HELSINKI, Finland -- Steve Yzerman is watching closely. The 2014 Olympics might still be almost two years away, but its currently front of mind for the man in charge of assembling Team Canada. Yzerman and his entire management staff for the Games in Sochi, Russia, have made the trip to the IIHF World Hockey Championship as part of their preparation. "When were picking the Olympic team, we want to watch these guys," he said Sunday. A big part of the scouting process is focused on how players handle the larger international ice surface. The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were won on the NHL-sized sheet that North American players are accustomed to, but the tournament in Russia will be played to IIHF specifications, which is four metres wider. That extra space produces a different-looking game and tends to put a premium on speed and mobility. "Its an eye-opener for the players," said Yzerman. "Its just a different game and some players adapt better to it than others. ... The big thing is skating, youve got to be able to get around the ice. For defencemen, theyve got to be able to move out there." There is still no deal in place to guarantee NHL players will compete in Sochi, but Hockey Canada is moving ahead under the assumption that they will. Yzerman was named executive director of the 2014 Olympic team in March and kept intact the management group that built the 2010 gold-medal winner in Vancouver: Ken Holland, Doug Armstrong and Kevin Lowe. Lowe was also made the general manager for this world championship -- a clear sign to players that there will be a strong link between the teams. "Its important for the guys who are really serious about the Olympics and want to be there," said Yzerman. "Some guys, it can make a difference being here in this tournament." Canada is also in need of a strong finish to boost its world ranking. The country has slipped to fifth after consecutive quarter-final exits at the world championship and will see its position frozen after this tournament to determine everything from groupings to practice times and dressing room assignments in Sochi. "This tournaments important for us," said Yzerman. "You hear about the world rankings, but its important for the (Olympics) -- the way your schedule is set up and what not. We want to do well at this tournament. "Were trying to get a successful program going and we havent won a gold since 2007." Yzerman was the GM of that championship team in Moscow and also put together the group that won silver the following year in Quebec City and Halifax. As much as anyone, he knows how tough the world championship is to win. He believes the biggest challenges facing Canadian teams is a lack of proper preparation time and the ever-improving quality of competition on the world stage. "You put the team together quickly and somebody different wins it every year," said Yzerman. "Its a hard tournament, the other countries have just gotten better. Its no longer just Russia, Canada, Finland, Sweden, U.S. -- all these games are tough games. "All the countries have improved and it makes it harder to win." The Canadian team currently sits atop the Helsinki group with a 5-0-1 record. It can clinch the top seed heading into the quarter-finals with a victory in its final round robin game against Belarus on Tuesday. Yzerman has watched Canada play live here twice -- a 5-3 win over Finland on Friday and 8-0 victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday -- and caught a 3-2 decision over Switzerland on the Internet prior to travelling to Helsinki. "I think theyre getting better," said Yzerman. "In the Kazakhstan game yesterday -- not a strong opponent -- but theyre starting to look more comfortable on the ice and more cohesive. "Theyre getting better and better as the tournament goes." [url=http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Cam-Neely-Bruins-Jersey/]http://www.brui... . Bradley hired Miami Hurricanes offensive co-ordinator Jedd Fisch to the same position Saturday, charging him with remodeling one of the leagues worst offences. [url=http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Zdeno-Chara-Bruins-Jersey/]http://www.br... . Crawford, a six-foot-four, 275-pound defensive tackle from Windsor, Ont. [url=http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Ray-Bourque-Bruins-Jersey/]http://www.br... .Y. -- The New York Islanders suspended newly acquired defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky on Friday for failing to report to the team for the start of the NHL season. [url=http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Shawn-Thornton-Bruins-Jersey/]http://www... . RDS in Quebec reports that the club has filed for arbitration with their No. 1 netminder, who was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1. [url=http://www.bruinshockeyproshop.com/Bobby-Orr-Bruins-Jersey/]http://www.brui... . "I executed the plan to a tee," Froch said after his fifth-round victory over the previously undefeated Romanian native. "The plan in fact was just to listen to (coach) Rob McCracken. I listened to him during the fight, as I listened to him for the entire 12 weeks of training camp.After meeting with his Newport representatives in Toronto, unrestricted free agent Justin Schultz is ready to talk to a shortlist of NHL teams bidding for his services. And the young defenceman has narrowed down his list of suitors to the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers plan to include Taylor Hall on part of the pitch to bring Schultz aboard, according to TSNs Ryan Rishaug. Coming off the selection of first overall pick Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting, Edmonton is looking to add to a young defensive core. Beyond the top four of Ryan Whitney, Jeff Petry, Ladislav Smid and Nick Schultz, there is the potential for Schultz to find a home on the Oilers blueline to start next season. Besides the Oilers, Schulttz has been linked with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have one of Schultzs former teammates Jake Gardiner on the roster.dddddddddddd Drafted by Anaheim in the second round in 2008, Schultz did not come to a contract agreement with the Ducks and became an unrestricted free agent following last weekends NHL Draft. The 22-year-old from Kelowna, BC withdrew from school following the Badgers 2011-12 season. He led all NCAA defenceman with 16 goals and 44 points and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for the second straight season. Schultz is eligible for a two-year deal for the entry-level maximum salary. This includes a $925,000 base salary, including $92,500 signing bonus plus $2.85 million in performance bonuses for a cap hit $3.775 million, according to CapGeek.com. ' ' '