Hockey

Canada's 2010 men's Olympic hockey team won't be named until late December, but CTVOlympics.ca is starting a weekly evaluation of many of the players under consideration for roster spots. Each Tuesday, we will consider the statistics of each player in their NHL games up to the previous Sunday and consult our Olympic hockey experts. These are our observations for this week:

Stock Up - Forwards

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Sidney Crosby - 3GP, 3G, 2A, +4
While it is as inevitable as death and taxes that Sidney Crosby will be on the Canadian Olympic team, the ‘Wizard of Cros' enhanced his already substantial credentials this past week by going on a scoring rampage that included a hat-trick against the Canadiens on Wednesday. Write him in (in ink) for the top line in Vancouver.

Corey Perry - 3GP, 4G, 2A, +2
While the Ducks have been one of the bigger disappointments on the ice this season, the blame certainly does not lie on the shoulders of Corey Perry, who has been a one-man wrecking crew for Anaheim. Likely on the bubble heading into evaluation camp, Perry turned heads with his size, speed and versatility. He continues to move from strength-to-strength this season and has very likely cemented his spot on an already loaded roster.

Steven Stamkos - 2GP, 3G, 1A, +3
While the Lightning's ‘Seen Stamkos' campaign prior to the former first overall pick's rookie season was a bit premature (and for a time being quite comical), this season it is hard to miss the sophomore's stellar season. He continues to rocket up the League's goal-scoring charts and has replaced Vincent Lecavalier as the Lightning's number one centre. If Vinny's not careful, Stamkos could also steal his roster spot on Team Canada as well. A taxi squad spot is a virtual guarantee, but don't be surprised if the 19-year old phenom makes the final cut with the ‘Big Team.'

Patrick Marleau - 3GP, 2G, 3A, +4
While Marleau has been much maligned for the many playoff collapses of the San Jose Sharks, he remains one of the top players in the league and is trailing only Alexander Ovechkin for the NHL's goal scoring lead. Despite this, Marleau may well be in for a dog fight for one of the final roster spots on Team Canada. However betting on him to claim one is likely a wise choice.

Other forwards on the upswing: Dustin Penner, Brad Richards, Mike Cammalleri

Stock Down - Forwards

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Eric Staal - 3GP, 0G, 1A, -5
A phenomenal playoff performance seemed to make the eldest Staal brother a virtual lock for Vancouver, however the Hurricanes have been shockingly awful to open the season, and a lot of that responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Staal. With only three goals and five points thus far this season, Staal's stock has fallen dramatically and that was before leaving Sunday's game against the Sharks with an injury. If he can't get back on the ice and turn it around in a hurry he will be watching the Olympics from the comfort of his couch.

Dan Cleary - 3GP, 0G, 0A, -3
Cleary was always going to be a longshot to make the team, however one goal in 12 games and a minus-6 rating is not going to help his cause. While scoring may not be Cleary's primary role, Team Canada' brass will be looking for their role players to be able to chip in offensively on occasion. While Cleary might be a favourite of Red Wings/Team Canada coach Mike Babcock, the only way he is getting to Vancouver is if he buys a ticket.

Jeff Carter - 3GP, 0G, 1A, -2
After finishing last season among the NHL's leading goal scorers with 46, Carter has had a great deal of trouble finding the net so far this season. He is stuck smack dab in the middle of a seven game goalless drought and there is not much space on the team for a goal scorer who isn't scoring goals. Carter has likely played his way off of the team.

Jordan Staal - 3GP, 0G, 0A, -1
The early season hasn't been particularly kind to the Staal boys. Jordan was another surprise invite to evaluation camp that needed a hot start to even enter into the discussion. While an injury to Evgeni Malkin was supposed to open the door offensively for Staal, it appears to have accomplished just the opposite. Staal's offensive production has hit a brick wall as he is goalless in eight games with just one assist during that stretch. His Olympic dream is over.

Other forwards trending downward - Jonathan Toews, Andy McDonald, Simon Gagne

Stock Up - Defence

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Mike Green - 4GP, 0G, 5A, +5
After a middling playoff performance, many thought that Green had played his way off of Team Canada despite a phenomenal 31 goal campaign last year. The Green of old appears to be back and is quarterbacking a high octane Capitals offence to an early lead in the Southeast Division. Green appears to be just hitting his stride and should be left standing when the final cuts are announced, if not among the top six, at least as a power play specialist.

