My team Canada

We are in December a month before Team Canada is chosen. Time to decide. If the trend remains the same these are my choices. To be perfectly clear, Steve Stamkos would have been on my team. I am basing these choices on the assumption he will not be ready.

                        

My goalies are in no particular order Roberto Luongo, Carey Price, and Corey Crawford. Luongo should get the start for the opener. He is the defending gold medal goalie and his job has to be taken away. However, as Brodeur was given the hook after a bad game in the last Olympics, the same should be done to the inconsistent Luongo. Carey Price has been nothing short of spectacular this year. I still have my doubts he can come through in big games. He has not proven much since his victories in the World Juniors and the AHL. Canada may have no option but to throw him in and hope for the best if Luongo bombs. Corey Crawford should be there because he is the defending Stanley Cup goalie and he is with a team that rarely loses. Crawford is the third and final option.

My defencemen are PK Subban, Duncan Keith, Dion Phaneuf, Jay Bouwmeester, Drew Doughty, Shea Weber, ME Vlasik, and Brent Seabrook. I really like the pairing of Subban and Phaneuf. I think Pk could play alone on defence and still have a good record. Dion Phaneuf is + 12 this year and brings a physical edge to the pairing. I know there are many that don't think Phaneuf should be there. I have seen him lead the leafs last year and into the playoffs where they should have probably eliminated the bruins. His foot speed is a concern but PK will be able to cover that as he does for Markov. I think both have world junior experience and have dominated this year. Duncan Keith and Drew Doughty could be as dominant as the first pairing if not as physical. They also have won a cup in the last 2 years. Finally Shea Weber and Jay Bouwmeester bring solid defence and some offence. Bouwmeester has been inconsistent his whole career and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I like a line of Crosby, Staal, and Seguin. Seguin has impressed this year after the growing pains last year. He is ready for prime time. Eric Staal is a veteran and he along with Seguin will finish the inevitable great playmaking of Crosby.

My second line will consist of Tavares, Hall, and Giroux. These veterans of the Junior championships could be lethal. The Tavares playmaking, the Hall speed, and the Giroux tenacity should make for a good line. If they don't click others will replace them. Claude Giroux is just beginning to show signs of life. I almost chose Jeff Carter who has similar stats. Brendan Gallagher has even better stats.

My third line will consist of physicality and talent. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Milan Lucic will scare the hell out of opposing defencemen. Speed could be a detriment for this line, but I think their size and physical intimidation will compensate for the lack of speed. All are Stanley Cup winners and winning is the name of the game in a short tournament.

My fourth line will consist of Toews, Richards, and Bergeron. This line of centers should become a shutdown line that will probably score key goals. Toews and Richards already played together last Olympics. All these players have also recently won the Cup.

Finally if any line falters we got Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, and Martin St Louis waiting in the wings.

Sock it to the Russians, Americans, and the rest in Sochi.