NHL gamers are formally heading back to the Olympics in 2022.
A joint announcement Friday by the NHL, the players’ union and the Global Ice Hockey Federation cemented what the three functions had been organizing for months.
Soon after skipping the 2018 event, NHL gamers will now make up the the vast majority of the rosters of the 12 teams certified for the Wintertime Olympics in Beijing in February. Canada, the United States, Germany and host China kind Team A Russia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Denmark form Group B and Sweden, Finland, Slovakia and Latvia type Team C.
Several hitches keep on being, having said that. It is predicted that only vaccinated gamers will be authorized to participate, and there will be no coverage for COVID-19 infections. The window will be restricted, way too. Collaborating gamers will fly to China on Feb. 6 — the working day right after the NHL All-Star Match in Las Vegas — and will be wanted again in North The usa for the resumption of the NHL timetable Feb. 23.
But the included functions are likely to make it get the job done. And from a community point of view, the Blackhawks may possibly be a single of the best-represented NHL franchises at the Olympics.
Seven gamers on the Hawks’ roster are likely to make their respective countries’ rosters, and a several many others also could be regarded. Here’s a glimpse at those players’ conditions.
Likely Olympians
Patrick Kane — United states of america
Kane will be 33 by February, but he remains 1 of the centerpieces of the projected American workforce. The Buffalo, New York, indigenous had five points in 6 games in the 2010 Olympics when the United States earned a silver medal, then 4 factors in six online games in the 2014 Olympics as the U.S. staff completed fourth.
The 2022 U.S. staff will advantage from having two of the most effective younger facilities in the environment — Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel — as anchors, and it’ll be fun to see what Kane can do together with a person of them.
Alex DeBrincat — United states
There is a extremely authentic risk DeBrincat, a Michigan native, could be the reverse winger on Kane’s line. Max Pacioretty is the only other American winger with an argument to generate to start with-line minutes about a single of them.
The on-ice chemistry and off-ice friendship in between DeBrincat and Kane have blossomed in the latest seasons, but remaining Olympic linemates would leading any of their shared experiences. With no offense to Pius Suter, their most regular middle last year with the Hawks, flanking somebody like Matthews could push their video games to a further level.
Seth Jones — United states of america
Jones just skipped Olympic range in 2014, when he was a rookie in the NHL. The U.S. defensive corps has gotten stronger since then, and some pretty very good gamers will inevitably miss the minimize once more, but Jones ought to have an inside of observe to make the workforce.
The Texas native will contend from — but probably finally enjoy together with — Charlie McAvoy, John Carlson, Ryan McDonagh, Jaccob Slavin, Jeff Petry, Ryan Suter, Quinn Hughes, previous Blue Jackets companion Zach Werenski and reigning Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox.
Marc-Andre Fleury — Canada
Right after sitting idle powering Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur but technically winning a gold medal with Canada in 2010, Fleury was snubbed from the 2014 roster in favor of Luongo, Carey Selling price and Mike Smith — and he was upset about it at the time.
Eight yrs later on, nonetheless, Fleury and Rate — even at 37 and 34, respectively, by February — are shoo-ins to backstop the 2022 Canadian Olympic crew. A roster loaded with several of the finest gamers in the activity, from Connor McDavid to Sidney Crosby to Nathan MacKinnon, ought to make everyday living quite simple for them.
Dominik Kubalik — Czech Republic
Kubalik truly participated in the 2018 Olympics simply because he was participating in in Europe at the time. He scored two targets in five games on a Czech workforce consisting entirely of non-NHL players.
Significantly has adjusted considering the fact that then, in Olympic hockey and in Kubalik’s job, but a single issue won’t: He’ll be an vital player for the Czechs once more in 2022. He was their primary scorer at the Environment Championships this summer season, though that staff did not element this kind of stars as David Pastrnak, Jakub Voracek and Tomas Hertl.
Philipp Kurashev — Switzerland
Immediately after breaking out as an NHL rookie previous time, Kurashev — who has Swiss and Russian ancestry — climbed into a leading-six function on the Swiss workforce at the Globe Championships.
As a outcome, he’s on keep track of to make his Olympic debut for Switzerland subsequent year. With Roman Josi on defense and Nino Niederreiter, Kevin Fiala, Timo Meier and Nico Hischier up entrance, the Swiss staff has some big-identify talent at the prime of the roster but will wrestle with depth.
Lukas Reichel — Germany
Reichel has nonetheless to participate in an NHL activity — although that could adjust in between October and February — but will pretty much surely symbolize Germany in Beijing. In the Entire world Championships, the 19-yr-old leading prospect ranked 3rd on the staff with 6 factors in 9 games.
The Germans boast a amazing goaltending duo in Philipp Grubauer and Thomas Greiss, and Leon Draisaitl will be just one of the ideal forwards in the tournament, but they, much too, will struggle with depth.
Possible Olympians
Kevin Lankinen — Finland
Between Juuse Saros, Antti Raanta, Kaapo Kahkonen, Joonas Korpisalo, recovering-from-surgical treatment Tuukka Rask and Lankinen, the Finns will want to go away a number of pretty good goaltenders off their Olympic roster.
But Lankinen’s past achievement on the international stage, heroically major Finland to a gold medal in the 2019 World Championships, and domestic recognition via his Finnish reserve club will make him tough to exclude.
Jonathan Toews — Canada
Looking at how Toews’ availability for the Hawks this time continues to be a mystery, his availability for the Olympics is almost unachievable to forecast.
It is plausible the 33-year-old heart will cherish a three-7 days break in February to relaxation his body and prepare for the stretch operate of the NHL year, particularly owning already gained gold in 2010 and 2014. But if Toews does want to participate, he could crack the Canadian lineup but all over again.
Connor Murphy — United states of america
The Americans’ loaded defensive corps helps make Murphy’s highway to Beijing tough, but accidents and choose-outs could open up a place for this kind of a responsible participant. Murphy, an Ohio native, held a captain or alternate-captain role on U.S. teams at the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Environment Championships.
