Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Olympic team behind 8-ball?
By MIKE ULMER -- Toronto Sun
I knew it. I just knew it. Wayne Gretzky and the braintrust of the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team (there is a women's team, you know), name eight players as automatic entries for the Salt Lake City Olympics.
Just like that, the Great Eight goes, if not down the tube, at least into the sink.
Steve Yzerman has just three goals. Al MacInnis, Mr. Big Shot, hasn't scored. That big stiff Mario Lemieux got his first last night but he can't count on playing the Atlanta Thrashers, as he did last night, in Utah this February.
Owen Nolan has two piddly goals. Chris Pronger, bupkus. Scott Niedermayer has one goal. Among the defencemen, only Rob Blake has produced. He has three.
That leaves Joe Sakic, God bless him, as the only member of the Great Eight pulling his weight -- five goals and 12 points going into last night's game with his Colorado Avalanche up against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Now, you can theorize on this as much as you like and I admit, there is certainly a possibility that the Great Eight will rebound.
Still, it makes you wonder if setting eight players aside as automatic locks was such a great idea.
It seemed like such a good idea at the time. Name eight dependable players, invite a host of emerging players such as Edmonton Oilers defenceman Eric Brewer and Calgary Flames forward Jarome Iginla, and watch them hitch their games up a notch.
Gretzky was in town to watch the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins tilt last night, won, incidentally, 2-0 by the Leafs. He pointed out that a stint at the Team Canada development camp in September allowed younger players to build confidence, and that carried into the regular season.
"We don't care if they're 19 or 39," Gretzky was saying last night of the field racing to represent Canada in February.
That's good, because the race for the remaining 15 roster spots, to be announced Dec. 22, has taken some bizarre turns.
The Oilers' Anson Carter is enjoying a breakthrough season and, along with his crease-crashing teammate, Ryan Smyth, will warrant plenty of consideration.
Gretzky flashed his usual diplomacy when asked about the goaltending derby for Salt Lake. With Dallas' Ed Belfour, the Devils' Martin Brodeur and incumbent Patrick Roy in the mix, the Leafs' Curtis Joseph could well be photographed sitting in the stands, eating an apple, as he was in Nagano. Then again ...
"I've said it many times, the hardest decision is going to be over the goaltending," Gretzky said. "They're all very capable, great competitors and great team players. We're going to wait until the end to make our decision."
Theoretically, the door remains open for any of a handful of goalies. Boston's Byron Dafoe was exceptional in last night's game, as he has been all season. Who knows, Belfour could get maced again.
FLEXIBILITY
"Not to sound biased, but Sean Burke has been been exceptional for us in Phoenix (where Gretzky is managing partner in charge of hockey operations for the Coyotes)," Gretzky said. "We're not closing the door on anybody."
There is some flexibility in Gretzky's task. Lemieux and Yzerman can play centre or the wing, although that's like asking Picasso to paint with his teeth.
Piecing together the forward crew will be tough. The selection committee is on record as saying that, aside from the Great Eight, whoever is playing best goes.
But what happens when veterans who seemed to be treading water find another gear? Thirty-two-year-old Brendan Shanahan of the Detroit Red Wings has scored eight times this season. Same with the versatile Vincent Damphousse, who, despite turning 34 in February, has been the best San Jose Shark.
Gretzky and Co. are still waiting for a host of younger talents to find their touch, such as Anaheim Mighty Ducks winger Jeff Friesen, who has three goals. The Buffalo Sabres' Curtis Brown, 25, hasn't scored in nine games . Twenty-four-year-old Ottawa Senators defenceman Wade Redden entered play last night minus-three, with one goal. The Philadelphia Flyers' speedy Simon Gagne has but three goals in eight games.
Put it all together, and you have an irresistible tableau for controversy. In other words, developments in Canadian hockey are processing at their normal pace.
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
