Don't rule out the presence of Captain America in some form with this team. Chelios says he wants to be part of the team. Whether it's as a 48-year-old player or an assistant coach, Chelios has done enough to merit consideration. He played in four Olympics and was Team USA captain in the past three.

So who would be captain? From the standpoint of experience, the Red Wings' Brian Rafalski or Minnesota Wild forward Brian Rolston are obvious choices, as are as New York Rangers centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. But for me, the man Americans ought to consider is Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Komisarek is physical and improving rapidly. He'll be 28 for the '10 Games, a perfect age to take on a leadership role with a young, hungry and upset-minded squad.

The U.S. went to the Olympics once too often with players influenced by the Lake Placid miracle, and most of the '06 Turin team will be too old for Vancouver. There are few obvious American superstars — only Gomez is among the NHL's top 25 scorers. But there is an emerging generation of players, forged by the U.S. National Developmental Program, that should be ready. Kane and Phoenix Coyotes rookie Peter Mueller are part of it. I'm also talking about tough and savvy two-way players like the Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler and David Legwand of the Predators. And if the prospect of defensemen Erik Johnson and Jack Johnson playing together again doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will.

Team USA also will need help from Phil Kessel, Paul Stastny, Ryan Suter and Lee Stempniak, all of whom saw significant ice time in the '07 world championships.

If it wanted, USA Hockey could have the youngest team at Vancouver. In a short, intense set of games, a surplus of young legs would be a great advantage.

That leaves one question to answer: Who plays in goal? The list is awfully short, topped by Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders and Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres. Both have been brilliant at times, but neither rivals Evgeni Nabokov, Roberto Luongo or Martin Brodeur.

In a short series like the Olympic tournament, catching lightning in a bottle can result in a gold medal. Mike Richter proved that in the 1996 World Cup.

Team USA can't afford to go to Vancouver hoping somebody is going to get hot.

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