Road to Sochi - Episode 2

One was born in 1988 deep west in Vancouver, British Columbia, the other a month earlier deep east in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are distinguished from any other player that comes through my mind when thinking about Team Canada. Both are contentious throughout the country which leads to the question "Is it necessary to nominate one of them ?"


It was a long and tough way for Brad Marchand into the NHL, drafted in 2006 it took him 4 seasons to make the Bruins roster for a longer period. He's been a big part of Bruins success winning the cup in 2011, reaching career high 19 playoff points in 25 games (3rd amongst B's players).
Last year was arguably his best, leading the team with 36 points in a shortened 45 game regular season.
That and his more than solid playoff performance put him into the orientation camp roster for Team Canada  this summer.

Since then the "Lill' ball of hate" has gone through his first career slump, only achieving 3 goals and 9 points in 25 games so far. At times he was downgraded to the 3rd line by Coach Claude Julien but that didn't help to get his game back to where it was last season and the one's before.
Now that he's back on the 2nd line alongside his good friend Patrice Bergeron and Loui Eriksson it looks as if he's finally starting to produce, at least for what I've seen in the past two weeks.

On his international agenda, Marchand has been the second best scorer ahead of guys like Claude Giroux, Steven Stamkos and John Tavares when Canada won gold medal at the World Juniors back in 2008.
Beeing the Assistant Captain that tournament, it was the last time that the man from Halifax got to wear the red and white jersey. 

Still, the way he has started this season might have cost him a spot in the Sochi roster. I just can't see him making the cut right now.

On the other side we have Milan Lucic, the reincarnation of Cam Neely if you want.
Both born in British Columbia, both played in Vancouver, Neely for the Canucks and Lucic for the Giants.
Most importantly they are two physical guys who trademark the Bruins style of hockey, Neely in the late 80's and 90's and Lucic nowadays.
Besides, another commonality might attract attention as both have never played for Team Canada on a professional level, apart from beeing successfull with their teams or as individuals in the Worlds best league.

After one of his worst NHL seasons last year, he came up big in the playoffs by reaching 19 points in 22 games. Foremost he led the Bruins in a once in a lifetime 3rd period comeback against the Leafs, getting a goal and an assist by himself and stinging his teammates to believe in what they achieved later that night.

He continues to earn the money that he's getting paid this season, leading the B's in goals (9) and points (18) alongside longtime linemate David Krejci and veteran Jarome Iginla.
Looch was rightly criticized last year, when the first line wasn't clicking at all and the fanbase, including myself, we're already speaking about downgrading him ot the 3rd line. Claude Julien thought differently and as we've all seen it paid off in the postseason.

Thanks to that postseason performance he was invented to Team Canada's orientation camp alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
On an international level, Lucic has captained the 2007 Super Series winning team with guys like David Perron, Claude Giroux, Kyle Turris or Drew Doughty. Since then he hasn't been in touch with the national team at all.

Obviously Looch lacks the foot speed of an ideal player on international ice, which also downgrades the effectiveness of his physical style of play. That beeing mentioned his biggest problem, Team Canada could need a guy like Lucic who puts the team on his back in moments where no one else is aware of whats actually happening to them.

If I'd  have to decide between Lucic and Marchand I would defenitely choose Lucic, because he's having the hot hand right now and what does Team Canada need more than a guy who's having success right now ?!