Fleury for Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics taking place in Vancouver are quickly approaching all of us. Now, most of us are probably reading this article in anticipation of one kick-ass article chronicling the favorites for the Curling Silver medal. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The focus here is the hockey and more specifically team Canada. Originally, an article about the plight of Team USA was in production, but what chance do they really have with Chris Chelios logging 30 minutes every game against Team Russia and the line of Kovalchuk-Malkin-Ovechkin. The focus here is on Team Canada, a squad that actually has a shot at the gold. The key for Canada, as in any crucial tournament in hockey is goaltending. Marc-Andre Fleury should be the starting goaltender representing the red maple leaf.

It seems to be a foregone conclusion that Martin Brodeur is going to be the starter for Team Canada unless he loses a leg from now until February. This basis is simply going on reputation and not actual performance. Since winning his third Stanley Cup in 2003, Brodeur has posted less than stellar marks in the postseason. In that time frame, the Devils have not gotten out of the 2nd round and it's hard to forget their collapse in the final minute of Game 7 against Eric Staal and the Hurricanes last year. Brodeur is past his prime and there is some suspicion that he never recovered from his shoulder injury that kept him out for six months last year. Choosing Brodeur to lead Team Canada would be a decision made out of pure nostalgia for his once dominant play. It's not 1995 anymore folks. Steve Yzerman needs to be smart and avoid the mistakes that Wayne Gretzky made in 2006. This is a hockey team, not an old folks home/retirement community for players that were once great.

After Brodeur, Roberto Luongo is the most commonly talked about choice for starting goaltender. This decision would most likely lead to Canada not even medaling at the Winter games. To say the least, Luongo has a less than stellar track record in the postseason. For one, he never made the playoffs with the Islanders and Panthers. In his two postseason appearances with the Canucks, he hasn't made it past the second round. Who can forget the shelling that Chicago put on him last year in Game 6 of their second round series, culminating in a Patrick Kane hat trick. Luongo has no track record of success when it matters most.

The only man who comes close in contention with Fleury is Cam Ward. But the decision making-process should go by "What have you done for me lately?" Fleury won a Stanley Cup last year and was in solid contention for the Conn Smythe trophy. Statisticians are still trying to average Ward's GAA in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. Fleury is a winner. He has a certain Grant Fuhr quality about him. He may not have the best regular seasons are set records in save percentage and GAA, but when it matters most, he's going to make the saves. To beat Russia and their unbelievably talented cast of forwards, Canada is going to need a goaltender that has the ability to stand on his head when it matters most. The man they commonly call "Flower" is the one to do it.