U.S., Canada Olympic rosters taking form, but not finalized

For Team USA, the challenge in putting together a roster for the 2010 Olympics at Vancouver is finding the right talent to fit roles.

For Team Canada, it seems to be more about finding the right roles to fit talent.

At least that was what the brain trusts for both teams were talking about after they held orientation camps in the summer. They each had an idea about which players would form the core parts of the respective lineups, but since then, injuries and unanticipated performances both good and bad have changed the dynamics.

The final 23-man rosters for all participants won't be announced until the end of the year and several spots on both the American and Canadian teams are still there to be won or lost. Here's a look at how the races are shaping up.

Team USA

Brian Gionta is playing well enough to be strongly considered for Team USA. (Getty Images)

Goaltenders: Buffalo's Ryan Miller had the inside track on the starting job at the orientation camp and has reinforced that position with his play this season, and his career body of work. Vezina winner Tim Thomas was at the camp as well, but had a weak first month for the Bruins while his one-time understudy, Craig Anderson, burst out as the league's top player for October with the Avalanche and inserted himself into the equation. Thomas has been much better in November, but Team USA would like to take a younger goalie-of-the-future type for the third spot, and 23-year-old Jonathan Quick has looked as sharp this season for the Los Angeles Kings as he did at the orientation.

Defense: Injuries this season have hit five of the 11 defenseman who were at the orientation camp, with New Jersey's Paul Martin, Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik and Toronto's Mike Komisarek likely to return only in December. At least two of them should make the team if they can get their games back before the roster deadline. Meanwhile, two youngsters who weren't there -- Alex Goligoski in Pittsburgh and Zach Bogosian in Atlanta -- have played their way into contention for one of seven roster spots with great starts, while veteran Brian Rafalski of the Red Wings isn't having his best season, but is probably a lock because of his experience. Rob Scuderi's experience and stay-at-home presence make him a good bet as well right along with the top puck movers from the orientation camp, Ryan Suter of Nashville, Erik Johnson of the Blues and Ryan Whitney of Anaheim, who have all had strong starts.

Forwards: Team USA GM Brian Burke says he wants a mix of skill and grit on his lines, which translates into two units of scorers and two units of player suited to check and grind. Burke and his management team have a few options, but right now it looks like the top six guys, all who were at the camp, will be Scott Gomez and Paul Stastny at center, and Patrick Kane, Zach Parise, Phil Kessel and Bobby Ryan on the wings. Brian Gionta, who wasn't at the orientation, has put himself on the radar as well. At this point, the leading candidates for the two-way lines look like Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Ryan Kesler and Chris Drury, depending on the impact of his concussion. Truth is, aside from Gionta, no forward has played their way into contention, although some like David Backes and T.J Oshie of the Blues and Florida's David Booth before he was concussed, probably played themselves out.

Team Canada

Dion Phaneuf might be one of the defensemen to be left off the roster for Canada. (Getty Images)

Goaltending: There was early season panic north of the border because of slow starts by Martin Brodeur and Robert Luongo, but it never really threatened their 1-2 hold on the job. No, the real debate was always with who the emergency third goalie was going to be with young talents Marc-Andre Fleury, Cam Ward and Steve Mason to choose from. However Mason, last season's Rookie of the Year, has been a sophomore bust, while Ward suffered a laceration that will keep him out indefinitely. Fleury had a great start and for a while looked good enough to take the starting job from Brodeur or Luongo, but he has come back to earth along with the rest of the injury-riddled Penguins. Still he's going to Vancouver along with Brodeur, who has been hitting his stride, and Luongo, who has just returned from a cracked rib and will be representing the hometown team.

Defense: Pairing down the defensemen will be a lot more challenging than finalizing the goalie position for Canada's management team. They had 16 candidates at the orientation camp and will likely take only seven to Vancouver. Among them will be veteran Norris Trophy winners Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, who may stand out next to the fresh faces around them but still play at a high level and have the big-game pedigree that can't be ignored. Calgary's Jay Bouwmeester and Nashville's Shea Weber are a lot younger but still earn consideration at award time so they'll be there too, while Chicago's Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook should be as well. That really leaves only one spot, with Calgary's Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr, San Jose's Dan Boyle and the Kings super sophomore Drew Doughty to battle for it.

Forwards: You could probably put together two Fantasy teams with the players Canada can choose from, but at most 13 will go. And since this season's performance is a key factor, the field has been reduced a bit since the orientation. Simon Gagne and Milan Lucic, for example, are out of the picture because of injuries, while Vincent Lecavalier and Eric Staal before he got hurt, simply played themselves out of the mix. Lecavalier's teammate Steven Stamkos, however, has put himself on the radar with a remarkable start. But he's still a teen, and will be hard-pressed to crack the lineup. Still the Canadians won't be shortchanged if they put together a first line that has Sidney Crosby centering Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla and a second unit made up of San Jose's Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal, Philadelphia's Mike Richards and Phoenix's Shane Doan have the makings of a textbook two-way third line, while Ryan Smyth of the Kings, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf from Anaheim and Dallas' Brenden Morrow may be overqualified to be a fourth line, but have the tenacity and the scoring touch to adapt to that role for a tournament.