A Golden Preview

Dwight Wakabayashi
Feb 12, 2002

The Olympics are here and it is time to compete for the best of the best to put money aside and compete for flag and country. There is a tremendous spotlight and focus on the Ice Hockey tournament this year, as this may be the last time for a long time that the best go after Gold on the largest stage in the world. Here is my look at the "BIG SIX" and how they will fare when the snow settles.

FINLAND

Team Outlook
It's hard to have a positive team outlook when you lose its heart and soul. That is the situation the Finns find themselves in without mighty might Saku Koivu. The Finns are coming off in impressive bronze medal finish in Nagano but will be hard pressed to repeat that success. Aside from the absence of Koivu, Finland's other main weapon Teemu Selanne is not on top of his game going in to Salt Lake. Koivu and Selanne were the offense in Nagano and the fact that Finland does not have a lot of offensive depth is going to force them to play a tighter, defensive game. They will be hard pressed to find success with that style.

MVP- Sami Kapanen /F
Kapanen's game has improved and emerged against top competition in the past four years since Nagano. The large ice surface combined with the absence of Koivu means that Kapanen will be the man for Finland in Salt Lake. Kapanen is an elite skater, and will create most of the offense for the Finns. Look for Kapanen to be in the top ten in Olympic scoring.

Unsung Hero- Teppo Numminen /D
Everything that Numminen does is unsung, due to his humble nature. He is the leader and stable force on this team. He has been that for Finland for a long time and his game has not changed. He will not put up big points, he will not get a lot of big hits, he will simply play mistake-free hockey on the Finnish blue-line, and maintain a calm at times when they get overwhelmed.

Intangibles
As much as the loss of Saku Koivu will physically hurt Finland on the ice, it may provide intangible inspiration for the Finnish team. Koivu's battle with cancer can serve as an inspiration to anyone, in any walk of life, I dream to think of what type of inspiration it could provide for his closest peers and friends. Focus is a powerful thing, and Finland's intangible going in to Salt Lake is the "let's win it for Saku" factor.

Predicted finish- 6th overall

SWEDEN

Team Outlook
The team outlook for Sweden is affected in much the same way that Finland's is affected. Sweden is going into the tournament without their best player. Swedish superstar Peter Forsberg will be not play due to injury, and that fact has a profound effect on the success of the team. Unlike the Finns, Sweden has good offensive depth, which will help them overcome the absence of Forsberg offensively. However, it is his strength and ability to match up against anybody defensively that Sweden will not be able to replace. When it comes time to match up and shut down the big guns on the opposing teams, Sweden's weakness will be exposed.

MVP- Tommy Salo /G
Tommy Salo will keep Sweden close in every game they play. They will always have a chance because of him. Sweden has a great group of offensive defencemen, but they will be exposed defensively and will allow many, quality scoring chances. Salo has experience, poise and tremendous ability, but he won't be enough to get Sweden to the podium.

Unsung Hero- Markus Naslund /F
Swedish forward Markus Naslund will do everything he possibly can to make up for the offensive loss of Peter Forsberg. Naslund's game has taken a step up since 1998 in Nagano, and he has the ability to be a game breaker. In a tournament where Mats Sundin will be counted on to be the leader, Naslund will emerge as the unsung star for Sweden.

Intangibles
As far as intangibles go, Sweden is near the bottom of the list. This team is very similar to the one that has been representing Sweden internationally for a long time. The familiarity may pose an advantage in terms of being able to gel and perform more quickly than the other teams. Other than that, the intangibles are not as easy to spot for this team. They are not the host country, they do not have a lot of pressure on them to win, and overcoming the injury to Forsberg is not as inspirational as the story of Koivu and the Finns.

