Stevie Y Talks Netminders, eh?

It has often been said there are enough great hockey players in Canada to send two teams to international competitions.

That may be the case when it comes to skaters, but in terms of goaltending, Steve Yzeman is hoping he'll have one dependable stopper.

And you can excuse Stevie Y if he were just a tad concerned about his team's crease for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver; even though he insists he isn't worried. Yzerman is the capable man Hockey Canada put in charge of winning a gold medal in men's hockey in Vancouver next winter.

On Monday night he watched as Roberto Luongo, whom many feel stands the best chance to be the starter for Team Canada in the next Olympics, laid an egg in the most important game of his career. In a game that was to be a defining moment for Bobby Lou, in just his second trip to the NHL playoffs, Luongo allowed seven goals as his team, the Vancouver Canucks, was sent packing by the upstart Chicago Blackhawks. In his post-game meeting with the media, the captain was reduced to tears, but to his credit, he didn't run and hide. He faced the music even though he didn't like the tune.

Asked if Luongo's performance sent shivers down his spine, Yzerman chuckled.

"I was watching," he said. "All I can say is players have ups and downs and the very best players learn from the downs. The great players bounce back. I don't put too much weight on the performance of a player in one game. Roberto is a great goaltender and had a very good year."

Goaltending should be the least of Canada's worries. Canadian goalies, after all, have won five of the past six Vezina Trophies as best goalie in the NHL. Upon closer inspection, however, four of those went to Martin Brodeur and the other to Jose Theodore.

Brodeur, the winningest goalie in NHL history, has been bounced from the playoffs in the first round the past two seasons. He'll be 37 when the Olympics roll around and while he remains a great stopper; he's no longer money in the bank. Theodore lost his job as Washington's No. 1 goalie to an unproven 20-year-old in this year's playoffs. He wouldn't make the longest of long lists for Team Canada.

The next guy on the list, speaking logically, is Carolina's Cam Ward, arguably the best goalie in the NHL in the second half of this season. It must be noted in the few minutes I was on the phone with Yzerman last night; Ward allowed two goals as his team fell behind 2-0 at home and then proceeded to lose to the Bruins. Not a good sign.

Yzerman remains unfazed.

"We have an excellent group of goaltenders in Canada and lots of depth," he said. "There is a lot of uncertainty at this stage, but that doesn't change the fact we have great goalies."

Regardless of what happened this season, you'd have to say Luongo and Brodeur are still the best bets to be Nos. 1 and 2 on Team Canada. But that does not mean they won't be supplanted if a young gun steps up to the plate. If Ward leads the Hurricanes to a second Stanley Cup in his four-year career, he'd shoot to the head of the class.

Steve Mason, meanwhile, will be named the NHL's rookie of the year in June and probably should win the Vezina Trophy, too. A strong start with the Columbus Blue Jackets next season would mean Yzerman and Co. would have to give him strong consideration to be on the team, and not just along for the ride, but as the starter.

After Luongo, Brodeur, Ward and Mason, it actually gets a bit bleak. Marc-Andre Fleury ranked seventh in the NHL this season with 34 victories, but that was as much a reflection of the great team he plays for as his own doing. He was 21st in save percentage and 23rd in goals-against average.

Carey Price of the Montreal Candiens has a huge mountain to climb to put himself back in contention for Team Canada. I'm not even certain he'll be the No. 1 goalie in Montreal next season.

Yzerman told sportsnet.ca a few months ago his selections for Team Canada will not be solely based on statistics. He also said veterans will not be given a free ticket to make the team. Clearly, what a player does in the first half of next season will have a large bearing on his potential to play for Canada in Vancouver.

Yzerman said he has not yet sat down and put together a depth chart.

"Every now and then I'll be sitting around and I'll start doodling a potential team, bit nothing official," Yzerman said. "Or I'll ask some guys to give me their top seven defencemen and top 13 forwards on any given day. But you know it changes. I'd go nuts if I started trying to put a final list together at this point."

Yzerman said he'll put together a long list of players that will attend a summer camp, but cautions player that do not attend aren't necessarily out of the mix.

"Especially younger players," Yzerman said. "A young guy that doesn't attend the summer camp might step up next season and force us to put him on the team."

So the door is open for young skaters to make Team Canada. It is also wide open for all goaltenders.

Oh, and if Detroit repeats as Stanley Cup champs, then you have to throw Chris Osgood into the mix. He, more than anyone in the NHL, knows how to lift great teams in the crunch.

 

SOURCE: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/