The Olympics may be over, but the debate about participating in the 2006 Games shouldn't begin until all the votes are in ... which could be anywhere between the middle of April and the end of June. The results will be based upon one thing -- the NHL standings.

How will Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz vote when his team loses a few games -- and the cash that comes along with home ice in the playoffs -- because Alexei Zhamnov is injured and Tony Amonte and Phil Housley are spent? Mario Lemieux's gold medal may have cost his franchise revenue from the playoffs. When the Penguins are drowning in the red, will he begrudge players who follow the same opportunity?

IIHF president Rene Fasel had it right when he said: "Here, it's all about business, and we have more interest in sport. That's the way it is, and we have to accept it. We try to find different compromises."

Anyone know where the Blues can rent another Keith Tkachuk?

Let us know what you think about this week's rankings and we'll post the best responses in Rank Comments.

Team	Pvs.	W-L-T-OL	The skinny
1. Red Wings	1	41-11-6-2	The Olympics seem like a good idea until your leading scorer breaks his thumb. Does that gold medal score goals?
2. Flyers	3	33-15-6-3	John LeClair, who led the Olympics with six goals, may have regained his touch ... if he isn't dead tired.
3. Blackhawks	4	33-18-9-0	Michael Nylander still is bummed out, Alex Zhamnov has a hip pointer and Tony Amonte and Phil Housley won't skate with the team until the puck drops in Philly on Tuesday. Oh, and their penalty kill still needs work.
4. Bruins	6	32-16-4-7	Latest rumor has the Bruins sending forwards Rob Zamuner and P.J. Axelsson to Anaheim for defenseman Jason York and forward Marty McInnis. We'll take it.
5. Avalanche	2	33-20-6-1	Don't be surprised if bringing back Mike Keane is the only move the Avalanche make. It's bigger than it looks on paper.
6. Senators	7	29-18-7-4	It's a scene right out of "Same Time, Next Year" -- the trade deadline is looming again and the Senators still need toughness.
7. Maple Leafs	8	31-18-5-4	Compensating for Alexander Mogilny is one thing. Compensating for Dmitry Yushkevich is quite another.
8. Blues	5	31-18-6-3	Forget exposing the sport in the Olympics. The Blues don't need exposure. They need their $8.3-million power forward in the lineup.
9. Sharks	11	30-17-7-3	With five straight wins and no one on the market that makes trading away Teemu Selanne worth while, it may be a quiet trade deadline for GM Dean Lombardi. Maybe.
10. Islanders	10	29-19-6-3	Alexei Yashin, Michael Peca and Roman Hamrlik are important parts, but Chris Osgood's play will be the difference down the stretch.
11. Kings	13	27-20-8-3	Get well soon, Andy Murray.
12. Canucks	12	28-25-5-2	Dan Cloutier has declared himself ready to play. He better be.
13. Stars	9	26-20-7-4	The Olympic hangover excuse won't work in Dallas. The Stars had an eight-day All-Star break and Ed Belfour hasn't broken a sweat in weeks.
14. Devils	20	25-21-9-3	Larry Robinson agreeing to return as an assistant is a classy move, but it's awfully awkward if you're Kevin Constantine.
15. Oilers	15	26-23-10-2	No one's concerned about Tommy Salo's frame of mind after surrendering a soft goal to Belarus in the quarterfinals. The silver lining in the loss: a week off before the Oilers' first game back.
16. Hurricanes	16	24-21-11-5	A genuine Olympic feel-good story: After two more weeks of rest, Rod Brind'Amour and Martin Gelinas are back in the lineup.
17. Coyotes	19	25-22-8-4	We know they're in a budget-conscious rebuilding mode, but one high-end player may ensure a playoff berth. And co-owner Steve Ellman told the Arizona Republic he'd pay for one.
18. Rangers	14	27-25-4-3	Was it just us or was that the collective exhale of Glen Sather and Ron Low we heard after Mike Richter got up from making that contortionistic save in the gold-medal game?
19. Canadiens	17	24-23-8-3	So what they didn't have a player on Team Canada. It was the best opportunity the citizens of Montreal had in nine years to exercise their hockey celebration muscles. And they still work.
20. Penguins	18	22-26-6-4	Winless in seven, then Mario Lemieux admits the Olympics were his top priority. And his teammates/employees aren't supposed to be ticked? Makes you wish hockey players were as vocal as their baseball/basketball/football-playing brethren.
21. Flames	23	23-24-8-3	Roman Turek needs to return to his early-season, game-saving self for the Flames to have a shot at the playoffs.
22. Predators	24	23-25-10-0	The Predators need Mike Dunham to pick up where he left off. He's the main reason they're within striking distance of the eighth seed in the West.
23. Capitals	25	23-26-9-1	It isn't all Jaromir Jagr's fault. Without Calle Johansson, Steve Konowalchuk and Jeff Halpern, the Capitals aren't the same team they were coming off last season.
24. Sabres	22	23-26-7-1	The Sabres have 25 games in 47 days. But Gary Bettman keeps telling us the schedule isn't condensed.
25. Mighty Ducks	27	21-31-6-3	Olympic benefit: Belarus defenseman Ruslan Salei facing the top players in the world is experience the Ducks couldn't afford to give him.
26. Wild	21	18-27-10-5	Think the Wild missed Brad Bombardir? They'll miss Filip Kuba even more.
27. Lightning	26	20-30-6-2	The difference between a shot at the playoffs and a shot at the No. 1 pick lies somewhere between Martin St. Louis and Freddie Modin's injuries.
28. Blue Jackets	29	15-33-8-2	Memo to the Jackets: Wins at Joe Louis Arena are supposed to be building blocks.
29. Thrashers	28	14-34-7-4	Center Per Svartvadet to the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Sweden losing to Belarus: "What can I tell you? They picked the wrong guys for the team. If I was playing, we would have shut down Belarus' top line, I can tell you that." He was joking of course.
30. Panthers	30	17-34-5-3	Robert Svehla told the Miami Herald he is retiring instantly if he's traded, despite the fact he's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. That shouldn't make him too difficult to move at the trade deadline.