This could be the last time the NHL stops
its season for the Olympics. So, it would be wise to watch the action in
Vancouver closely, because it could be your final shot to see hockey's best at
the Winter Games.
The NHL's regular season will be put on hold after Sunday's action concludes,
and play won't resume until March 1. This is the fourth time the Olympics will
feature NHL players since the format was changed beginning with the 1998 Games
in Nagano.
Having two weeks of missed action to account for is a nightmare for schedule-
makers and that's why, as of now, there is no plan that would ensure NHL
players the chance to skate for their respective countries at the 2014 Games
in Sochi, Russia.
The league has yet to commit to the Sochi Games, and a plan that would allow
players to participate in those Olympics would have to be included in the next
collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA expires in 2011 and the
matter concerning NHL players in the Olympics will be a hot-button issue when
the time comes to hammer out a new agreement.
Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin has already stated that he will not miss out
on a chance to skate for his nation when they host the Winter Games in four
years time. If the NHL was forced to suspend Ovechkin and others for defying
the next CBA, it's hard to imagine public opinion siding with the league and
not the players, who simply want to skate for the love of their country.
However, the fact that the NHL's future participation in the Olympics is up in
the air has succeeded in adding a bit of drama to this year's tournament in
Vancouver. Not that the issue concerning the next tourney is even needed to
make things interesting. The fact that the Winter Games are being staged in
hockey-crazy Canada would have already been enough to create substantial hype
for the 2010 Olympics.
Other than this possibly being the last time NHLers will skate in the
Olympics, the Vancouver Games will be also unique in that this will be the
first time since the format change in '98 that players will be skating on an
NHL-sized ice rink. This is a result of the Olympics being staged in a city
with an NHL franchise, the Vancouver Canucks.
Both ice hockey venues, General Motors Place and UBC Thunderbird Arena, will
feature rinks that are 200 X 85 feet instead of the larger international-sized
surfaces (200 X 98.5 ft.). Also GM Place, where the Canucks play, will be
known as Canada Hockey Place during the Games due to an Olympic rule that
forbids venues from bearing corporate names.
The smaller rinks should benefit the Canadians and Team USA in theory. Still,
European powerhouses like Russia and Sweden are loaded with NHL players who
will be very familiar with the narrower surfaces.
Here is a look at my predictions for how the tournament will play out in
Vancouver.
CANADA (GOLD)
Being the host country gives Team Canada an edge in this year's tournament,
but with the deepest roster at the Winter Games it's not like they needed much
of a boost. The Canadians will be aiming for the second gold medal in the last
three Winter Games, and they'll also try to wipe away the lingering stench from
a dreadful seventh-place finish at the 2006 Torino Games.
It was somewhat of a surprise when then-19-year-old Sidney Crosby was left off
the '06 edition of Team Canada, but Pittsburgh's captain was a no-brainer this
time around. He leads a star-studded offensive unit that also includes forwards
Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla, Joe Thornton, Rick Nash and Eric Staal. Canada is
also stacked talent-wise at the blue line, with Scott Niedermayer and Chris
Pronger providing a veteran presence to a defensive corps that has four first-
time Olympians.
Canada's biggest asset come Olympic time has always been its domination in the
goaltending department. New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, a future Hall-of-Famer,
is back for a fourth Winter Games, and he should battle for playing time with
Roberto Luongo, netminder for the hometown Canucks. Marc-Andre Fleury is
likely just along for the ride this time around, but as the No. 1 goaltender
for the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, he's better than most
nations' top choice.
Team Canada has everything going in its favor heading into Vancouver. They
have the most talent on paper, home-ice advantage and the Canadians are
looking to make up for the disappointing finish at the '06 Winter Games. The
Canadians will face a serious challenge from the Russians, but it's difficult
to not think of head coach Mike Babcock's team as the prohibitive favorites.
RUSSIA (SILVER)
While Crosby is making his Olympic debut, Ovechkin is back for his second run
at gold. The Washington Capitals superstar scored five goals at the Torino
Games, but Team Russia finished a disappointing fourth. A team of Russians
hasn't claimed gold since they played as the Unified Team in 1992, but the
2010 squad has the best chance to do so since that year in Albertville.