Predicted finish- 5th Overall

CZECH REPUBLIC

Team Outlook
The Czech Republic skate in to Salt Lake as the defending Olympic and World champions. They possess a cerebral quality on the big ice, and understand their need to play a team game. The Czechs play a patient, methodical game, one that is best suited for the international ice. They displayed this patience in Nagano, putting on a clinic on how to succeed on the larger surface. An offensive powerhouse they are not. Despite their excellent play, they relied heavily on goaltending star Dominik Hasek to bring home the gold. The Czechs will rely on him again in Salt Lake, but Hasek is four years older and slightly past his prime. The opposition will be gunning for the Czechs this time around, there will be no surprises, and that will prove too much for Hasek and the Czech team.

MVP- Dominik Hasek /G
Hasek will be the man for the Czechs again, but he will be hard pressed to match the heroics of Nagano. He will face a barrage of shots in the Czech goal, and will stop most of them. The lack of team offense will be the undoing. The Czechs will come up short in the bronze medal game.

Unsung Hero- Patrick Elias /F
When you talk about the Czechs, you talk about Hasek and Jaromir Jagr. They will be marked men in Salt Lake and that will cause a need for someone else to shine. Forward Patrick Elias will come to the front for the team and produce some big offense when they need it. Elias has become a heart and soul leader and that is what the Czechs will need when times get tough in Salt Lake.

Intangibles
Unfortunately for the Czechs, the intangibles are not positive this time around. They are the defending Olympic champions, and will feel the pressure to repeat. They surprised everyone with gold in Nagano but will surprise no one this time around. They also face the intangible that neither Hasek nor Jagr are playing their best hockey going in. With all their international success lately, one can't help but think that complacency may set in. The opposition is hungry to knock the Czechs down. This time the Czechs will not be able to stop them.

Predicted finish- 4th Overall

TEAM USA

Team Outlook
Team USA comes in to Salt Lake 2002 with redemption on their mind. They possess a forward group that can score and play tough with anyone. They have plenty of forwards in the prime of their hockey careers who are hungry to take it up a notch. The defense core is a different story. Team USA has gone with and experience and puck skill on defense while sacrificing strength down low. While experience is extremely valuable, Team USA will be relying too much on aging Chris Chelios and Aaron Miller to clear the front. Now is not the time to sacrifice defensive coverage, as the Team USA goaltending is suspect.

MVP- Jeremy Roenick /F
Roenick is playing his best hockey in years, and will be the main man for Team USA. He will deliver some offense, as well as force the opposition into turnovers with his tenacious style on the attack. In a competition as intense as the Olympics, confidence and even arrogance is sometimes needed. Roenick possesses both, and will be a leader for the team.

Unsung Hero- Mike Dunham /G
For many years now the US team has relied heavily upon Mike Richter. He has delivered many times for this team and deserves to go to Salt Lake as the number one. Time and injury have caught up to some key performers on this team, and Richter is one of them. Before the end of this tournament, Mike Dunham will get his chance to emerge. He will step in give the Americans a fighting chance.

Intangibles
The intangibles pose a unique opportunity for Team USA. It has been well documented that the Americans have won two gold medals in their Olympic history, both coming on US soil. The aura around that history is evident in Salt Lake, and was enhanced by the 1980 gold medal team lighting the torch in the opening ceremonies. It would be a mistake to dismiss that "aura", as well as the effect that September 11th has had on the motivation of this team. These intangibles are not physical, but more spiritual and mental and it is hard to defend against things on that level.

Predicted finish- 3rd overall, Bronze Medal

RUSSIA

Team Outlook
For the first time in a long time, the Russians will have a positive team concept in their game plan. Yes, there was a team game plan before but the coaches did not have the respect to enforce it. Now, with the most respected Russian hockey player of all time running the bench, the players will listen. The wealth of Russian skill and depth will all be focussed in the same direction in Salt Lake and that makes the Russians a heavy medal favorite. The forwards are as fast and skilled as any group in the tournament. The defencemen are as skilled and as tough as most. Not since the days of Vladislav Tretiak, have the Russians been so strong between the pipes. This team has it all. This time it will all be going the same way.

