from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- There will always be debate about this, but Chris Chelios, who gets the Hall of Fame call Monday night, tops my personal list on the best Americans to ever play. I would rank them 1. Chelios; 2. Brian Leetch; 3. Pat LaFontaine; 4. Mike Modano. 5. Mark Howe. And leave Brett Hull off the list because he grew up in Canada and learned to play hockey in Winnipeg and Vancouver.

- I keep hearing that Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the Sharks will be named to the Team Canada defence, but onetime sure thing defender Kris Letang will not ... And while I see a Team Canada with P.K. Subban on defence, if he's playing the right side he won't play ahead of Drew Doughty, Shea Weber or Alex Pietrangelo, all right handed shots.

- Heard a Scotty Bowman interview recently. He was asked who the second-best forward in the NHL was, behind Sidney Crosby. He answered something about Sweden having a terrific and deep defence for the Olympics. Typical Scotty.

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