In a perfect world, Steve Stamkos would be wearing a gold medal around his neck at the upcoming winter Olympics in Vancouver, watching the Canadian flag rise to the rafters, as his national anthem sends shivers through an entire nation.
But after Canada skated away empty-handed from the Torino games, it’s obvious that room for error is non-existent – especially on home soil.
Hockey Canada is often reluctant to pass the torch to its younger players, suffering from a self-created hierarchy. This traps the team in a loyalty system lacking chemistry: a system where players such as Stamkos are paying the price.
This NHL season, Stamkos, the leading scorer for the Tampa Bay Lightning, is catching the attention of the hockey world, as he tries to ink his name on the Canada’s Olympic roster.
Still, Team Canada did not invite the star centre to the preliminary Olympic training camp in August. He now finds himself among the NHL elite on the score sheet – on pace for more than 100 points.
Despite his momentum and natural ability to score, Stamkos’ chance for a golden ticket to Vancouver is still fraught with uncertainty – just like other young players, once in his same shoes.
Breaking into the NHL the same year as the 2006 Olympics, superstar Sidney Crosby was snipped from Canada’s selected few; forced to watch the team bow out to Russia in the quarterfinals. Crosby recorded more than 100 points that season, breaking Gretzky’s record to become the youngest player in league history to hit that plateau.
That season also saw Jonathan Cheechoo boast a league-leading 56 goals, the most scored by any NHL player since the 2000-2001 season. Remarkably enough, he too didn’t get a chance at gold.
That same year the Russia team rolled the dice on promising rookie Alex Ovechkin, who made his debut in the Olympics before playing an NHL game. He scored five goals in the tournament, including the game-winner that knocked Canada out of contention before the medal round.
Instead of grooming its youth, Canada outfitted a veteran squad, with role players such as Kris Draper filling the roster. Draper had only 14 goals and 29 points that season, playing on the high-powered Red Wings offence.
Poised to go down the same path, Hockey Canada is considering grunt players like Brenden Morrow for this year’s roster. Morrow is on pace for only half as many points as Stamkos.
With the world watching, let’s not make the same mistake again.
As hockey’s rules continue to change, the game continues to lend itself more to speed and offence.
If Team Canada continues to pursue a “crash-and-bang” style of play, and does not unleash its youthful speed, it is only a matter of time before it slumps in international rankings.
Team Canada needs to start reading the headlines and selecting players who are performing at the moment – not those who have performed in the past.
Players like Stamkos.
Drafted first overall, Stamkos has the speed and skill set to compete on an international stage. A two-way player, the Toronto native’s versatility allows him to line up at centre or on the wing, making him more viable for a Canadian jersey.
Combining his speed with a lethal shot, Stamkos’ on-ice presence poses a constant threat. His numbers this season match five time all-star Jarome Iginla, a lock for the Olympic squad.
The only difference is Iginla is playing for a Stanley Cup contender in Calgary, while Stamkos’ Lightning are simply pushing for a playoff berth.
The soon-to-be all-star has until Dec. 31 to keep pace with Canada’s best.
The 23-man roster will be announced during the World Junior Championships, a tournament where Stamkos helped Canada win gold two years ago.
With players past their prime or on the cusp of retirement, Canada needs to ripen its young stars with international experience – because they will soon be the new faces of Canadian hockey.
But then again, the world isn’t perfect.