Canadian Olympic odds shifting?

By TOM JONES
Published December 12, 2005

When the Maple Leafs visited Nov.30, Toronto coach Pat Quinn hinted Lightning stars Vinny Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Marty St. Louis would be on the Canadian Olympic team. Quinn is a reliable source considering he is Team Canada's coach.

Quinn's theory was the three performed well at the 2004 World Cup and were impressive at the Olympic orientation camp in September and haven't done anything to lose their spots.

But it's not a 100 percent, write-it-in-ink, done deal.

Over the weekend, a few developments have shaken up Canada's short list of Olympic hopefuls. For starters, veterans Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman pulled their names from consideration.

But Saturday, and this is the part that could throw a wrench in things, Canadian general manager Wayne Gretzky started talking up Pittsburgh 18-year-old Sidney Crosby. He said Crosby is "more mature than any 18-year-old I've ever been around," called him "outstanding" and admitted Crosby is in the mix.

If Crosby makes it, the Canadians also might select two other young standouts: Carolina's Eric Staal and Ottawa's Jason Spezza. Gretzky speaks highly of all three and Lemieux thinks all three should make it.

"These guys are going to be a part of Team Canada for a long time," Lemieux told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . "They should be a part of it, starting this year."

As of Sunday, Spezza was second in the NHL in scoring and Staal was third. Staal and Philadelphia's Simon Gagne are the only Canadians to score at least 20 goals.

The point of all this? Crosby, Spezza and Staal were not favorites to make the team when the season began. If all three make it, a few names have to come off the list and it's not unreasonable to think a Lightning player (or two, or three) could lose a spot.

It's assumed the Canadians' top line would be Gagne, Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla. Looking for balance, the Canadians like the physical checking (third) line of, say, Todd Bertuzzi, Joe Thornton and Shane Doan. The fourth line would be a high energy line of Ryan Smyth, Kris Draper and Dany Heatley. And the second line figured to be Richards, Lecavalier and St. Louis.

But what if the three kids make it? And, we haven't even mentioned other deserving candidates such as Brendan Shanahan, Paul Kariya, Alex Tanguay, Marc Savard and Patrick Marleau. Then there's Rick Nash. He's without question one of the top goal-scorers in the world. He has been injured most of the season, but should be healthy for the Olympics. How can Canada leave him at home?

What if one or several of that group is selected? Where does that leave the three Lightning players?

Quite frankly, the three should make it. A couple of hot months by good-looking kids should not trump what Lecavalier, Richards and St. Louis have done over years, including leading a team to a Stanley Cup and stepping up their games in international competition.

If the Canadians want to lop off a few veterans in favor of Crosby, Spezza and/or Staal, they can start with players such as Draper, Smyth and Doan.

Meantime, for some reason, defenseman Dan Boyle no longer seems a candidate to be named to Team Canada. During the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast Saturday, 10 defensemen were listed under consideration and Boyle's name wasn't one of them even though his 25 points are second among Canadian defenseman. Heck, even Toronto's Bryan McCabe, who is the leading scorer among Canadian defenseman, did not make the list of favorites.

On the American side, goalie John Grahame's run of a Lightning-record nine consecutive victories has made him a favorite to make Team USA. The Islanders' Rick DiPietro is the No.1 guy and the battle for the third spot now seems to be between Philadelphia's Robert Esche and Buffalo's Ryan Miller.

The Americans will announce their team Dec.19. Canada will name its team Dec.22.

[Last modified December 12, 2005, 01:11:08]