Already Making A Case for '14

The good thing about winning is that it cuts down on the second guessing. Way down.

Such is surely the case for Team Canada 2010 after winning gold at the Olympics. Unlike '98, when Wayne Gretzky sat nailed to the bench during the shootout, or '06, when Todd Bertuzzi was selected to the team instead of Sidney Crosby, executive director Steve Yzerman doesn't have legions questioning why he did this or didn't do that.

If Canada hadn't won, regardless of whether defeat had occurred in the gold medal game or earlier, the critics would have come out of the woodwork with reasons why the team had been beaten. Some of the criticisms would have been about the performance of those who were there, and some would have concerned those not invited. That's just the way it works.

Which brings us to Steven Stamkos. Given that Patrice Bergeron, to name one member of Team Canada, didn't exactly flourish in Vancouver, you can imagine that the howling over the exclusion of Stamkos would have been deafening had Canada not won.

Especially with the way Stamkos is going these days.

The young Bolts sniper, clearly now the face of the Tampa franchise as it experiences yet another change in ownership, has hit the 40-goal mark after a two-goal effort against Atlanta Saturday night. Stamkos is riding a team record 16-game point streak and is now seventh in NHL scoring.

He's also now clearly in the running for the Rocket Richard Trophy, trailing only Sidney Crosby (44 goals) and Alex Ovechkin (42) in the goal-scoring race.

After a hot start that put him into the Olympics conversation in the first place, Stamkos appeared to hit the wall in his second NHL season, scoring three goals in 18 games at one point.

But he's revved it up again, particularly helpful with the Lightning desperately trying to get to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

If they were picking a Canadian Olympic team today, it would be nearly impossible to leave Stamkos off.

But they're not, so he has to wait until 2014, and hope that the NHL still wants to be part of the five-ring circus by then.

Comments

[Marijan Kalman]

Funny thing here is that you know as all other journalist that NHL is rigged.Everybody in hockey I spoke to, says same thing, but nobody has a guts to make final push, good peace of investigative journalisam and show to world how they, NHL fixed last Cup, numerous games and Olimpics.After speaking to few of your collegues I am starting to ask myself WHY NONE OF YOU WANT TO WRITE ANYTHING ABOUT THESE NHL CRIMINALS!!! What is behind this inaction???What kind of powers this 19th century institution has over all of you??Just asking, very funny!!

[John T.]

You can't compare Bergeron to Stamkos. The two play completely different roles, and Stamkos could not have contributed in the way Bergeron was asked to -- mainly on penalty kill situations. It's like arguing that you should have taken a Ferrari on a safari.

[robguy]

Marijan - speaking of qualitative and investigative journalism - care to offer any proof of your accusations? You must know something - well please include us in the mystery and do not forget the proof while you are at it.

[drew]

Ah ... Marijan ... time to get the meds out buddy!!! Be sure to stay away from anything with a pointy end on it ... and don't go out into traffic ...
Please, be careful out there!! ... you aren't in a movie ... it is a real world out there, with real people!!

[Gary]

The interesting question right now to me is this:

Considering how well Doughty is playing, who was drafted number 2 overall to Stamkos, would the draft order be the same today?

Clearly they are both incredible young talents but who is most important?

For my money I would take Doughty .

[Marijan Kalman]

I am rtrying to convince my friend to expose these bustards from June last year but he knows if he opens his mouht NHL is going to fire him and make his life a horror story!!They operate with refs like mafia , they tell them what to call, when to call and what is desired winer.This from the mouth of NHL ref, so you get a life and welcome to REAL world.