Best Team Canada ever? After Olympic gold in Sochi, men's hockey team compares with the greats

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      This Olympic gold medal–winning Team Canada didn't pull off any miraculous victories full of theatre and drama.

      There was no golden goal like in 2010, when Sidney Crosby electrified the country by scoring in overtime at home in Vancouver against Team USA.

      We didn't see the dominance of two players, like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, who combined on 29 percent of Team Canada's goals in the 1987 Canada Cup.

      In that series, the Canadians and Soviets fought three wild matches, each ending with 6-5 scores.

      Gretzky passed to Lemieux for the dramatic series-winning goal. (The game before, the Great One had five assists and Super Mario notched a hat trick.)

      Nor were there any Paul Henderson moments. The former Leaf forward scored the winning goal in each of the three final games of the dramatic Summit Series against the Soviet Union in 1972.

      This time, all Team Canada did was prevent its opponents from scoring.

      And it was probably facing the most talented group of teams ever assembled for an Olympic tournament.

      The star-studded Americans and the impressive Swedish team could not find the net against Team Canada.

      The depth of the Canadian defensive corps was such that P.K. Subban, the Norris Trophy winner as best blueliner in 2013, was a healthy scratch for the gold-medal match.

      Team Canada went undefeated in 2014. 

      Keep in mind that the Olympic gold-medal-winning team of 2002 only went 1-1-1 in the opening round, losing 5-2 to Sweden in its opening match.

      In 2010, Team Canada lost to Team USA 5-3 before winning a rematch in the gold-medal game.

      Team Canada was so good this year that even as its captain, Sidney Crosby, played a rather lacklustre tournament except in the final game, it was still able to do what was necessary to win.

      Admittedly, there was that 2-1 squeaker over Latvia and it sometimes seemed like Team Canada had trouble scoring.

      But playing on the larger European ice surface was no barrier to victory, perhaps making this gold more impressive than those won in Vancouver and Salt Lake City.

      It turned out that there was no need for the offensive firepower of a Lemieux or Gretzky when goalies Carey Price and Roberto Luongo, their capable defensive corps, and disciplined backchecking forwards weren't going to allow their opponents to score.

      Was this the Best Team Canada ever? At the start of the tournament, nobody would have made that assessment.

      But with a gold medal and an undefeated streak in an Olympics featuring the world's best, it's a question that hockey fans may be debating for years to come.

      That will especially be the case if it turns out that this is the last Winter Games tourney in which NHL players compete.

      Comments

      13 Comments

      Stu

      Feb 23, 2014 at 9:27am

      I think that may have been the best team Canada, maybe even the best team assembled. Their last 2 games were nearly perfect, the scores in either not reflecting how dominant they were. Today's strategy was played so well that Sweden really didn't have a chance. Canada spent the whole 2nd period just cycling in Sweden's zone and keeping them stuck out for extended shifts with the long change. By the time the 3rd period came around, Sweden didn't have any energy left to attack with and couldn't even get into Canada's zone. For people who don't watch a lot of hockey, those last 2 games might have seemed somewhat boring, but they were things of beauty for a hockey fan. The only knock against them is that offensively they were trying too many passes instead of just shooting the puck from good positions. I know the goalies that they're up against are good but when you have a team made up of some of the best shooters in the world, when you're in the slot with the puck, you probably don't need to go for that perfect pass for a tap-in at the post. The funny thing is that the poor ice conditions probably also hurt team Canada more than any other team in the tournament because of the skill they have but weren't really able to how off.

      Rex Moore

      Feb 23, 2014 at 1:18pm

      Charlie,

      It may not be the "best ever" Team Canada, but it is probably the most unselfish team in our Olympic history. A superstar lineup valued at $150million
      had players used to getting over 20 minutes of ice time per game,accepting lesser roles with under 10 minutes of ice time, in order to enhance the team's chances of winning.

      No team in the hockey playing universe could have beaten Team Canada today.

      Our best players were the best players on the ice today.

      Sidney Crosby was a relentless force the last two games against the US and Sweden with super serious Jonathan T right with Sid, killing them with speed and desire. The forwards were all committed to competing in all zones on the international size ice. Goaltender Price was solid and provided calm to an all star defense.

      In addition, credit has to be doled out to the coaching staff and the management team for installing a system that enabled the Canadians to dominate their opponents defensively and "just win Baby." The team played a more European style of game then the Europeans because that is the way they needed to play to win.

      It was quiet in the Sochi Arena, but the sports bars across Canada rose up and cheered each time they were shown.
      I was almost more relived then elated at Canada's Olympic Gold, because those of us who are rabid Canadian hockey fans realize that it is Gold or nothing
      at these tournaments.
      At least now we can put down our heavy burden and rest on our laurels till 2018 when the Olympics will be staged in Korea. There are rumblings already that the pros my not be allowed attend this event. The NHL owners and IOC will have sit down and split up the pie again and I can only offer these words of advice...
      Go Canada GO!

      Denis

      Feb 23, 2014 at 3:33pm

      There is much more balance in hockey from all countries,; Finland, Sweden, Russia, USA and etc. this why a believe that the team that was assembled and how they played in Sochi, is the best Canadian team ever to play in the Olympics They dominated with the exceptional Carey Price, the superb defence that cleared the front of the net, coming out of the zone, pitching on offence and the forwards that took control of the offence with shots on net, forechecking and back checking. It was a balanced hockey team that took control.

      Martin Dunphy

      Feb 23, 2014 at 3:50pm

      The Swedes would never use it as an excuse, but you can be sure that if Zetterberg, Backstrom, and the key Sedin had been playing it would have been an entirely different game.
      As it was, it was actually a bit boring.

      RUK

      Feb 23, 2014 at 4:01pm

      I'm with Dunphy. Team Canada was very solid defensively, but they were basically playing the Columbus Blue Jackets. No team that loses its top three centermen is going to be able to make the plays that it should be making.

      No Excuses!

      Feb 23, 2014 at 5:09pm

      This is probably the best Team Canada men's hockey team we've had so far, so even if Sweden had Zetterberg, Backstrom, & H.Sedin, our Canadian players would still beat them. Crosby is a faster skater than most (if not all) the Swedish players as shown by his breakaway goal.

      Gest

      Feb 23, 2014 at 7:36pm

      Not sure if they are the best ever but they sure are the most disciplined Canadian team I've ever seen. They made few mistakes and stuck with the game plan.

      Cito

      Feb 23, 2014 at 7:40pm

      This Team Canada was an example of what can happen when the best players in the world play at their best. Once the players came together and started completely playing the coach's system, this team became virtually unbeatable. The combination of suffocating defence and relentless offensive pressure put teams of nearly equal talent on their heels. Combine that with solid goal tending, it would be difficult for any team from any era to compete.

      Kelly

      Feb 24, 2014 at 12:52am

      Just to correct you Charlie Smith, the series winning goal in the 87 Canada cup from Gretzky to Lemieux was in regulation time. The double overtime game was game 2 which I believe the winning goal was also Gretzky to Lemieux but it was the series tier not winner. As for this 2014 team Canada I would say the most disciplined and the best defensive team. I doubt they could have handled the 87 team Canada. The Canada Cup didn't include all the weak teams in the Olympics. The only good teams we played this year were the US and Finland.

      Derp

      Feb 24, 2014 at 12:32pm

      If you want to play the Backstrom card remember Canada was missing Stamkos. The truth is Sweden should have contracted an NHL coach like Latvia did. Sweden gave dozens of turnovers, 2 that turned into goals.