Mario Lemieux has pulled out of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
Lemieux told TSN that he informed Team Canada staff, including Wayne Gretzky, that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the team.
''I talked to (Wayne Gretzky) a couple days ago and I told him that I would pass on the Olympics,'' said Lemieux. ''With the way I have been playing so far and with the young guys we have coming up in Canada, I think the best thing to do is to go with the young guys, the young legs. With Spezza playing very well and Sid and Staal and all these guys, I think it's time for these guys to step up and they deserve to be on the team.''
Wayne Gretzky, who has used a week-long break in the Phoenix Coyotes schedule to scout for the Olympic team this week, was in Pittsburgh for Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche.
''You don't replace Mario,'' Gretzky told TSN. ''I said in 2002 in Salt Lake and I said it at the World Cup, he takes so much pressure off the players in the locker room people don't realize unless you're one of the players. He is invaluable not only for what he did on the ice but off the ice.''
Lemieux's decision to pull out of consideration comes after he was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after complaining of an irregular heartbeat. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which can be treated with medication.
Lemieux said Sidney Crosby would make a solid addition to Team Canada.
''I think he should be on the team. He is going to be part of Team Canada for the next 15-20 years.''
Gretzky told TSN that Crosby, along with Eric Staal and Jason Spezza, have been on the minds of Team Canada's executives.
''Sidney's been outstanding. He's been one of the players that obviously we're putting attention to and watching. (Crosby), Staal and Spezza are three players that we talked a lot about over the last three days,'' said Gretzky.
Lemieux also stated Saturday that he will receive a medical checkup on Monday and hopes to resume workouts in the coming weeks.
Pittsburgh general manager Craig Patrick said the condition should not affect Lemieux's life in any way and that the Hall of Famer should be able to return to the Penguins' lineup relatively soon. Patrick said Lemieux can start on the medication immediately and doctors do not expect any ill effects from it.
''He's been a great player and a great leader,'' Team Canada head coach Pat Quinn said. ''You have to learn how to win. And he was very instrumental in helping these young guys understand what it takes to win.
''That's the part, as a coach, that you'll miss because you need leadership and strength in the room that helps you put across to everybody the principals that need to be followed closely to have a chance to win in such a prestigious and hard tournament.''
Lemieux has had numerous medical problems since his career began in 1984, including a bout with Hodgkin's disease in 1993 that was partly responsible for him sitting out the 1994-95 season.
Lemieux also has been sidelined for long periods with back and hip problems, and he missed two-thirds of the Penguins' 1990-91 Stanley Cup championship season with severe lower back pain.
In 21 NHL games this year Lemieux has seven goals, 14 assists and a -17 rating.