MVP- Nikolai Khabibulin /G
Nikolai Khabibulin is slowly but surely taking the goaltending torch from Dominik Hasek. He has been the best goaltender in the world this year, and he has given every indication that this will continue. The Russians will have an excellent defensive core, but old habits die-hard and the tendency for their forwards to cheat will create many shots against Khabibulin. He will need to be at his best for the Russians to get to the Gold Medal game. The Olympics will be a new, enormous stage for Khabibulin to shine on. He will not disappoint.

Unsung Hero- Igor Larionov /F
This will be Larionov's last time on a team that he helped to build into a hockey Super power through three decades. Along with Fetisov, he gets tremendous respect from the younger players and that will be the key to his role on the team. While younger stars like Sergei Federov, Alexei Yashin, and Pavel Bure will be the go-to guy's, Larionov will be the key to keeping them in a team mindset. He will make sure that they show grit and heart when times get tough, and that will be the most important thing for Russia's success.

Intangibles
It's the same old story for the new generation Russian National Team. No one questions whether or not Russia has the horses to win the race, but everyone questions if they will all run in the right direction. The intangible for this team is whether or not they check their egos at the security gate. The track record for "I" players like Bure and Yashin are not favorable, but the difference this time is the Fetisov factor. It's no secret that a team performs much better when they don't despise their coach, and everyone wants to win for Fetisov.

Predicted finish- 2nd overall, Silver Medal

CANADA

Team Outlook
Canada comes in to Salt Lake with the same pressures and expectations that they faced in Nagano, but a completely different team philosophy. Gone are the defensive role players that littered the Canadian roster. Gone is the philosophy that they need to shut down the opposition with a cautious, reactive approach. General Manager Wayne Gretzky and Coach Pat Quinn have made no secret that the Canadian Team will attack the puck with speed and pressure, and look to control the game by puck possession. Canada has a much more creative group of forwards than in Nagano, yet they are all more than capable of delivering the defensive goods. They have a Hall of Fame caliber group of defencemen who are more than capable of delivering offense. That is what separates Canada from the rest of the pack. They have the deepest all-around talent in the tournament, without any weaknesses on paper.

MVP- Mario Lemeiux /F
It is always a safe pick to go with the best player in the world, although it is uncertain that he is 100% healthy. In a tournament where the teams are so evenly matched, the power play is going to be a huge factor. At his age, Lemieux is less a threat on 5 on 5 as he is on the power play. His hands and vision are the best in the world, and he will be unstoppable with the extra man. This fact alone will ensure that Canada scores the big goal when needed, and Lemieux will be the guy to deliver. His line mates may match him in points, but Mario will be the key to creating the chances.

Unsung Hero- Rob Blake /D
He has been unsung for most of his career, first being one of the best defenceman in the N.H.L for the past ten years on the often forgotten West Coast. Second, being a key part in winning last year's Stanley Cup while being overshadowed by the last hurrah of Ray Bourque. The same will ring true this time as players such as Lemieux, Lindros, and Pronger will get the most attention. Never the less, when all is said and done, and the smoke clears for the podium, Rob Blake will again be the best defencemen in the tournament.

Intangibles
In Salt Lake 2002, the bad news for Canada is that they will have to overcome many intangibles to come out on top. The good news, what else is new? Canada is always faced with incredible pressure and attention where hockey is involved. Once again, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux will be counted on to deflect most of the pressure off the team. Another negative intangible that the players must overcome is the controversy surrounding the team in the form of a second-guessing media. Instead of unconditional support, Gretzky and the players have been faced with question after question about injuries and roster omissions heading into the games. While the players will never admit it, it definitely has an effect on their confidence going in. On the positive side, Canada is hungry and due. The drought has been long enough, and Canadian hockey players are just too good to keep down forever.

Predicted finish- 1st overall, Gold Medal

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