Oh Canada! Here Come The Olympics

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The National Hockey League will shut down its 2009-2010 campaign following the upcoming weekend as many of its players will be skating in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics.

The Blues will have three representatives as forward David Backes and defenseman Erik Johnson will play for Team USA while blueliner Roman Polak contributes to the Czech Republic's cause.

12 nations will square off soon as some incredible World-Class hockey is expected in British Columbia. Handicapping this year's competition isn't as easy as you might think. Sure Canada's loaded and being on "home ice" should be a meaningful factor. But while I join many others in forecasting gold for the Cananadians, I can see multiple alternate scenarios seeing the top prize going elsewhere as was the case four years ago when Sweden took top honors.

Canada is my pick to win gold based primarily on their advantage in net. Martin Brodeur has been outstanding this season and backup Roberto Luongo adds significant depth. Having Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer reunited as teammates highlights a strong defense corps. Up front Sidney Crosby, Dany Heatley, Jerome Iginla, Rick Nash and Jonathan Toews should supply endless offense.

With all of that being said, I'm picking Russia to take home silver but won't be surprised a bit if they win gold. Evgeni Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov offer excellent depth in goal, as well. Sergei Gonchar and Andre Markov head an impressive blueline. Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuik, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Semin lead a very impressive cast of forwards.

I see bronze going to Sweden but think that Team USA is in the hunt for a medal. The Swedes look to bank on Hennrik Lunqvist in goal while savvy vets Niklaus Lidstrom and Mathius Ohlund man the blueline. Henrick and Daniel Sedin join forces with Henrick Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson and Niklas Backstrom to put the puck in the net.

The Americans ARE in the picture. Ryan Miller should offer great goaltending while Brian Rafalski and Ryan Whitney lead the defense. Patrick Kane, Paul Stastny and Zach Parise should provide plenty of offense. Parise did suffer an injury last night but is still expected to play. If he cannot go it could open the door for a third Blue on the roster in forward T-J Oshie. Parise left pre-game warmups las night before a game against Philadelphia with what New Jersey is reporting to be an upper body injury. He has only missed three games in the last five seasons.

Finland rounds out the top five with Mikka Kiprusoff guarding their cage. Experienced blueliners Kimmo Timmonen and Sami Salo head the defense. Ollie Jokinen, Teemu Selanne and Jere Lehtinen lead the offense.

Seven other nations will compete as well but with much less NHL representation in most cases. The Czech Republic will have plenty of talent but some of it will be by way of older stars who in 2010 may be unknown commodities. Former Penguin, Capital and Rangers' right winger Jaromir Jagr comes to mind. He turns 38 on Monday.

The "Second Division" includes Slovakia, Belarus, Switzerland (whom the Americans meet next Tuesday at 2 PM Central in the opening game for Men's hockey), Germany, Latvia and Norway. "The Cycling Slovaks", Pavol Demitra, Lubos Bartecko and Michael Handzus, will be reunited in Vancouver. Another former Blue Petr Cajanek is on the Czech Republic's roster.

Norway, Latvia, Switzerland and Belarus have only nine NHL'ers combined. Germany has seven NHL players including netminder Thomas Greiss, who beat the Blues a week ago, 4-2 at Scottrade Center, as the Sharks gave Nabokov the evening off.

As per usual, Enjoy The Enjoyment over the next two weeks. We'll miss our NHL teams but should see some great stuff in BC.

TPC

TPC