Players vying for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team knew they'd be watched closely in the first half of the 2009-10 NHL season. With that in mind, SLAM! takes a look at players who might be playing themselves into contention for a spot on the team and and others who might be faltering. Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty is playing himself into the Olympic picture in a big way. Doughty's 15 points and plus-six rating must be giving Canadian team executive director Steve Yzerman pause for thought. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot)

Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic, a dark horse to make the team anyway, has been hampered by injuries early in the season. Lucic has played just six games after breaking a finger that required surgery. When he gets back on the ice, Lucic won't have much time to catch Yzerman's eye, which could be problematic. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Many hockey experts had Los Angeles Kings left winger Ryan Smyth written off for the 2010 Canadian team, despite his prior accomplishments in red and white. But has gotten off to an impressive start, racking up eight goals and 20 points for the Kings. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

It wasn't that long ago that Carolina Hurricanes centre Eric Staal was considered a pretty safe bet to be in the mix with the Canadian team. But Staal, who scored 40 goals last season, has been awful in the first quarter of the season. He has just three goals and five points and is playing himself out of a spot on the Olympic team. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

A member of the 2006 Canadian team, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier might be able to book a family vacation during the Olympic break. Sure, Lecavalier is among the league leaders in assists (14) but two goals from a former 52-goal scorer is pathetic. Production like that isn't going to help secure a spot on the 2010 team. (CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/Paul Chiasson)

Two years ago Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks didn't appear to be on the Olympic radar at all. He improved his stock with a 38-goal showing in 2008-09 and has taken another huge jump by roaring out of the gate this season. Marleau has 11 goals and 23 points, good for a share of second place in the NHL scoring race. Marleau has clearly put his name into the hat for the Vancouver team. (AP Photo/ Tony Avelar)

Through no fault of his own, Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne's chances of playing in Vancouver are getting slimmer every day. Gagne is out for a while after having surgery earlier this month to repair two hernias. It's looking more unlikely he won't be fully up to speed when the Games roll around and Yzerman probably won't want to roll the dice is he's not. (CP file photo)

San Jose forward Dany Heatley played in the 2006 Olympics in Turin, where Canada finished a disappointing seventh, but it appeared he'd seriously hurt his chances of playing again this winter by demanding, then rejecting, a trade from Ottawa. The off-season drama likely didn't help his cause but he's played well so far this season and must be considered a strong bet to make the team. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Boston Bruins centre Marc Savard is another player whose chances of skating in Vancouver are being hurt (no pun intended) by injury. Savard, a long-shot to make the Olympic squad anyway, broke a foot and was expected to miss two months of action, severely hampering his ability to impress the Team Canada brass. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

San Jose Sharks defenceman Dan Boyle might have been an afterthought for the Canadian team a couple of months ago. Not any more. Boyle has four goals and 18 points, first among Canadian blueliners. If Yzerman wants a creative offensive defenceman to play in Vancouver, Boyle should be at the top of the list. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason had the inside track on the job as Team Canada's third goalie after last season ended. But times have changed and so has Mason. With a goals-against average of 3.27 and save percentage of .891, Mason probably isn't on the list of top 10 Canadian netminders right now. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

With a glut of great goaltenders for Steve Yzerman to pick from, it looked like Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils could be the odd man out despite his record-setting credentials. But Brodeur has found the fountain of youth this season, putting together a goals-against average of 2.35 and a save percentage of .913. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Believe it or not, Edmonton Oilers right winger Dustin Penner, left, might be attracting some attention from Steve Yzerman for his play so far this season. A bust last season, Penner has been fantastic so far in 2009-10, racking up 11 goals and 22 points, the third-best total in the league. Is it enough? Probably not. But stranger things have happened. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Minnesota Wild defenceman Brent Burns was invited to the Olympic hockey orientation camp in Calgary but he's been playing himself out of the mix. Burns is minus-13, worst in the NHL, which likely doesn't sit well with the team's evaluators. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal)

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward was mentioned in the same breath as Roberto Luongo as one of Canada's top two goaltenders but that shouldn't be the case any more. Ward had a great year with the Canes last year but has really struggled this time around, posting a GAA around 3.00 and a save percentage under .900. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Marc-Andre Fleury backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup last season, making believers out of many NHL observers. Fleury hasn't been spectacular this season but he's been solid and the pool of potential goalies isn't as strong as it first appeared. It wouldn't be surprising to see Fleury among the candidates for Vancouver 2010. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Scott Niedermayer has experience and savvy out the wazoo -- he's played for Canada at the Olympics on two other occasions -- but Father Time might be catching up to him. Niedermayer hasn't exactly lit it up this season and, to compound matters, the Ducks have struggled. Could a young defenceman edge out Niedermayer this time? Possibly. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

If anyone has gone from being completely out of the Olympic picture to the periphery, it is Dallas Stars centre Brad Richards. After seeing his point totals fall each of the last three years, Richards has turned it around this season, tallying six goals and 20 assists in just 15 games. It looks like the old Brad Richards is back. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Youth might be showing on Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews in the early going. Then again, he might be thinking about a spot on the Olympic team. Whatever the case, Toews has been banged up and, when he's played, he's managed just two goals and six points in 10 games. He's really fading from the Olympic picture. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos wasn't among the group of forwards invited to the summer orientation camp but he's been scoring so frequently, Yzerman and Co. must have taken notice. Stamkos has 12 goals, second-highest total in the league, (and 17 points) in 15 games. His age might be a factor -- he'll have just turned 20 when the Olympics start -- but he could be in the mix. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)