to show that his game hasn't suffered in the early stages of the season. And Morrow is far from alone in that regard.

The orientation camp had a very structured, professional feel and Yzerman headed home feeling confident that he has a strong grasp on what each player can offer. Now, it's just a matter of monitoring how things play out early in the season.

"For each player out there, I believe I have a good understanding of their strengths and where they'll be real effective," said Yzerman. "Some guys are more versatile than others and can potentially go in different spots. The tournament is six months from now or so - you've got players here that are coming off of an injury, there's just so many things for us to watch. That's all we can do.

"We'll make a decision when we have to make a decision."

In the interim, The Canadian Press will continue making decisions for them. Here's a look at our latest 23-man roster (which includes Morrow for the first time):

Goaltenders

Martin Brodeur (New Jersey): The stop he made on Jason Spezza during the orientation camp scrimmage was unreal.

Roberto Luongo (Vancouver): Has his eyes on winning the top job.

Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh): Stanley Cup win gives him an edge over the other young hopefuls. Could a strong start to the season get him to No. 2 on the depth chart?

Defencemen

Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim): He's your captain, Canada.

Shea Weber (Nashville): A spot on the Olympic blue-line seems to be his to lose.

Chris Pronger (Philadelphia): Bidding to become a four-time Olympian, the rugged defenceman has Flyers fans hoping that he can put them over the top.

Duncan Keith (Chicago): Among his defensive partners during camp? Niedermayer and Weber.

Jay Boumeester (Calgary): Gets his first taste of playing in a pressure-packed Canadian market this season after starting career in Florida.

Dan Boyle (San Jose): Narrowly missed being part of the Olympic team in Turin four years ago.

Mike Green (Washington): Now considered a bubble player after flaming out in the playoffs. But don't forget his 73 points last season.

Forwards

Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh): Will likely be left at his natural centre position for the Olympics. That makes him the No. 1 centre.

Rick Nash (Columbus): One of his main goals at orientation camp was building some chemistry with Crosby.

Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay): Don't be surprised to see him start the Olympics with Crosby and Nash.

Jarome Iginla (Calgary): Iggy was a difference-maker at the Games in 2002. He'll be called on do it again in 2010.

Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim): Was held off the ice during orientation camp because of sports hernia surgery, but that won't hurt his chances.

Eric Staal (Carolina): The oldest Staal brother is the only one we could find room for on our roster.

Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay): Feeling good after off-season surgery on his wrist.

Joe Thornton (San Jose): A tough end to last season for him and the Sharks. The fact remains that he's averaged more than 100 points a year since the lockout.

Shane Doan (Phoenix): Might be tough to showcase his skills with all the drama surrounding the Coyotes this season, but his strong international resume won't be forgotten by Hockey Canada.

Mike Richards (Philadelphia): Fantastic candidate for a shutdown line who can kill penalties and put up some points.

Jeff Carter (Philadelphia): Scored more goals (46) than any other Canadian-born player last season. Might be a good fit with Flyers teammate Richards.

Brenden Morrow (Dallas): One of the guys who really needs a solid opening to the NHL season to solidify a spot.

Jonathan Toews (Chicago): Was given assignments at both centre and wing during the orientation camp - a testament to the versatility that should help get him to Vancouver.

Bubble players

G Cam Ward, D Brent Burns, D Robyn Regehr, D Dion Phaneuf, F Jordan Staal, F Corey Perry, F Dany Heatley.

Goalies-- identical to the Calgarypundits

D-men-- identical except they have Mike Green instead of Regehr (possibly homerism in the calgary pundits OR simply people not being sure if Babcock will want offense or defense.

Forwards

the Hockey News gives spots to Thornton, Doan and Lecavilier that the calgary folks on balance gave to Heatley, Jordan Staal and Ryan Smth.

So overall, Doan and Green were the only Hockey news players not named by one of the Calgary pundits. Smyth and Savard (1 mention as the spare) are the only players named by the Calgary folks that appear nowhere on the Hockey Newslist

So at the moment, there appears to be a fairly good accord among all the pundits. But I suspect that there will be more controversy when inevitably, someone will tear up the league in the first few months such that its tough to deny them an opportunity

Kontiki · August 31, 2009, 20:48

Unless Heatley utterly tanks this year, I don't see any way you could leave him off the roster. The guy is one of the most pure goal scorers Canada has and if there's discussion for people like Doan or Smyth with regards to their international competition pedigree, well, Heatley's may well be even better.