Shea Weber - 3GP, 2G, 1A, +2
Due to his Nashville zip code, Weber tends to fly under the radar despite his excellent credentials. After a bit of a slow start, Weber has really picked up his game over the past two weeks and is tied for the lead among all defencemen with five goals. His booming slapshot paired with his all-around rugged style of play should secure him a berth on the Canadian Olympic team.

Scott Niedermayer - 3GP, 0G, 3A, +2
While Niedermayer may not be as spry as he once was, he remains one of the top two-way threats from the back end in the NHL. The old greybeard remains one of the few bright spots on a Ducks team that has yet to hit its stride this year. Niedermayer has been asked to take the responsibilities of the world on his shoulders after both Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin flew the coop in the off-season. ‘Nieds' has performed admirably and may well end up with the ‘C' on his chest when Canada takes the ice in Vancouver.

Other defencemen on the upswing: Drew Doughty, Robyn Regehr, Dan Boyle

Stock Down - Defence

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Jay Bouwmeester - 2GP, 0G, 0A, -1
Bouwmeester's inclusion on this list speaks more to how good Canadian born defenders have been this season than to the lanky Edmonton native's performance. While Bouwmeester continues to eat up ice time at a remarkable rate, (only Chris Pronger spends more time on the ice) his offensive contributions have been non-existent over the past seven days. He has been a great contributor for Canada in the past in international competitions, however he may well be on the outside looking in this time around.

Francois Beauchemin - 4GP, 0G, 0A, -1
A shock invite to evaluation camp, Beauchemin has been shockingly poor for a woeful Maple Leafs team. His minute chance at a roster spot has been obliterated by a dreadful start to the season. Beauchemin would have to magically transform into the second coming of Bobby Orr over the next two months to even get a sniff from Canada's Olympic brass.

Brent Burns - 4GP, 1G, 1A, -2
Burns stock has risen a bit over the past two weeks, however there is nowhere to go but up once you have hit rock bottom. Burns was expected to be a big part of the new ‘offensive regime' under Todd Richards. The only thing offensive about Burns so far is his league worst -13 plus/minus rating. While both Burns and the Wild should eventually be able to turn around their fortunes, it likely will not be in time for the Ajax, Ontario native to force his way onto Team Canada's roster.

Other defencemen trending downward: Marc Staal, Dan Hamhuis

Stock Up - Goaltender

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Marc-Andre Fleury - 2GP, 1W, 1.51GAA, .923SP
There may be no player who has done more to enhance his chances to be invited to the Olympics in the past year than Fleury. Last spring he silenced those who thought he couldn't win the big one by helping the Penguins capture the Stanley Cup. Instead of resting on his laurels, Fleury has come out of the gate flying and is among the league leaders in wins, goals against average and save percentage. He has forced his way into the top three in terms of Canadian goaltenders. The only question that remains is can he unseat Martin Brodeur for the number one spot?

Chris Mason - 2GP, 1W, 2.52GAA, .919SP
While Mason has little chance of ending up in Vancouver, he has done everything in his power to make Steve Yzerman and co. take notice. He has been almost single-handedly keeping the Blues afloat in an extremely tough Western Conference. Unfortunately for Mason his valiant efforts won't be enough to earn him a roster spot.

Other goaltenders on th upswing: Martin Brodeur, Marty Turco

Stock Down - Goaltender

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Cam Ward - 2GP, 0W, 4.50GAA, .786SP
A lot of the Hurricanes early struggles can be attributed to the fact that Ward does not look like the same goaltender that carried the ‘Canes to the Conference Finals last season. He has looked downright average for the past two weeks and has not picked up a victory in his last eight starts and has allowed at least four goals in three of his last four games. Ward may well have played his way off the team.

Steve Mason - 3GP, 1W, 3.57GAA, .879SP
The sophomore slump is alive and well and firmly planted on the shoulders of the reigning Calder Trophy winner. Mason has been getting shelled lately and has allowed 27 goals in his past six starts, that's simply not good enough to even earn Mason a seat in the press box in Vancouver. He has been passed by Marc-Andre Fleury and likely Chris Mason on Team Canada's depth charts.

Other goaltenders trending downward: Roberto Luongo, Chris Osgood