I may be missing something here, but why is Patrice Bergeron on Team Canada, and so highly praised when guys like Steve Stamkos, Jeff Carter and Martin St. Louis were cut from the team. I took a look at his stats and he only has 37 pts. thus far this year. His career high in points is a mere 73, not terribly impressive. So, why was he selected for Team Canada, AND was playing on the same line as Crosby and Nash, and not someone else?
2010-02-19T10:51:00Z
EDIT: I understand team chemistry is important but I'm sure there are plenty of other Canadians who can take faceoffs and that have higher point totals, no?
D D2010-02-19T14:02:15Z
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It's not all about points.
Bergeron is there for his speed, his penalty killing abilities, and the fact that is a right handed shot that can win key face offs. The fact that he played very well with Crosby in previous international competitions didn't hurt any.
To me the two that look most out of place are Marleau and Perry. Both can put up points, but seem to be lacking in other areas of the game at this level of competition. I would gladly replace the two of them, but since my name isn't Steve Yzerman I don't get to make that choice.
Patrice Bergeron made Team Canada because he is multi-talented. Nesn.com call him the "handy man" because of it. Crosby and Nash may be better offensively but Bergeron can win faceoffs, be deffensive, assist like crazy, and score goals. Bergie also swiches lines alot, he goes where he's needed. I can't think of Canadian hockey players right of my head but I'm sure there a bunch of great Canadian hockey players in the N.H.L. but not everybody can make it. Tuukka Rask for the Boston Bruins is a great goalie but why didn't he make Team Finland? Plus, Patrice is young, 24 years old, I don't know how old St. Louis is but Bergie is new. I think he is and will do wonderful!
Bergeron played with Crosby on what is widely considered to be the best WJC team in history. Crosby loves playing with Rick Nash, but Yzerman was obviously banking on him recapturing the sublime chemistry he had with bergeon a while back for that WJC team.
To be honest I don't see why Jeff Carter was even in the conversation as a replacement. Yes he was the highest scoring canadian last year - so what?! Its not like Iginla, Nash and Heatley can't score. Carter's play has dropped off a fair amount this season and what he berings is not what Canada needs. Bergeron is in there for the two way play, but he doesn't really fit either. I strongly support Don Cherry's assertion that Jordan Staal should be on the team instead. Why? Because at the moment Canada is trying to fit 1st line players who play 20+ minutes into 3rd line checking roles and it isn't working very well. They need to be looking at building 2 all star lines, a line that plays together in the NHL, and a line made up of the best 3 checking line players in the NHL. Now i'm not Babcock or Yzerman, but give me Jordan Staal, Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy and pair them with Shea Weber and Chris Pronger on the back end and I'll stop you scoring a goal, i'll kill your penalty, and i'll stop the other team's momentum. The reason Switzerland and the smaller nations play so well together is because they get together very often and have a practise weekend. Chemistry and structure is just as important as skill.
Leafsfan29-Embrace the drought!2010-02-19T14:23:40Z
Presumably because Hockey Canada's selection group (headed by Steve Yzerman) chose to include him on the roster, and one would presume that they know of what they're doing.
As others have noted to a far more eloquent point that I, this isn't an all-star team.
To your point...I don't disagree with you about Stamkos (I'd have had him as the 13th forward), but at the end of the day, he's not on the team. I hope that Hockey Canada's selections end up being the right ones.
Making a good hockey team is not about getting the 20 guys with the most points that you can find. You need a certain combination of players for a winning formula. Bergeron was part of this formula. Perhaps for his faceoffs and speed.