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Canada's treasure chest of talent

Which gems does GM Yzerman choose?

By: Randy Turner

Posted: 10/30/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Dany Heatley (CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES)

God bless Steve Yzerman. He's a nice man, and all.

But what was he thinking? Why would a Hall of Famer, already with an Olympic gold medal on his mantle, be so rash as to accept the thankless task in all of hockey: Picking the Canadian men's team for the Vancouver 2010 games.

Hey, it might have seemed like a good idea at the time. All those people saying such great things about you. Saying you're just the man for the job, that you're going to make the country proud.

Just wondering: Is this the same stuff they say to suicide bombers... only without the virgins?

Because it's fast becoming apparent that building Team Canada may involve so many variables -- so many possibilities, so many opinions -- to render any mortal to the point of paralysis of analysis.

Look around, it's happening already. Remember how the consensus was last summer that performances in the NHL playoffs would be the first major litmus test in gathering evidence towards the roster in Vancouver?

For example, when the San Jose Sharks tanked, again, it was oh-so convenient to drop the names of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau off the list. Hey, maybe they could be Canada's black aces. Then there's the unsavoury case of Dany Heatley, that selfish mug, who held out on the Ottawa Senators -- in the nation's capital, no less -- and eventually carpetbagged his way to San Jose, too.

Good riddance, many huffed. They all deserve each other. Bunch of underachieving losers, right? Besides, Canada has more scoring forwards than you can shake a Rick Nash at, and depth beyond any global rival.

So what do Marleau and Thornton think they're doing? They're the top two Canadians in the NHL scoring race, with 17 points each. In fact, look at the top 30 NHL scorers out of the gate and, clearly, some trends are emerging -- yes, we know it's early, but this is the Olympics, baby -- that are going to give Team Canada brass some sober second thoughts.

Because it's none other than the infamous (at least in Canada) Heatley, who has 15 points (8 G, 7 A).

So does Rick Nash, who along with superstar Sidney Crosby (14 points), are the only two Canucks in the top 30 who were locks for Vancouver.

Who's screwing up the works? Let's start with Ryan Smyth, now in Los Angeles, who despite his enormous contributions to his country over the years was an afterthought for 2010. Yet the rejuvenated Smyth already has 15 points for the surging Kings. How can a healthy, producing Smyth be ignored?

But at least Smyth, along with former Team Canada member Martin St. Louis (13 points), was on the Canadian radar. What about Winkler's own Dustin Penner, who has 15 points -- stands 6-foot-4, 240 pounds and is plus-8 (sixth overall among Canadians in the NHL)?

Or Brad Richards (15 points) and James Neal (14 points) in Dallas? Or Rene Bourque (14 points) in Calgary, or Mike Cammalleri (12 points) in Montreal?

All of them are off to better starts than invitees Eric Staal (5 points), Simon Gagne (5 points, hurt), Milan Lucic (3 points, hurt), Jonathan Toews (5 points), Andy McDonald (7 points), Derek Roy (7 assists), Ryan Getzlaf (8 points, one goal), Jordan Staal (5 points), Dan Cleary (five points, minus-5), and Vincent Lecavalier (8 points, minus-4), Jeff Carter (10 points, minus-5), Corey Perry (11 points) -- just to name almost half the contenders.

Hey, we're not saying this is a bad development. There's nothing wrong with options. But what happens when there are so many possibilities? So many moving parts?

It's not just the forwards, either. Roberto Luongo got off to a horrid start and now he's hurt. Martin Brodeur is doing reasonably well and the best of the bunch so far has been Marc-Andre Fleury, ranked No. 2 in the NHL with a sterling .921 save-percentage.

Meanwhile, there's no end of Canadian talent on defence, but guess who ranks No. 2 and 3 in scoring behind Sharks veteran Dan Boyle (13 points)? Answer: 19-year-old Rangers rookie Michael Del Zotto and 19-year-old Kings sophomore Drew Doughty, who both have 12 points.

Not Mike Green, not Dion Phaneuf, not Shea Weber, not Jay Bouwmeester. Two teenagers. Well, at least Doughty got an invitation.

That's the dilemma for any poor sap responsible for the Canadian team; for every position there's a time-tested veteran who's done it before and an unheralded newcomer with even better numbers.

Quick, guess what Canadian-born forward has 11 points and is ranked No. 3 overall in plus/minus (10)? That would be Colorado Avalanche rookie Ryan O'Reilly. The kid is 18.

And what about Steven Stamkos, a 19-year-old grizzled vet by comparison, who is off to an 11-point start in Tampa?

Nobody said Yzerman's job was going to be easy. But it will be fascinating to watch unfold.

For example, if Marleau, Thornton and Heatley retain their current pace, and why not, how can you deny them an Olympic spot? And if Canada doesn't win -- a very distinct possibility given the competition -- can you imagine the caterwauling, given those player's unfortunate playoff history? If you don't take them and lose, they'll say Yzerman and Co. were insane to keep them away. Guaranteed.

Only in Canada. So many options. So many second-guessers.

Good thing there's no pressure, though.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 30, 2009 C1

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