Stanley’s Gold Club
Does the name Ken Morrow ring a bell?
You may remember him as the sturdy, stay-at-home defenceman from the New York Islanders dynasty back in the early-80s. Before playing a big part in their Stanley Cup dominance, the American-born blue-liner won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at lake Placid in 1980, making him the first player in the modern era of hockey to turn such a trick.
That feat was matched by two Detroit Red Wings in 2002. Both Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman were a part of Canada’s gold medal in Salt Lake and the Red Wings Stanley Cup win over the Carolina Hurricanes later that year. Only three players have ever pulled off the hockey equivalent to the daily double, but with Canada’s win in Vancouver on Sunday – and the number of superstars on that roster –could the very exclusive club grow this summer? Here’s a look at some of the more likely candidates:
The Smart Money
Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Mike Richards, Chris Pronger, Roberto Luongo
Any team with Crosby on it has to be considered in the mix to win the Stanley Cup, and considering the Pittsburgh Penguins have already won the darn thing, you have to like their chances again. The young upstarts from Chicago will have a lot to say about who comes out of the Western Conference, but unless a goaltending upgrade is made at the deadline, the net uncertainty could kill the Blackhawks chances. As for the Philadelphia Flyers, I look at their chances as strong (or tedious) as the ‘Hawks. Get a goaltender; give your team a chance. Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks are darkhorses for the NHL title. Who knows what they’ll do come the spring? Keep this in mind if you’re looking at the Canucks: If Luongo sold his soul to the devil to show he could win the big game, you know Lucifer will collect sooner than later.
The Maybe Pile
Scott Neidermayer, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry, Martin Brodeur, Drew Doughty
What about those Ducks? A quick count shows six or seven players on their roster picking up a medal at the Winter Games, and who knows how that momentum will carry over for the rest of the season. Brodeur may bounce back in a big way in New Jersey and Doughty’s meteoric rise to stardom shouldn’t be discounted either. Longshots, all of them, but all still worthy of their own category.
Outlook Not So Good
Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Dan Boyle, Jarome Iginla, Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber
Let’s do this in reverse. Weber (Nashville), Bergeron (Boston), and Iginla (Calgary) may all make the playoffs, but none of those teams has any chance of doing much more than that. As for the San Jose connection, well…we’ve been done this road before. Those guys wilted huge in the spotlight and if I was a Sharks fan, I’d be preparing myself for another post season disappointment. Here’s a thought that came up yesterday: If you’re Doug Wilson (Sharks GM), why wouldn’t you try to move Thornton or one of those other under-achievers now, right before the playoffs? It couldn’t hurt, right?
No Chance in Hell
Eric Staal, Brendan Morrow, Rick Nash
In order to qualify for Stanley’s Gold Club, you’re team needs to at least qualify for the playoffs. Barring a trade, these guys will be spending their springs showing off their gold medal at their charity golf tournament back home.
