The American blueline is falling apart, just 15 days prior to the start of hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Defenseman Paul Martin announced his withdrawal from the team on Monday due to a broken left forearm that just wont heal. Martin has been out of the New Jersey Devils' lineup since being hit in that arm with an errant shot on October 24. Martin's statement, via the Devils website:
Paul Martin Withdraws From Team USA With Arm Injury
After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my name from participation with Team USA at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. While the decision was an extremely difficult one, I feel it is in my long-term best interest to not rush any return to the ice.
Team USA was informed of my decision earlier today. I look forward to re-joining my New Jersey Devil teammates in the near future, and would also like to wish my fellow Devils’ Olympians and the rest of Team USA good luck in their pursuit of the gold medal.”
While Martin is certainly an important piece of the defense and his absence is a serious detriment to Team USA’s medal chances, you have to wonder why he was even selected to the team in the first place. The team was finalized on January 1, and a positive prognosis on Martin for the Games was less than guaranteed then.
John Fischer at SB Nation’s Devils’ blog, In Lou We Trust, asked that same question on Jan. 4:
But what truly worries me is the injury. He’s had a setback, he won’t be available until [late January] at best, and who knows how he’ll initially perform after missing two-to-two and a half months of hockey. That Burke named him to the roster can be taken in two ways. The positive is that Martin’s talent commands selection and that’s laudable. The negative is that Burke is banking on him being healthy by February and that strikes me as a little foolish. Should he come back and struggle due to all the rust, he’s not going to contribute much to the team. Should he remain injured, USA Hockey will have to get a replacement - Burke understands that Martin won’t go if he’s not completely healthy, per Gulitti - and what would be Plan B in that case?
We might as well stick with Fischer, because he basically called this entire scenario a month ago. From the same post:
[Ryan Whitney] was in Team USA's evaluation camp last summer. He averages more minutes per game than any other American defenseman not named Joe Corvo. He's got more points than Jack Johnson and as many as Erik [Johnson]. Most of all, the shots against per 60 doesn't go up 7 shots when he steps on the ice. Selecting Jack Johnson over Whitney makes absolutely no sense to me from where I sit.
If Paul Martin can't go, Ryan Whitney is the only logical choice to replace him on the roster.
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