On Jeff Carter being named to Team Canada:
Well, he nearly made it last time. Today is a 25-man roster. We’re still five weeks away, so there will be changes in it for sure between now and then. We have [six] guys, not just Canada…I think all along, [as] I said yesterday, I believe Jeff should’ve been on the team based on Stanley Cup experience, scoring big goals in playoffs, leading playoffs in scoring, leading conference in scoring last year, playing two positions, going to big ice – all those things. Why shouldn’t he be on the team? Drew’s a given. He won a gold. I’m really happy that Slava made it. Having a player like that and getting onto the team in his own country, that to me is special. [Reporter: And Kopi, too?] Well, Kopi’s a given. We talked about that two months ago.
On Team Canada:
Set up for the big surface. I think they took a lot of guys that are natural wingers, which obviously everybody talked about before because there are probably five guys that have to play center. They can’t play out of that position, but guys like Jeff and Benn and Patrick Marleau – guys like that, you know what? They’re speed guys, and they’re smart guys, and they can play the 200-foot game, and at the end of the day, the Olympics, when you watch the Olympics, they’re low scoring games. It’s like World Championships. They’re low scoring games. You need guys that can score big goals. And you talk about guys like Jeff and Benn, that’s what they’re doing this year, so it’s good.
On how he watches Olympic Hockey:
I watch our players and our country. You know what? I want every one of our players that go there to play for the gold medal. It’s like talking to Drew this morning – he wanted to see who else was on the team. He’s won a gold medal, he’s won a Stanley Cup. Now he wants to win a gold medal and another Stanley Cup.
On Doughty referencing that he may have to tell his Canadian teammates about weaknesses in Jonathan Quick’s game:
You’d have to spend a couple days trying to figure that one out.
On Mike Richards not making Team Canada:
Hey, Mike’s a winner. He’s a captain. I mean, if you look at it, he’s won an Olympic gold, he’s won World Junior gold, he’s won a Stanley Cup, he’s won a Memorial Cup. Mike’s a winner and he’s a captain. It’s set up for the big rink over there. If you look at the centermen that they took, Mike’s not going to play ahead of the centermen, and he’s not a natural winger. It’s like asking about Jeff or Benn – it doesn’t take anything away from Mike Richards, that’s for sure. Not at all. Mike’s a champion. That’s what it’s about, and you can guarantee that Mike’s pulling for Canada and pulling for Jeff Carter. I mean, Jeff didn’t make it last time and Mike did. A lot of that’s based on ice surface and playing out of position. This time it’s hard to play out of position on a bigger surface.
On Canada winning on home ice four years ago:
They won in Salt Lake, too. [Reporter: Will they win in Russia?] Somebody is gonna. How would I know? I mean, you look at the teams – look at the team Sweden named today. It’s a scary all-star team.
On Tanner Pearson’s call-up:
There was a roster spot, so all it is competition. Makes sure it keeps everybody on their toes. It doesn’t mean he’s going to play or not play, but it’s certainly going to keep guys on their toes.
On facing the Minnesota Wild tonight:
Played ‘em opening night in Minnesota. We have a four-week schedule, so we’re more concerned with ourselves. We have exactly four weeks left in our schedule.
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