According to the Winnipeg Free Press, U.S. Olympic team GM David Poile had the following words to say about winger Blake Wheeler, who was selected to the Olympic tryout roster: "An emerging young player with all the attributes we're looking for. Size and speed and very conditioned. We will be watching alot of Blake early in the season to see if he can swing into the mix to be a candidate for Sochi." Not a glaring endorsement to say the least, considering that the talented 27-year old has been one of Winnipeg's rising stars and had just signed a 6-year/ $33 million extension. Just a few days ago, Poile expressed mixed emotions about another selected tryout Dustin Byfuglien, by alluding to him as "a bit of a wildcard" and that the management team needs to look closely at his production before making a decision in December. What does this all mean? From a fantasy point of view, the participation of NHL players in the upcoming Sochi games have a dual-fold effect. There will be a huge fatigue factor for players returning from the Olympics, dealing with the condensed schedule and maintaining a high level of conditioning. What doesn't get mentioned enough is how the Winter Games provides incentive and pressure for the peripheral players, such as Wheeler and Byfuglien, who want to impress early in the season and secure a nod for their respective Olympic teams. You might notice a sharp rise in offensive production from such players, but it's difficult to gauge who will respond positively from the pressures of representing their country. For most NHLer's, being selected is considered a huge honor, and the sting of being snubbed is a feeling that leaves a permanent stain on their sense of individual accomplishment. Just ask Art Ross trophy winner Martin St. Louis, who has still not gotten over the disappointment of being left off the Canadien gold medal team in 2010. Olympic incentives will have a large impact on player performance early on, so keep a close watch on who soars as a result and who doesn't.