OPINION

By Craig Custance

updated 3:47 p.m. ET Aug. 25, 2009

A former NHL coach explained the pressure on Team Canada in the upcoming Winter Olympics this way: "If they win, they're going to come out floating," he said. "If they lose? Oh (expletive). They're going straight to the slaughterhouse."

Welcome to Team Canada orientation camp, fellas.

Last week, USA Hockey held its Olympic orientation in Chicago, where GM Brian Burke continued to share his belief that the U.S. team ranks among the biggest underdogs heading to Vancouver.

One glance at the list of Canadians invited to Calgary for Team Canada's camp this week strengthens Burke's conclusion.

Sidney Crosby. Vincent Lecavalier. Joe Thornton. Eric Staal. Mike Richards.

And those are just the centers.

"I think the gold medal runs right through Canada," said Team USA coach Ron Wilson. "They're going to be the favorites."

Who's not there
Being left off the orientation camp roster doesn't necessarily mean a player can't make the Olympic team, but it doesn't help. This group can't be happy about their snub:

Marc Savard, Bruins: The list of players who have scored more points than Savard since the lockout is a short one. Yet Savard wasn't among the 46 players invited by Team Canada GM. Steve Yzerman. There's been speculation that Savard's decision to decline invitations to play for Canada at the World Championships might have cost him a spot. It's not like Canada needs his offense, but Savard is better than a number of the players who were invited.

Steven Stamkos, Lightning: Sidney Crosby didn't make the 2006 Olympic team, so the exclusion of an emerging young player isn't new. But Stamkos' strong play during the World Championships should have at least earned him an invitation to orientation camp. He had seven goals and four assists in nine games for Canada in the worlds, building on a strong finish to the regular season to help lead the Canadians. "To translate (the strong finish) to the international game was a big confidence boost," Stamkos told SN Today.

Paul Kariya, Blues: An injured hip cost him most of last season and probably a spot on the Olympic camp roster. Canada is loaded at forward, but might regret not giving a scoring winger like Kariya a better chance to make the team. The games also are in his hometown of Vancouver, so he may be even more motivated to start the season strong and convince Yzerman to reconsider. Kariya had three goals in helping Canada win gold at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Big names on the bubble
A testament to Canada's depth will be some of the big names left off the roster when the Olympics finally arrive. It's hard to believe, but these three might not make it to Vancouver.

Joe Thornton, Sharks: Thornton's defenders will point out that he has shown versatility in the past while playing for Canada, and he has shown a willingness to play a defensive game for Team Canada, too. Detractors will question his inability to win anything of note in the NHL playoffs. Canada's depth at center might cost Thornton a spot. If Savard can't even get an invite to orientation camp, then a Thornton isn't a lock to make the team, either.

Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning: Injuries slowed Lecavalier last season and he finished the year with just 67 points in 77 games. It's the second consecutive season of declining numbers for the Lightning captain, who will need to have a strong start to the season to lock down his roster spot. Former Lightning G.M. Jay Feaster thinks that will be a huge motivation for Lecavalier. "It's huge. It's something he takes great pride in," Feaster told SN Today. "When you're at that level, it's tough to find those things that get you jazzed. Certainly, from the time I was with him, there was no question that playing for Canada was something that was incredibly important and meant a great deal to him."

Dany Heatley, Senators (for now): Depending on how Yzerman and coach Mike Babcock build this team, Heatley may have to earn a spot as one of the top six forwards. His reaction to reduced playing time in Ottawa certainly isn't helping his reputation as a team player. Despite that, former Calgary G.M. Craig Button still considers Heatley a lock. "In a tournament of this magnitude, where scoring chances are few and far between, the player who with one shot can decide a game — those are hard guys to find," Button said.

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