Gold Medal or Bust?
That will be the question that will haunt Steve Yzerman and his staff after releasing Canada's 23 man roster for the 2010 Olympic Men's Hockey team.
Because all the pressure is on Canada to win gold on home ice in Vancouver. Win and Yzerman will look like a genius! Lose and he'll likely never get a shot to pick the team again, or even want to for that matter.(Which is what happened with Wayne Gretzy after his 2006 team fell to 7th.)
By all indications this team is good and I mean real good! They've got great goaltending. Solid defence, lots of speed, strength and scoring ability at forward.
But if you will, let me play the role of devils advocate. Let's just say hat their were a few notable absences that had people like myself raising an eye brow.
While you can't argue with the defence, you could make a case for Dion Phaneuf and Jay Boumeester, and ask why didn't crack either Flame D-man make the lineup? Or how forwards like Patrice Bergeron and Brendan Morrow beat out
players like Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier? Both Vinny Brad are in the top 30 in NHL scoring while Morrow and Bergeron have fewer points.
Not to say that neither player is worthy of a selection, but when you compare resumes I'll take the former cup champions any day.
Still the team is great it has scoring punch, it has grit and 3 of the best goalies in the league. But it could be missing some leadership that speed just can't compete against.
You see what has me really concerned about this team, is how Coyotes captain Shane Doan could be left off? This guy is a leader on and off the ice and when you talk about someone who has represented Canada so many times in the past.(8 Times to be exact) only Ryan Smyth has bled more for the red and white at International competitions. 11 times Smyth has wore the Maple Leaf. But I guess this years team was looking for a youth movement. One of those what have you done for us lately kind of things! Smyth another grinder that never got an invite. Maybe someone will ask either Doan or Smyth to be a reserve player.
Because in my opinion representing Canada in the past has to count for something doesn't it?
If not I would have had Steven Stamkos there for sure and his 37 points over Patrice Bergeron and his 30 points any day.
Oh well I guess that's why Yzerman gets paid the big bucks. This is his baby and he'll wait and l see if it grows into a winner.
Don't get me wrong. I still think this team looks outstanding and I still believe this team is very capable of winning the gold. Like every Canadian I'll be cheering loudly for ours boys every game out.
I just thought I'd give you some food for thought. Because bottom line is win and we'll talk about being the greatest for 4 years, but lose and we Canadians will be asking why, long after the next Olympic games. And we'll be loking for someone to blame.
I just hope when I right on this blog in February its about how former Peterborough Pete Steve Yzerman is a hockey Genius.
