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The 2010 Canadian Olympic men's hockey team was unveiled by executive director Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Team Canada staff on Wednesday. Here is our breakdown of the selections and omissions:
LeBrun: One of the real roster surprises, but a well-deserved nomination. He had great chemistry with Crosby on a line at the 2005 world juniors, so he may get a look there come Vancouver.
LeBrun: Only thing left for the young superstar to accomplish is Olympic gold.
LeBrun: An early prediction from yours truly: He'll be Canada's top scorer at the Olympics.
LeBrun: Eat your heart out Ottawa! And Edmonton!
LeBrun: A third-time Olympian who will be leaned on for experience given the big turnover in the roster from four years ago.
LeBrun: Stripped of the "C" in August and named to the Olympic team four months later. Impressive.
LeBrun: A terrific fit as the fourth-line left winger; the smaller NHL rink a boost bonus for him.
LeBrun: One of the NHL's premier power wingers and a great fit on Crosby's left side.
LeBrun: His chemistry with Getzlaf was a big leverage point for him, but his tremendous season makes him deserving in his own right. He'll need to avoid bad penalties in Vancouver, however.
LeBrun: His so-so season didn't cost him, but believe me, Yzerman and his staff debated his inclusion to the last hour.
LeBrun: I'm actually surprised he made the team, only because he's had an average season, but he's a tremendous player. Keep in mind he won gold with Canada at the 2007 World Championships in Moscow, something Hockey Canada cares about deeply. I think he'll play wing in this tournament.
LeBrun: The NHL's leading scorer flies into Vancouver with his Sharks linemates.
LeBrun: A versatile young star who can play center and wing and special teams and win faceoffs. He can be moved around if there are injuries during the tournament.
LeBrun: He should have played for Canada in 2006, but a wrong was finally righted. A dynamic offensive playmaker who will key the transition game.
LeBrun: Gutsy, gutsy pick by Yzerman and the correct one. He's a dynamic young force with the kind of vision and decision-making a player his age should not possess.
LeBrun: He'll be on my Norris Trophy ballot this season; another key transition-game defenseman.
LeBrun: The Team Canada captain isn't having his best season, but he'll be the Hall of Famer of old come Olympic time.
LeBrun: Along with Niedermayer, the other sure lock, a veteran international performer who will be more at home on the smaller NHL ice in Vancouver.
LeBrun: I love this pick; a physical presence who brings instant chemistry with Chicago teammate Keith.
LeBrun: The heaviest shot on the team and a monster physical presence.
LeBrun: Four years ago, he told me he didn't think he'd be in Vancouver. He surprised even himself.
LeBrun: He'll be nipping at Luongo's heels for the backup job going into Vancouver.
LeBrun: Don't forget his international experience, capturing gold at the 2004 World Championships in Prague.
Forwards
Burnside: Many believed it would be Jordan Staal, not Eric, who would be named to the Canadian squad, but he became a victim of Canada's incredible depth down the middle. Jeff Carter, who led all Canadians last season with 46 goals, played himself off the radar in the first half of this season, but we admit surprise that Martin St. Louis, the heart and soul of the Tampa Bay Lightning and a former Olympian, wasn't named to the team even though his 43 points are fifth among all Canadian players.
We can only assume Yzerman et al wanted as much size as possible and went with Eric Staal instead of the smaller St. Louis. Former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Brad Richards, who has 44 points, was also left off the list, as was Tampa captain Vincent Lecavalier and former No. 1 draft pick Steven Stamkos, whose blazing start to the season earned him some consideration.
LeBrun: For me, the biggest surprise was the omission of Martin St. Louis. He's a real spark plug and a great leader, and I thought he could really make a difference in Vancouver, where the pressure on the host nation will be out of this world.
I thought there would be a Staal on this team, but I figured it would be Jordan, not Eric. The Penguins' Staal is a real versatile player and terrific penalty killer. I figured his ticket to Vancouver was booked after his performance in the Cup finals in June. I was wrong.
"I thought I had a good season," Jordan Staal was quoted as saying to Pittsburgh media after the announcement. "I wouldn't say I had the best shot out there. I didn't say I should be on the team or anything like that, but there was definitely a moment I thought I could make it. ... That's how it goes."
It is also disappointing to not see Ryan Smyth on the team given his decorated international career, but Morrow beat him out for the fourth-line, left-winger job, and Smyth's five-week injury hiatus this season also hurt his chances.
Brad Richards was also a player I had on my team. He is having a huge comeback season, has versatility with his ability to play both wing and center and has international experience.
Other players who were on the bubble that didn't make it include Steven Stamkos, Mike Fisher, Jeff Carter, Vincent Lecavalier and Shane Doan, the latter, like Smyth, a longtime Team Canada guy.
Defensemen
Burnside: Even though Mike Green's exclusion from the roster was expected, it remains startling that a player who is the most prolific point-producing NHL defenseman with 40 goals and 111 points in the past season-and-a-half couldn't find a way onto the Canadian team. It is also shocking that none of the three Calgary Flames defenders who were invited to the Canadian orientation camp in August -- Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr and Jay Bouwmeester -- made the team. Although he was a long shot, Stephane Robidas is tied for the lead in goal scoring among all NHL defensemen (nine), but could not crack the lineup.
LeBrun: The seventh job went to Doughty over Jay Bouwmeester and Mike Green. I give Yzerman credit because Bouwmeester was the safer pick, but he's taking a chance on the young Doughty, who'll be perhaps a power-play specialist in Vancouver. You have to feel for Green because he's played tremendously well with the Capitals this season and has improved his defensive play; but, fair or not, I think his fate was sealed during last spring's NHL playoffs.
Dion Phaneuf and the underrated Stephane Robidas also made good cases, but until the day Canada sends two teams to the Olympics, real good players will be looked over.
Goaltending
Burnside: There really weren't any issues when it came to Canadian goaltenders. Cam Ward saw his opportunity to make the team disappear when he was injured and his Carolina Hurricanes got off to an absolutely horrid start to the season.
LeBrun: Cam Ward's chances took a fall after his early-season injury.
Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun cover the NHL for ESPN.com.