Choosing Sidney Crosby's linemates for the Vancouver Olympics
As you may know, Team Canada's summer camp is now in full swing. And while Jordan Staal and Marc-Andre Fleury are participating, the only sure thing is number 87 (or is it #37?) will be there.
But it won't be countrymen like Mark Recchi, Colby Armstrong or Chris Kunitz on his line this time, it'll be players in their prime with the hands and speed to keep up with him. As you can imagine, it's being described as "scary" by Staal.
That's pretty scary,'' forward Jordan Staal said Tuesday. "When you see those three guys on one line - three star players on their own team and obviously star players throughout the world - it's something scary."
"You don't want to be lining up against those three.''
He's talking about Sid centering Calgary's Jarome Iginla (409 career NHL goals and an average of 93 points in the past three seasons) and Columbus' Rick Nash (355 points in 441 career NHL games and 78 goals in the past two seasons). Those two add a lot of size, speed and dangles that Crosby's never really had -- save the 2008 run with Marian Hossa.
Canada's coaches have said don't read too much into any lines this summer, and with good reason. With the depth of talent they have, and the fact that no country's really going to have enough time to integrate all their players with each other, it doesn't really matter.
Who would you put with Crosby if you were calling the shots? Certainly Iginla-Nash seems to be a great combination. But what about an elite sniper like Dany Heatley? Or a goal scoring big man like Eric Staal or Ryan Getzlaf? Put speedy Martin St. Louis with Sid and you can almost see a defense already backpedaling. Even more, you could slide Crosby to the wing and allow him to play with an elite center like Vincent Lecavalier or a Joe Thornton and the possibilities become even more numerous.
The options are virtually endless. So if you were setting up Team Canada, where would you slot Sid and who would you surround him with? All the talented choices make it a very enviable job to have. Yours in the comments.
8 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Mike Babcock says he thinks there’s “something there” with Crosby and Nash, probably a good bet the Columbus captain is one of Sidney’s linemates.
As for the other, I think I’d go with Martin St. Louis, who Crosby-Nash practiced with yesterday. Then again, Iginla wouldn’t be bad there either.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
My wet dream is seeing Crosby on a line with Nash. I have mentioned this before. As for the other linemate. It could be dead wood for all I care.
While we’re being crude, a few days ago, my future stepdad and I discussed the Olympics men’s hockey teams. I told him, “We’re so gonna get screwed, but we’ll at least enjoy it.” Boy, am I seeing confirmation of that here.
"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007
by GreenEyedLilo on Aug 27, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
If you’re talking about Team USA, they certainly won’t be favored but sometimes teams that fly under the radar can do well in a short tournament. If Tim Thomas gives a Vezina-caliber performance in the net and guys like Zach Parise and Patrick Kane can produce than anything can happen.
It might take a minor miracle to beat the stacked Canadians or Russians, and even the Swedes and Finns, but like I said, crazier things have happened in a short tourny.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Aug 27, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
In the link post I just tossed up I found a link where Babcock was tossing St. Louis, Nash and Crosby together. It’s a pretty sweet line if ya ask me.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Iginla matches Sid’s intensity, I’d definitely like to see them play. Iggy’s my favorite non-penguin NHLer. I know Nash is a force, but could you imagine Iginla-Crosby-E.Staal on the same line??
I wasn’t entirely sold on St. Louis, but I’d like to see Iginla or Nash definitely. Nash is pretty intense too ya know, but I have to agree that if you’re comparing him to Iginla, Iggy wins.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
St. Louis has to be one of the fastest and strongest skaters, is good enough defensively to PK and a point+ per game player in the past three seasons on what’s been a dreadful team.
Him and Crosby together don’t offer you much size, but other than that I don’t see a big disadvantage to it.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Aug 27, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions




















