With Team Canada’s backs against the wall in elimination games, its now officially open season on speculation! Which wingers will Mike Babcock pair with which centres when it comes to line combinations? One thing is for sure: Canada’s top 6 forwards can be any combination of heavyweight wingers and centres. These really should be the pairings:
1st line: Nash - Crosby - Iginla
2nd line: Heatley - Thornton -Marleau
3rd line: Getzlaf - Richards - Perry
4th line: Morrow - Toews/Staal - Bergeron
A few of the ‘Big Boys’ representing the Strong and Free…….
Ryan Getzlaf - Wing / Regina, SASK
You can pretty much bank on this hulking winger competing for a spot in the top 6 come tournament time. Picture him on a line with forwards of similar stature and the national team will be VERY tough for opponents to battle. Projection: 3rd line winger (image: hockeycanada.ca)
Chris Pronger - Defense / Dryden, ONT
The 6′6 rearguard will be patroling the blueline on one of Team Canada’s top two units in Vancouver in February. The veteran of multiple Winter Games will have his hand full with skilled opponents on the larger international ice surface. Projection: Top 4 D-man (image: In The Game)
Rick Nash - Wing / Brampton, ONT
Nifty Rick has earned his stripes with the national program at the past few World Championships. A springtime Canadian perennial, Nash made his presence felt on 2008’s “700 Pound Line”, and will bring loads of international experience and goal scoring ability to Vancouver next February. Projection: 1st line winger (image: Hockeycanada.ca)
Joe Thornton - Centre / St. Thomas, ONT
“Jumbo” Joe was penciled into this squad since 2006 when he took home the Art Ross Trophy during his first season in San Jose. He’ll likely provide tremendous scoring depth on a lethal 2nd line with all-world fellow Shark Dany Heatley. And with the larger international ice surface, look for Thornton’s size and strength behind the net in “Gretzky’s office” especially on the power play. Projection: 2nd line center
Jarome Iginla - Wing / Edmonton, ALB
Alberta’s native son will be playing his patented power forward game right alongside Sidney Crosby, creating space by smacking people in the mouth and “bringing it”. When it comes to combining size, strength, and world class skill, Iginla is quite simply the best in the business. Can you dream of a better option to ride shutgun with Sid? Projection: 1st line winger
Dany Heatley - Wing / Calgary, ALB
Another world class winger with tremendous hands, Heatley is another ‘no-brainer’ for Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics. Continuing our list’s ongoing theme of size and speed, the talented winger will see lots of ice with his San Jose setup man Joe Thornton. A vet of numerous World Championships, WJCs and the 2006 Olympics, Heatley brings a wealth of international experience with Hockey Canada’s national program. Projection: 2nd line winger
