> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Team Canada Watch: Centre - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/team-canada-watch-centre/ - Published: 2009-12-11T18:20:26.000Z - Updated: 2009-12-11T18:20:26.000Z - Author: Jason Orach - Tags: Opinion Poll, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:01 Maybe the deepest position for Team Canada, what five cent(re/er)s do you take to Vancouver this year? Invitees include guys like [Vincent Lecavalier](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55051/Vincent%5FLecavalier?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) and [Eric Staal](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54239/Eric%5FStaal?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) who haven't impressed this season but ignore players like Steven Stamkos (30pts in 30GP). In my mind there are two stone cold locks to play Center on Team Canada: [Joe Thornton](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54760/Joe%5FThornton?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) and [Sidney Crosby](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55428/Sidney%5FCrosby?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). That leaves us two full time spots and an alternate. So who are the big candidates left? --- ![](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.1576.gif) ## [Ryan Getzlaf](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54512/Ryan%5FGetzlaf?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### #15 / Center / [Anaheim Ducks](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/ANA?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Height: 6-4 Weight: 221 Born: May 10, 1985 --- --- | | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | -- | -- | --- | --- | | 2009 - [Ryan Getzlaf](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54512/Ryan%5FGetzlaf?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | 6 | 30 | 36 | 4 | 29 | --- 3rd in scoring amongst Canadian NHL centers, Getzlaf also has the benefit of playing with [Corey Perry](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54510/Corey%5FPerry?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). Bringing along good winger-center combos should increase Canada's chances of scoring more than ten goals a game which is why I'm going to leave [Patrick Marleau](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54756/Patrick%5FMarleau?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) off this list. Capable of playing both center and wing he's feasted on the power play with Heatley and Thornton. I'd bring all three because they're comfortable with each other. --- ![](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.623.gif) ## [Brad Richards](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55200/Brad%5FRichards?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### #91 / Center / [Dallas Stars](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/DAL?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Height: 6-0 Weight: 192 Born: May 02, 1980 --- --- | | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | - | -- | -- | --- | --- | | 2009 - [Brad Richards](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55200/Brad%5FRichards?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | 9 | 26 | 35 | 1 | 2 | --- I haven't heard anything about Brad Richards this year but he's playing dominant hockey right now. A slick passer without an Olympian winger, I think B. Richards should be able to be plugged in with almost anybody (Iginla?) and make it work. --- ![](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.1828.gif) ## [Mike Richards](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55008/Mike%5FRichards?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### #18 / Center / [Philadelphia Flyers](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/PHI?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Height: 5-11 Weight: 195 Born: Feb 11, 1985 --- --- | | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -- | -- | -- | --- | --- | | 2009 - [Mike Richards](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55008/Mike%5FRichards?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | 13 | 12 | 25 | 5 | 38 | --- Despite claims he was having a bad season, Mike Richards' numbers look solid to me. M. Richards' is a good two way player and comes bundled with [Jeff Carter](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55007/Jeff%5FCarter?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) (also a Center I'd move to wing) which gives Canada an amazing penalty killing duo up front. Philly leads the league in shorthanded goals perenially for a reason. --- ![](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.2599.gif) ## [Steven Stamkos](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55082/Steven%5FStamkos?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### #91 / Center / [Tampa Bay Lightning](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/TAM?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Height: 6-1 Weight: 196 Born: Feb 07, 1990 --- --- | | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | -- | -- | --- | --- | | 2009 - [Steven Stamkos](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55082/Steven%5FStamkos?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | 17 | 13 | 30 | \-2 | 16 | --- Stamkos wasn't invited to camp. Huge numbers though; sixth in the NHL in goals, 4th in power play goals. Probably gets left home this year but if he keeps developing he'll be a lock to play in Sochi barring an NHL ban. --- ![](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.1995.gif) ## [Paul Stastny](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55485/Paul%5FStastny?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### #26 / Center / [Colorado Avalanche](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/COL?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Born: Dec 27, 1985 --- --- | | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | -- | -- | --- | --- | | 2009 - [Paul Stastny](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55485/Paul%5FStastny?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | 8 | 24 | 32 | 6 | 20 | --- Paul Stastny wasn't invited to Team Canada's camp either, but along with Stamkos represents a much stronger candidate than either Eric Staal or Vincent Lecavalier. Stastny's performance this year has helped Colorado get past the loss of Burnaby Joe and is a large reason Avalanche fans forgot the word "rebuild" in a hurry. Edit: Stastny was born in Quebec and is listed as a Canadian by NHL.com, but apparently plays for Team USA in the Olympics. Good for Kessel I suppose. I'll make it up to you with two more options: --- ![](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.743.gif) ## [Marc Savard](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54906/Marc%5FSavard?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### #91 / Center / [Boston Bruins](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/BOS?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Height: 5-10 Weight: 191 Born: Jul 17, 1977 --- --- | | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | - | -- | --- | --- | | 2009 - [Marc Savard](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54906/Marc%5FSavard?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | 8 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 8 | --- No invite for Savard, he's firing on all cylinders after missing a bunch of time to start the year. It seems Hockey Canada isn't enamored with Savard and his injuries this year make him even more of a long shot. --- ![](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.1338.gif) ## [Patrice Bergeron](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54879/Patrice%5FBergeron?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) #### #37 / Center / [Boston Bruins](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/BOS?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Height: 6-2 Weight: 194 Born: Jul 24, 1985 --- --- | | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | - | -- | -- | --- | --- | | 2009 - [Patrice Bergeron](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54879/Patrice%5FBergeron?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | 8 | 16 | 24 | 2 | 10 | --- Now that his fragile head hasn't been smashed in years Patrice Bergeron is quietly putting up some solid numbers. So which five guys do I bring? Thornton, Crosby, M. Richards, Getzlaf and B. Richards is my fill in guy. How about you, who are you bringing and why?