STOCK UP: Joe Thornton

The San Jose Sharks centre led the NHL in assists in three of the past four years and is on top again through Monday's action, forging a strong early relationship with new linemate Dany Heatley, also an Olympic candidate. Thornton was thought to be on the bubble because of Canada's depth at centre and his tendency to slow down a game - not necessarily the perfect fit for what Olympic coach Mike Babcock has in mind in terms of pushing the pace with a skating game. Still, if the numbers remain where they are, Thornton will be difficult to ignore.

STOCK DOWN: Ryan Getzlaf

The Anaheim Ducks centre missed the on-ice portion of the August orientation camp after having sports hernia surgery in late July. Getzlaf was thought to be the No.2 centre behind Sidney Crosby because he can push the pace - though a big man (6 foot 4), he is also a strong, straight-ahead skater. Getzlaf's early-season numbers are just so-so, but the mitigating circumstance is that he started slowly last year as well and picked up the pace in the second half; and figures to get his stride as he puts the off-season surgery further into the rearview mirror.

FOREIGN RELATIONS: Russia

Will the NHL go to Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Winter Olympics and honour the wishes of all the top Russian players who say they want to compete in an Olympics on home soil? Or will the politics, scheduling issues and pure obstinacy put an end to NHL Olympic participation after the 2010 Vancouver Games?

Last week, Russia's embassy released a statement reinforcing earlier comments made by both Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals - that they would risk substantial fines to leave their respective NHL teams and play at home in 2014, even if the league opts out of the Olympics in four years time.
In the absence of a transfer agreement between the NHL and Russia's Continental Hockey League, there is no love lost between the two warring sides. Since there will be new collective bargaining talks between the league and the players association well in advance of 2014, the suspicion is that Olympic participation will be a bargaining chip that the NHL may eventually negotiate away, but not without getting something tangible in return. In the meantime, the war of words is expected to continue unabated.

FLASHBACK: 1928 games

The University of Toronto Grads, coached by Conn Smythe, represented Canada at the 11-team men's hockey competition in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
The team arrived in Europe 10 days prior to the opening of the Games.
Tournament officials were so impressed with the two-time defending gold medal winners' practices that they concluded that Canada was clearly in its own class. They were given a bye into the medal round, while the European teams were split into three divisions with each group winner advancing.
It opened its tournament by beating Sweden 11-0. Things didn't get much harder as the team coasted to a 14-0 win over Great Britain and 13-0 triumph over Switzerland in its final game to secure another gold.
Sweden captured silver, while Switzerland got bronze.
David Trottier and Hugh Plaxton led the way for Canada with 12 goals in those three games.