NHL After-Olympics Stock Market

Whenever something takes two weeks away from the NHL season, there better be a good reason. This year, the Olympics did just that.

The Idiot-In-Charge—I mean, Commissioner Gary Bettman—has made the point that there needs to be a legitimate value to the National Hockey League for it to continue investing in the world's greatest sports spectacle.

If the largest TV audience in the history of Canada—and the largest non-Super Bowl audience for a sporting event in the United States in more than six years—aren't reason enough, what is?

Not everything was super in the Olympics, though. While most skaters will join their teams healthy— and the drama on Sunday has undoubtedly left many Canadian players hung over and Americans heartbroken—the real impact of the tournament might be between the ears.

So who's up? Who's down? What is the stock market of NHL players now that the dust has settled? Let's evaluate a few players.

Evgeni Nabokov, G, Russia-San Jose Sharks

Stock: Down

Maybe way down is more appropriate. Nabokov was average in his starts in the tournament, but his implosion against Canada could be a problem in the playoffs.

In the tournament, Nabokov allowed 10 goals on 68 shots (85.29 percent), which was only better than one other netminder in the tournament: Thomas Greiss—also of San Jose, and Germany.

Brian Rafalski, D, USA-Detroit Red Wings

Stock: Through the roof

How about Rafalski's tournament? He has four goals in 57 NHL games this year—and he had four in the six games he played for his country.

Rafalski heads back to Detroit with a silver medal and the honor of being named the Most Outstanding Defenseman of the tournament. On the tournament's official goal score leaders' sheet, he was the only defenseman to make the first page.

Miikka Kipprusoff, G, Finland-Calgary Flames

Stock: Even

If there is anyone in the tournament thankful to have an extra game, it's Kipprusoff. He pulled himself from the game against the United States amidst one of the worst performances of his career—and at that point, his stock wasn't even listed.

In the bronze medal game, he wasn't very good again. But the offense for Finland picked him up, and despite another mediocre performance, he'll rejoin the Flames with a medal in hand.

His confidence has been tested, and he's vulnerable. That medal might be his saving grace from an average tournament.

Patrick Kane, F, USA-Chicago Blackhawks

Stock: Even

Before the medal round, Kane's stock would have been way down. But against Finland, he showed up with a big two-goal performance that started to spark his game back.

Entering the tournament, Kane was looked at as one of the snipers that would have to carry Team USA's offense if it was going to contend for a medal. Who knew that the play he might be more remembered for than his two assists in the gold medal game was the great defensive effort he made on a Sidney Crosby breakaway late in the third period?

Overall, Kane played an average tournament. He was clearly one of the more heartbroken players on Team USA, but the experience and strong performances in the medal round should translate to continued success in Chicago.

Martin Brodeur, G, Canada-New Jersey Devils

Stock: Down

The plan for Canada was to start Roberto Luongo in the first game of the tournament and then let Brodeur, the certain Hall of Famer, take the host nation to the gold.

But then the USA happened.

Brodeur was run out of the building, and he had a bad tournament. Indeed, Luongo's stock is up because Brodeur's stock has hit a new low. He allowed six goals on only 45 shots (86.67 percent).

Alexander Ovechkin, F, Russia-Washington Capitals

Stock: Even

Ovechkin didn't play a very good final game against Canada, but Canadian Coach Mike Babcock put the dogs after him all game. In his other three games in the tournament—especially the game against the Czech Republic—he was a human wrecking ball.

His stock is even because he's Alexander Ovechkin. If anyone in the tournament has the personality that will bounce back from a tough loss, it's him.

Drew Doughty, D, Canada-Los Angeles Kings

Stock: Up, up, up

Playing next to Chicago's Duncan Keith for most of the tournament, Doughty was the baby coming into the tournament and left Vancouver a man.

And not the way some Blackhawks might have left a Vancouver limo...

Doughty and Keith were one of the most smooth puck-moving defensive pairs ever to play on the Olympic stage—and Doughty played well behind his birth certificate, as Canada ended with the gold medal.

For a kid that isn't yet 20, his confidence should be through the roof as he returns to L.A.

Marian Hossa, F, Slovakia-Chicago Blackhawks

Stock: Down

Hossa had a strong tournament on paper, finishing second in the tournament in scoring with nine points (three goals, six assists). In fact, he played well in almost every game, and was strong in the bronze medal game.

But he goes home empty-handed—again.

After consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Finals that ended with Hossa on the losing end, the blown lead in the third period against Finland has to haunt the superstar. He'll need to shake the so-called Hossa Curse for the Blackhawks to accomplish their goals this spring.

Jonathan Toews, F, Canada-Chicago Blackhawks

Stock: Way up

Toews had a fantastic tournament, and he was voted the Most Outstanding Forward. Of all the forwards on the Canadian roster, he was probably one of the last guys going into the Olympics to be considered a real possibility for that honor.

Ryan Miller, G, USA-Buffalo Sabres

Stock: In heaven

Even cynical Canadian fans understood the incredible effort and performance that Miller brought to the Olympics. Consider that in six games, Miller allowed just eight goals on 147 shots. His 94.56 save percentage was the best in the tournament, and Miller earned every bit of the MVP award for the tournament.

On the world's stage, with everything on his shoulders, with other great netminders folding like sheets of paper, Miller stood tallest.