Brian Burke Says Team USA Will Play Physical at Olympics

USA Hockey knew what it was doing when it named Brian Burke to run the national team. As they try to build the team on the ice into a more serious international contender, Burke will keep them in the headlines. After a relatively silent experience at the IIHF World Championships, where Team USA placed fourth, Burke is back in midseason form.

In Chicago for Team USA's orientation camp in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Burke spoke Tuesday about what fans can expect to see from the Americans. Needless to say, he spoke with brutal honesty, something that fans can equally appreciate and despise.

Knowing full well that the IIHF approved the use of the NHL-size ice surface at the Games, Burke plans to take advantage of the smaller surface.

"There will be some beef on this team; there will be some muscle," he said Monday in his introductory remarks. "Those of you who know me from the N.H.L. know that I like big, physical teams."

... "We'll need some big-body guys, and guys who can win face-offs, block shots - and some bangers," Burke said. "We'll need some beef on the hook among those bottom six forwards."

While it doesn't mean fans should count on seeing guys like Dustin Byfuglien of the Blackhawks or Vancouver's own Ryan Kesler as forwards on the Olympic team, it sure seems like Burke will head in that direction. With his comments, it also seems like a virtual lock that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson will be on this team. While opponents never end up being big fans of Johnson, he's the perfect candidate for a top-four defensive spot on a team put together by Burke. He's physical to no end, and he also has enough skill to be successful in shootouts.

It's a smart move. Team USA would definitely be severely challenged to match the speed and skill of Canada and Russia. In February, FanHouse tried to lay out a potential lineup for the Olympics, and while Kesler did make the cut, it's a group that is otherwise short of physical play.

The NHL has never really been a fan of having its players take part in the Games, so Burke is not likely to win any fans in the league office with his latest remarks. It's nightmarish for the league to even ponder the possibility of Johnson throwing a shoulder into Jarome Iginla in what amounts -- from the league's perspective -- to an exhibition game. Similarly, the league also doesn't want guys treating the Olympics like regular-season games, where it seems every big hit on a star player leads to some sort of retaliation.

Of course, Burke would see this as a perfect situation. The last thing he wants is to see Canadians, Russians, and Swedes skating uninhibited around the ice. He knows his team doesn't have the speed or skill to match them. In fact, Burke has already cast his team as a decided underdog.