The five most bizarre roster decisions in Canadian Olympic history

Great expectations and one of the deepest talent pools in the world make roster decisions a difficult business for Hockey Canada. There's always the risk of over thinking the value of a player familiar with a certain role as opposed to a player with more natural ability. 

Here's a look at five of the most bizarre Team Canada roster decisions that have been made since NHL players began participating in the Winter Games back in 1998. 

Chris Kunitz - 2014

Kunitz, much to the disbelief of many Canadian hockey fans, was invited to the team's 2014 Olympic orientation camp last summer. Kunitz's potential inclusion on the final roster was a hotly debated topic right up until, well, when he was named a member of Team Canada. The decision to take Kunitz clearly has a lot to do with his familiarity with Sidney Crosby, even if Yzerman et al won't admit it. It was a safe play, but one that could be even more ripe for criticism if Kunitz is a bust in his opportunity alongside Crosby in Sochi.

Hindsight remedy: One of Claude Giroux, Taylor Hall, or Jeff Skinner, or [insert winger here]

Chris Mason - 2010 (replacement option)

Former NHL goaltender Chris Mason was not named to a Canadia Olympic hockey team, but he was first in line to replace Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, or Marc-Andre Fleury had one of them fallen to injury. 

Hindsight remedy: We are all thankful for Roberto Luongo's health. 

Team Canada - 2006

There are but two options for a Canadian Olympic hockey team to come home with: gold and not gold. The Canadian men's team came home without a medal in 2006. It's tough to point to one decision as the most bizarre in this lot. A slow-footed Ryan Smyth? Kris Draper as a natural checking center? Bryan McCabe's big shot and predilection for brain farts? How about a trio of Tampa Bay Lightning players getting the nod with Dan Boyle not being one of them? 

Hindsight remedy: This kid named Sidney Crosby was not invited. Crosby finished sixth in NHL scoring in 2005-06.

Mario Lemieux - 2002

Lemieux's best hockey had already been played by the time the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City rolled around. It didn't matter, though, as he was as certain to make the squad as the maple leaf was to grace the team's sweater. To question Lemieux as a legacy selection would be blasphemous. Lemieux battled a hip injury throughout the 2001-02 NHL season and during the Olympics. He was forced to rest in the team's contest versus Germany, and even prompted Swedish television announcer Curre Lundmark to say "Lemieux is skating like an old tractor."

Hindsight remedy: Lemieux scored four goals en route to Canada's first gold medal in men's hockey in 50 years. That old tractor ran just fine. 

Shayne Corson and Rob Zamuner - 1998

Poll any Canadian who was old enough to breathe when NHL players made their Olympic debut at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano who the most puzzling player selection was and they'll surely say Rob Zamuner. Zamuner was an overthought addition, thought to be some sort of checking line specialist. Zamuner will always be the people's champion for worst Canadian roster decisions. You could probably make a good case for Shayne Corson's inclusion on this roster, too. Canada finished fourth after falling to Dominik Hasek and Czech Republic in a semi-final, and eventually to Finland in the bronze medal game.

Hindsight remedy: Mark Messier, locked in a state of decline, began a disappointing three-year stint with the Vancouver Canucks in 1997-98. Mark Messier in decline was better than Rob Zamuner in his prime.