ESPN hockey analyst Bill Clement breaks down the team offense and team defense, while Darren Pang looks at the goaltending of the six teams that have qualified for the final round of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

	Bill Clement

Without a doubt, Canada is the favorite going in. Wayne Gretzky did a masterful job of balancing and blending a lineup that has all bases covered -- and he was able to do so because of a decided advantage. He is the only Olympic GM who played either with or against every player he chose for Team Canada. The ultimate insights come on the ice, going head to head.

Team Offense
If you're looking for team strength, look no further. Team Canada boasts no fewer than seven 50-goal scorers and eight 100-point players. They have dynamic power forwards in Owen Nolan, Eric Lindros, Jarome Iginla and Brendan Shanahan and a power play that is flat out scary. Al MacInnis and Rob Blake launching lasers for the same team? You gotta be kiddin' me! They compete perennially in the hardest shot competition for a good reason -- they cause nightmares for opposing goalies and penalty killers. Canada's power play will also feature four of the best one-time artists the sport has ever seen - Paul Kariya, Mario Lemieux, Nolan and Shanahan. If you take penalties against the Canadians...you will lose.

If Canada has a weakness with their offense it may be team speed. Kariya, Simon Gagne and Theo Fleury can burn it up, but most teams will be faster. Puck possession will be key to Canada's success. What was their GM's name again? Go figure.

Goaltending

	Darren Pang

On paper, goaltending is not an issue with Canada, but there is still plenty of time to determine who the hot hand is and will be. Right now it is neither Martin Brodeur nor Ed Belfour, although both have been stronger of late. Curtis Joseph has had the best run, but has been guilty of giving up bad goals recently. It looks like at least two guys will play in the early games to see where their game is.

Ed Belfour has a presence in net and has the same focus and intensity as Patrick Roy. He plays the puck extremely well and has at least some international experience with Team Canada (1988-89).

Cujo can be unpredictable, although players that have been on his team in pressure situations insist he can handle it even though he hasn't been to the Cup finals. His biggest asset his quickness and ability to stay deep in his net and read the play. He sees a lot of shots in the NHL and plays better when he can dominate with his acrobatic play. He won't be in that situation with Team Canada. The question becomes, can he make the adjustment mentally.

Brodeur has the calm demeanor to carry the load. He wants the chance to be the guy as his father Denis was in 1956 when he won the bronze for Canada. He can be very unpredictable with his selection of saves and that can be confusing for shooters. He is a strong pokechecker and can two-pad slide with the best of them. The one area of concern would be his angles on the big ice. He has a tendency to lean off of the angle at times. The positive is the fact he has tremendous athletic ability and big save capabilities in the crunch.

Team Defense
On the blue line, Canada has everything. The grit and hitting of Adam Foote and Ed Jovonovski, the shots of MacInnis and Blake and the all-around games of Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermayer. And, oh, by the way, MacInnis, Blake and Pronger have all won Norris Trophies in the past four seasons and Foote and Neidermayer have won Stanley Cup rings in the past two.

If Canada has an Achilles' heel it lies in their forwards' tendency to think about offense before defense. Gagne, Fleury, Shanahan, Lindros, Nolan and a few other forwards must bring their checking games to Salt Lake City. But then again, why do you have to check if you always have the puck?

Footnote: This may not be Canada's final roster. With Lemieux's back, Ryan Smyth's ankle, Lindros's knee and over six weeks of NHL action before the Olympic break...much can change.

Players listed with current team, birthdate and previous Olympic experience:

GOAL	TEAM	BIRTHDATE	OLYMPICS
Ed Belfour	Dallas	April 21, 1965	None
Martin Brodeur	New Jersey	May 5, 1972	None
Curtis Joseph	Toronto	April 29, 1967	None
FORWARDS	TEAM	BIRTHDATE	OLYMPICS
Theo Fleury	N.Y. Rangers	June 29, 1968	'98
Simon Gagne	Philadelphia	Feb. 29, 1980	None
Jarome Iginla	Calgary	July 1, 1977	None
Paul Kariya	Anaheim	Oct. 16, 1974	None
Mario Lemieux	Pittsburgh	Oct. 5, 1965	None
Eric Lindros	N.Y. Rangers	Feb. 28, 1973	'92, '98
Joe Nieuwendyk	Dallas	Sept. 10, 1966	'98
Owen Nolan	San Jose	Feb. 12, 1972	None
Michael Peca	N.Y. Islanders	March 26, 1974	None
Joe Sakic	Colorado	July 7, 1969	'98
Brendan Shanahan	Detroit	Jan. 23, 1969	'98
Ryan Smyth	Edmonton	Feb. 21, 1976	None
Steve Yzerman	Detroit	May 09, 1965	'98
DEFENSEMEN	TEAM	BIRTHDATE	OLYMPICS
Rob Blake	Colorado	Dec. 10, 1969	'98
Eric Brewer	Edmonton	April 17,1979	None
Adam Foote	Colorado	July 10, 1971	'98
Ed Jovanovski	Vancouver	June 26, 1976	None
Al MacInnis	St. Louis	July 11, 1963	'98
Scott Niedermayer	New Jersey	Aug. 31, 1973	None
Chris Pronger	St. Louis	Oct. 10, 1974	'98

Head coach: Pat Quinn (Toronto)
Associates: Ken Hitchcock (Dallas), Jacques Martin (Ottawa), Wayne Fleming
Executive director: Wayne Gretzky (Phoenix)
Assistant director: Kevin Lowe (Edmonton)