DISCLAIMER!
I understand it is a mere 13 games into the season and there is plenty of time for Penner to return to the poor play he has demonstrated the past 2 seasons , and while I very much so doubt he will continue at a 1.49 Pts/game pace (19PTS, 13GP correlates to 120 Pts, 82G) BUT if he continues to keep up the form in which he is playing (his effort and intensity, not necessarily his pt total) which I think he is more than capable of doing, come February, does Dustin Penner have an opportunity to play for Team Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games?
Obviously this is only speculation, and some might consider delusional at that
So far into the season (as of Oct 30th) Penner is:
3rd in League Scoring with 19Pts, along with guys like Ovechkin, Gaborik, Kopitar, Thornton, and Marleau and ahead of players like Crosby, Iginla, Nash, M. Richards (who many would consider locks for Team Canada)
Tied for 5th in Goals with 9.
Tied for 5th in Plus-Minus with +9
This is a small sample of games (13) but Penner has pushed his way into the Elite, whether he belongs there is debatable.
BASED PURELY on how he has played this year SO FAR if he keeps up his level of play by Mid February, the Oilers will have played 61 games, and Penner has 30ish Goals do you think Penner has a chance to play for Team Canada?
He is a well rounded LW with size and skill, is defensively responsible, able to play on the PK (Babcock has stated he wants well rounded players both skilled offensively and defensively, so far this season, Penner has fit that bill)
State your opinion; preferably make an intelligent/educated response, give reasons why.
To Summarize & Clarify: I am not saying Penner WILL make the team, I am simply wondering if he continues to play so well does he have a chance of making Team Canada?