Getzlaf questionable for the Olympics... Replacements?
Ryan Getzlaf hurt his ankle in yesterday's game against the Kings, and while it's good news that X-rays were negative, he will have an MRI on his ankle today to determine the extent of the injury. Which means there's the real possibility he may miss the Olympics. So the question is, who should Team Canada replace him with? Here are the possibilities I can think of:
1. If the goal is to replace what has been lost, the most similar players, in my mind, are: Vincent Lecavalier, Jason Spezza, and Jeff Carter. All are big hulking skilled centre types, and have experience playing with big name linemates. Lecavalier and Carter are probably the closest options, being both playmakers and goalscorers. Lecavalier's plus is that he already has the Olympic experience from 2006, and he's an established and more mature star. Carter meanwhile has had great success with Canada at the junior level and already has chemistry with linemate Mike Richards on the team. Similarly, Spezza has chemistry with Heatly already and they supposedly remain good friends, and although Heatly will likely play on his big SJ line, it creates another option that is a known quantity. Plus Spezza has been hot hot hot on the surging Sens.
2. If the goal is to bring in the best centre out there, than you've got to consider Steven Stamkos, Brad Richards and Marc Savard. Richards and Savard are without a doubt the two best playmakers not on an Olympic team. Savard has had injury problems this year and on a team that can't score, so he is I think the least likely to be picked of the players I'm discussing, but the numbers he's put up in years past are undeniable. Pair him with any sniper and he makes that sniper better. Richards is probably just a notch below Savard in that respect, and he's had a full, solid season playing on a team with no other true offensive stars. Stamkos, meanwhile, quietly is having a stellar sophomore year, is 5th in the league in goals (tied with Heatly) and is in the top 15 in points. And he looks to be a mainstay on future Canadian teams. Another possibility is Ottawa's Mike Fisher, who offers a different skill set and can be used in all sorts of situations, and is meanwhile putting up solid numbers.3. If the goal is to have the best forward out there, then that's maybe Martin St. Louis. Just look at his stats from the last four years. He's in the top 10 in scoring this year once again.
4. If the goal is 'heart' and 'intangibles' and all that jazz, then look to Ryan Smyth. Having a good year down in LA and has more experience representing Canada than anyone else.
What y'all think? My gut: Stamkos, because we left out Sid last time, and that was a mistake.
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I may be wrong but I think Savard can’t make the team because he was never invited to camp and never went through the Olympic drug testing.
That being said, Stamkos would be solid. I also like Brad Richards and Vinny Lecavalier as options.
I agree
in that same order of interest.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
If they want to replace Getzlaf with another playmaker then I think Brad Richards would be a good choice.
Or they could move Staal back to center (assuming he was going to play the wing) and get a winger like Stamkos, St. Louis, Carter, etc.
Poutine & Meatballs
Carter isn’t a winger. He would have to move over, like most of Team Canada, and play the wing. Why not invite bring in a natural winger? St Louis has been there before and is a play making winger.
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by Section 312 on Feb 9, 2010 1:59 PM PST up reply actions
a guy at Hockey News thinks it should be Burrows…..
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"If Chuck Norris was up against 7 Rangers, he'd call Ryan Kesler."
GO CANUCKS GO!
What? The Canucks die-hard wont’ bite on that one?
I love Burrows, I love how hard he plays, but if he made the Olympic team, I would dread our chances in the tournament.
by Vancouverguy on Feb 11, 2010 9:56 AM PST up reply actions
replace gezlaf with eric staal
he’s a big hulking center with some skills who’s probably going to be playing 3rd/4th line minutes. then replace eric staal with jordan staal.
second choice for me would be lecavalier, who’d picked it up lately. stamkos would be okay in terms of skill but he doesn’t have the same physical presence. forget savard, he’s been crap all year.
2 soon
Ducks reported today that MRI results show no damage. Getzy says he might play tomorrow night against the Oilers. He’ll definitely be ready for the Olympics.
u guys are way ahead of yourselves
Getzlaf told Eric Stephens of the OC Register today that he’s looking to play Friday against the Flames. He said he talked with “Mr. Yzerman” (when did he stop being StevieY) who told him he’ll give Getzy up to the last minute on Monday if necessary.
Getzlaf also said if he can’t play on the weekend he needs one hard practice to prove he’s ready to go.
http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/10/getzlaf-hopes-to-play-this-weekend/29721/
Getzlaf update
Getzy didn’t practice with the Ducks today but he did work in the gym and went for a skate.
"Today was more or less a test day, get out there and see how it is so we have something to measure it against the next couple of days," Getzlaf told Curtis Zupke of the OC Register.
http://olympics.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/11/getzlaf-skates-briefly-progressing-positively/1799/

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