CBC-Sports

Team Canada's fate rests with returnees

December 30, 2009 05:20 PM | Posted by   Elliotte Friedman  

In the end, Steve Yzerman showed no fear. There were obvious decisions (Brodeur, Luongo, Fleury), and bold selections (Drew Doughty as seventh defenceman). He rewarded hot starters (Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Marleau), and showed faith in struggling ones (Eric Staal, Scott Niedermayer as captain).

With little practice time, he bet on familiarity (Keith/Seabrook, Getzlaf/Perry and the Sharks line), while wagering that some natural centres will thrive on the wing.

Most interesting: he overlooked previous Olympians playing well (Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Ryan Smyth, Shane Doan) in favour of extremely talented new blood (Corey Perry, Jonathan Toews, Mike Richards, Bergeron). On paper, this is a really good team, and I don't really disagree with any of the selections.

The only question I raise is from my own experience: What happens if the team struggles early? It happened in both 2002 and 2006 (I wasn't in Nagano), and those teams reacted quite differently. In Salt Lake, veteran leaders like Mario Lemieux (who apparently got up in front of the group to tell everyone, "We're not that bad" after a couple of bad games) and Steve Yzerman held things together. Wayne Gretzky badly wanted both to go to Italy, but Lemieux retired and Yzerman wasn't healthy enough. After that 2006 disappointment, Gretzky and some veterans (particularly Brodeur) felt inexperience was the team's biggest issue. There were 13 skaters making Olympic debuts.

This time, there are 14. It should be noted that counts both Staal and Dan Boyle, who were Taxi Squad members in 2006. (Boyle, in particular, will be a huge part of this team.) It also counts Marleau and Brenden Morrow, who played in the 2004 World Cup (although Marleau never dressed in a game).

Certainly, there is appetite for change — a desire to give a new generation of players a chance to lead Canada. And, several members of this "New Breed" have shown great skill and mental toughness in stressful situations. Crosby, Getzlaf and Perry are Stanley Cup champions. Bergeron captained the best world junior team ever to a gold medal. Toews and Richards captain their NHL teams. Shea Weber is the most underappreciated great player in the NHL. How many of you reading this blog were (or are) as mature as these guys in their early 20s? God knows I wasn't.

However, the true fate of this team will depend on the returnees — the guys who will, at some point, have to stand up and calm everybody down. Brodeur almost pulled it off in Turin, demanding better before the final round-robin win over the Czech Republic and keeping the Russia quarter-final close. (If you read his book, his insight into the Alexander Ovechkin winning goal is fascinating.)

Rick Nash, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley all struggled in 2006. Niedermayer and Chris Pronger have been below-standard this year. (In fact, I was pleasantly surprised Team Canada took Doughty because he's a right-hand shot, and there was a sentiment to take an extra lefty because those two have disappointed.)

Jarome Iginla tells a great story about watching Yzerman in 2002, learning how to prepare by osmosis. For example, he'd watch the Detroit Red Wings captain go through a hard workout/skate, then eat a power bar. Iginla said to himself, "I'd better start eating those things too." It's a small thing, but it's a big thing. Now, he — and the other returnees — are in the Yzerman position.

They must create a winning environment.

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