[68 Z-28]

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL...slam!%20hockey

If the San Jose Sharks trio of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau wanted to make a bold on-ice statement to Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman this weekend, consider Stevie Y impressed.

With Canada attempting to piece together its roster by Dec. 31, Yzerman was in California scouting a number of Olympics hopefuls.

In the process, he watched the high-octane Heatley-Thorton-Marleau line combine for 13 points in victories against the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks.

All three have been playing at a high level this season, so much so that the entire line could be intact for Canada in Vancouver.

“The Sharks trio seem to compliment each other well,” Yzerman said in an e-mail to Sun Media yesterday. “Marleau’s got the speed, Thornton’s the playmaker and Heatley the goal scorer.”

Another plus: The threesome has played together before. Because of a lack of practice time between the suspending of the NHL season and the Olympic tournament, familiarity and chemistry are lucrative selling points.

“I think having the ability to bring guys that are currently playing together is a definite bonus for the reason you stated,” Yzerman said.

“I doubt we would leave off a better player for the sake of continuity but it’s starting to look like we might have combos up front and on defence that have played together.”

Some of those potential combos include:

+ Any two, if not all, of Marleau Thornton and Heatley.

+ The Flyers’ Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.

+ The Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

+ Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

+ Ducks defenceman Scott Niedermayer and Flyers blue liner Chris Pronger, former teammates in Anaheim.

+ Defencemen Jay Bouwmeester and Robyn Regehr of the Calgary Flames with teammate Dion Phaneuf having an outside shot.

+ Defencemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Yzerman saw the Sharks, Ducks, Flyers and Flames in person this weekend. In the end, no one outshone the Sharks’ terrific trio.

...

[SharkieFan]

Well with Steve Yzerman the other night at the Tank and seeing the performaces of Marleau, Heatley and Thornton. He better have been impressed and choose all three of them. Or else.

[jnloliveira]

Should be an exciting Olympics. Can't wait!

[Guitarbyte]

I'd love to see that trio lead Canada past Russia!

Of course i wouldn't mind Nabby winning it for them, but hey if he gets lit up every night maybe he'll be even more determined to get the cup when he gets back.

[Kingshark49]

Being that Steve Yzerman was at the Tank Friday Night and Anaheim Saturday Night, he certainly had to be pleased with the Thornton, Heatley and Marleau amongst others. I'm pretty certain that we will see them representing Team Canada come February....