Saturday, February 2, 2002
Gretzky sends a message about injuries
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- SLAM! Sports
LOS ANGELES -- The message - going out in a letter under Team Canada letterhead - is clear: if you can't play, don't stay. Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky is practically pleading with any Team Canada players who are hurt enough that it would affect their ability to contribute in Salt Lake to let it be known and do the honourable thing: give their spot to somebody who can do more.
"I think (assistant director) Kevin Lowe said it best," said Gretzky. "When you play in the Stanley Cup, the best players who are injured play at 70 or 80 percent. They get novocaine, they get a shot, they take medicine (those are not options in the Olympics because of drug testing). That's all part of playing through that, playing to win a championship.
"There's nobody in the organization better to replace the player. In this case, that's not it. We have players who are very capable, not that they're better, but they can be as good."
Centres Eric Lindros and Steve Yzerman are currently out with knee injuries while winger Owen Nolan is battling a back problem. Nolan said Friday he would consider pulling out if his back is not 100 percent.
Yzerman, who a procedure on his knee Monday, told Gretzky he plans to play in the three games preceeding the Olympics. Lindros is expected to play for the New York Rangers in the game after the all-star break.
"I'm thankful that people like Owen Nolan and Steve Yzerman have been extremely honest with us," said Gretzky. "If they're not healthy, they're doing the country a better service not going at 70 percent because we know we have great players who can go."
Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins has been playing some outstanding hockey lately and would be the top candidate to replace an injured Olympian.
A BREAK FOR MARIO?: With Team Canada captain Mario Lemieux still nursing a sore hip, Gretzky left the option open for him to possibly skip one of the back-to-back games in the preliminary round. Team Canada opens against Sweden Friday, Feb. 15, has a day off and then plays Qualifier 2 on Sunday and the Czechs on Monday.
If Lemieux does want to avoid back-to-back games and Team Canada wins against Sweden, Lemieux will likely skip the Sunday game so he would be available to play against the Czechs.
"It's getting better. Obviously, it's still not 100 percent," said Lemieux of his hip. "It still have a couple of weeks to take care of that and work on my conditioning and hopefully peak by the Olympic Games.
"It's been a struggle. It's been frustrating at times. Feeling good some days, not so good some other days. I guess that comes with age."
HEAR AND THERE: The NHL board of governors discussed Friday having a 2-3-2 rotation for the Stanley Cup final. The team with the best record could have the option of playing games 1, 2, 6 and 7 at home or games 3, 4 and 5 at home. "The preliminary indication is it's something we should be looking at and it's something we will be looking at." The format would not be introduced in time for this year, however...
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
