Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos says he understands Olympics snub

No hard feelings. That was the message from Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos upon learning he was not one of 46 Canadian players invited to the Olympic orientation camp.

"It's obviously a little tough, but you have to realize the situation with me being 19 years old," Stamkos said. "I wasn't expecting to make that team by any means. Look at past history. Sidney Crospby didn't play (in Torino in 2006). I'm not comparing myself to him, but the mentality that the Olympic roster is usually guys who are experienced, especially in Canada. It's so hard to make that team with the talent Canadian players have."

Even so, teammate Vinny Lecavalier, who was invited, along with Marty St. Louis, said Stamkos, after scoring seven goals for silver-medal Canada in the world championship, deserved a spot.

"He deserves a chance," Lecavalier said. "The fact that maybe he's a young guy, maybe they overlooked him. But the way he finished the season, and the way he played in the world championship, he definitely should go there and get his chance."

Stamkos, whose 23 goals last season set a Lightning rookie record, has been working out in the Toronto area with former teammate Gary Roberts. While he admitted the Olympics experience probably would have done "a lot of good for the future," he reiterated, "It's not a shock to me I wasn't on there. It would have been nice, but I didn't expect to be there. If I was, great, but it's not the end of the world."

There still is a chance Stamkos will be invited. There is speculation Joe Sakic might retire, leaving a spot open for a center. And Team Canada GM Steve Yzerman said during a conference call, "If he (Stamkos) comes out of the gate strong, he'll be a player I'll watch."

"He's definitely on the radar," Lightning GM Brian Lawton said. "It's just so tough with so many talented players."

Comments

[McGz]

Oops, fat thumbs there, Stamkos will come out of the chute hard this season and make it hard on Stevie Y to keep him off this team.

[McGz]

If Sakic elects to play, he definitely should be on the Canadian squad. Stamlos' time will come...

[Don in St. Pete]

Jim, I agree that if their goal was to make the d tougher to play against, then they missed the boat with Krajicek. It may simply be a matter of retaining asset's that can later be traded, though I'm not sure many teams want Krajicek as a #6 or 7 D at almost $1.5 mil. He may just be an insurance policy in case Rags or Mez are not ready on opening night. I thought they should have signed Murph too, I'm honestly surprised that somebody else hasn't already.

[Jim - NJ]

Don- I'll compare Murphy to lawton's lovechild Krajicek. Murphy was the team's long awaited answer to losing richards on the PP. As well as with the fact that murph held camp well on 5-5. Krajicek hardly contributed in the corners and has the shot of Ray Charles.

If it came down to who to keep, every lightning board was, to my awareness, unanimous that Murphy was undoubtedly the one keep and another teams gonna pick him up and throw egg in our faces. What if we passed on st Louis n Boyle cus of size?

[Don in St. Pete]

Krajicek can skate and quite well. Other than that it's common knowledge he's never come close to fullfilling his promise as a #1 pick by the Pansies. I personally don't care for Krajicek at all but at this point he's ahead of Lundin and Lashoff. Sorry but I am not the GM and I think with Hedman, Ohlund, Mezsaros and Ranger, we'll have plenty of D capable of manning the point on the PP. I liked Murph too, but we were out of defensemen when he came on board. While he did well, Rags and Mez were already done for the season, so what do you compare him to?

[Jim - NJ]

Brian- I know I know. I'm trying to jinx the jinx.

Don- sorry, the words "elite" and "krajicek" should not be in the same breath. Elite is for Orr and Stevens and Blake. Krajicek being a top 4 dman tells me the goal is mediocrity this season, not the cup. I'm sick of mediocrity and it damages young guys who r looking and learning. Go for the gold or don't play. I know rebuilding can take time n my Murphy-kick feasts on that as we need more experienced players to teach, not learn on the go which is apparently the case.

[Don in St. Pete]

Krajicek is a brilliant skater or Elite as Lawton put it. I'd like to see him put on a few more pounds of muscle and a little more upper body strength should be in order. Still as likely as not to be a healthy scratch a lot on the Bolts this season.

[Casper]

LOL, Jim. You know your Murphy's Law all right! (Sorry, I'm sore we lost him too.) Folks forget, or would soon like to forget chopping tomatoes, evil snowblowers, etc.

We ought to re-name it Sakic’s Law, eh?

I am as antsy as anybody about the injury mojo. EVERYBODY GET INTO A YOGA CLASS! Stretch those sinews; we don’t want any ‘pulled’ anything!

Oh, and I may or may not have to lighten up on Krajicek; this will be a reunion of sorts when he plays with Mattias again. Recall Lukas was fairly competent in Sunrise (where "what's his face" came down from the booth to help their defense in practices...) then went to the Canucks to play not quite well enough to impress and remain. Ohlund might know more about that and would never speak outright and disparagingly about thus.

Go Bolts!

[BrianB23]

Shush New Jersey Jim! Our team was cursed enough with the injury gremlins last season, no more jinxes and hexes. Put some of that on Brodeur and crew.

[Jim - NJ]

Hockeybay: irony says that when the tournys going on n stamkos is at home, he'll twist his ankle in the bathroom. Knock on wood.

[HockeyBay.com]

Thats Fine with me! No Injuries in Vancouver and stays healthy for NHL 2nd 1/2!