Ovechkin heads what could be the most-talented group of forwards in the
tourney, joining forces with Crosby's Pittsburgh teammate Evgeni Malkin and
Ilya Kovalchuk, who was recently traded from Atlanta to New Jersey. Evgeni
Nabokov is also a stellar first option in net, but the Russians weak spot
comes with a lack of depth on defense. Will the offense be able to carry
Ovechkin and Co. to the top prize? They may not have enough depth overall to
outlast the Canadians, but it would be a surprise if the Russians aren't a
part of the medal ceremony.
SWEDEN (BRONZE)
Despite winning gold four years ago in Italy, the Swedes come into the
Vancouver Games as somewhat of an afterthought. However, it would be a mistake
to count Team Sweden out of the gold-medal hunt just because they don't have a
superstar of Crosby or Ovechkin's caliber. Peter Forsberg is the biggest name
for the Swedes, but the former Hart Trophy winner hasn't played in the NHL
since 2007-08 and has been slowed in recent years by chronic foot problems.
Team Sweden's two biggest assets will have a home-ice advantage of sorts, as
twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin, star forwards for the Vancouver Canucks
will get to play in their adopted home during the Games. The Sedins have been
steadily improving since coming into the NHL in 2000-01 and are playing the
best hockey of their careers for the Canucks this season. A stellar goaltender
in Henrik Lundqvist - who backstopped the Swedes to gold four years ago - and
the deepest blueline this side of Team Canada gives captain Nicklas Lidstrom
and his countrymen a strong chance at repeating the magic of '06.
CHALLENGERS
UNITED STATES
It's been 28 years since a group of college hockey players claimed gold for
the U.S. at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, and the wait for another title will
likely go on past Vancouver.
The Americans enter the 2010 Olympics with a very young team, but one that has
serious talent on offense with a group of forwards that includes Patrick Kane,
Phil Kessel, Zach Parise, Paul Stastny and Bobby Ryan.
Only three Americans have competed previously at the Winter Games, including
winger Jamie Langenbrunner, who will serve as this year's captain. Top
defenseman Brian Rafalski and forward Chris Drury have also participated
previously in the Olympics. Notably absent from the U.S. squad is 39-year-old
center Mike Modano, who is widely considered to be the best American hockey
player of all-time.
Still, the U.S. goaltending situation looks stronger than it has in the past.
Buffalo Sabres backstop Ryan Miller and Boston's Tim Thomas, who won the Vezina
Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL last year, are a solid 1-2 punch in the
crease.
Head coach Ron Wilson may be able to get this team to the medal round, but it
would be unwise to expect the Americans to make a run like they did when they
won silver in Salt Lake City eight years ago.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czechs are hardly the same caliber team that won the gold when NHLers were
first allowed to skate in the Olympics 12 years ago in Japan, but at least
they still have Jaromir Jagr.
Jagr's NHL career ended following his 2007-08 season with the New York
Rangers, but he has played the last two seasons in Russia's KHL. Outside of
Jagr and forwards Patrik Elias and Martin Havlat, this current group of Czechs
lacks the name recognition of the 1998 gold medal-winning team.
Tomas Vokoun is a solid No. 1 option in net for the Czech Republic, although
he isn't likely to will his country to gold the way Dominik Hasek did in
Nagano.
In short, the Czechs are still a player in international hockey, just not one
that is expected to claim a medal of any kind.
FINLAND
The Finns won silver four years ago in Torino, thanks mostly to outstanding
play in net by Antero Niittymaki. Barring a repeat performance from this
year's projected top goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, Team Finland is likely not
headed back to the medal podium.
At 39 years of age, Teemu Selanne is Finland's top offensive weapon and the
defensive corps is spotty at best.
SLOVAKIA
This talented team boasts big-time offensive weapons in Marian Hossa and
Marian Gaborik, but there is little else on this roster that makes one think
Team Slovakia can win a medal. Also, they are playing in Group B with Russia
and Czech Republic, a fact that will not help the Slovaks' chances of
advancing far.
BEST OF THE REST
Of the remaining nations participating in the men's tourney this year, Germany
is the most talented. Still, it would be somewhat of a shock to see the
Germans make it out of their group, let alone claim a medal of any kind.
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