The NHL is headed for a break, however hockey most definitely will not be.
After an extremely (and unexpectedly) scrumptious appetizer final February with the 4 Nations Face-Off, best-on-best males’s hockey returns in full bloom with the primary Olympics to function gamers from the world’s high league since 2014.
Following Thursday evening’s video games, the NHLers gifted and lucky sufficient to signify their nations will head to Italy to arrange for a match that begins on Wednesday with a tilt between Finland and Slovakia at 10:40 a.m. ET.
Ten different nations — Canada, the U.S., Sweden, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany, France, Latvia, Denmark and host Italy — can be a part of the draw to determine who wins the gold medal Finland claimed in 2022 and Canada received the final time there was a best-on-best Olympics in 2014.
Naturally, NHL golf equipment can have a whole lot of pores and skin within the sport. At the beginning, they’ll be hoping none of their star gamers sustains an damage whereas on worldwide sabbatical. On the optimistic aspect, even when it means bones are wearier upon their return, the expertise of taking part in with and in opposition to the world’s greatest on the Olympic stage can present tangible classes that profit a participant for the remainder of his NHL days.
The five-ringed enjoyable is sort of right here. With that in thoughts, we’ll use the ultimate energy rating earlier than the NHL hiatus to spotlight the gamers from all 32 squads who’re set to reside out an Olympic dream.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (36-14-4) Winger Brandon Hagel can be there for Canada. We’re nonetheless assuming injured ahead Brayden Level will be part of him, however Anthony Cirelli is a last-minute scratch for the Canadians resulting from damage. Victor Hedman will anchor Sweden’s blueline, and he’ll be joined by winger Pontus Holmberg. J.J. Moser, who’s having an unimaginable 12 months, can be an enormous piece on the again finish for Switzerland; fellow defenceman Erik Cernak is ready to signify Slovakia; forwards Zemgus Girgensons (Latvia) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (Denmark) can be in Italy, and Staff USA can be trying to winger Jake Guentzel for an enormous objective or two.
2. Colorado Avalanche (37-9-9) Centre Nathan MacKinnon and defenceman Cale Makar are two of an important Canadians within the match. Canada is hoping defenceman Devon Toews can be there, however he has said he’ll be staying house if his pregnant spouse has not given start earlier than the tourney. Wingers Gabriel Landeskog (Sweden) and Martin Necas (Czechia) are dinged up, however anticipated to play. Winger Artturi Lehkonen might be a big-game participant for Finland and he’ll be joined by fellow winger Joel Kiviranta. In the meantime, Brock Nelson will prolong his household’s unimaginable Olympic legacy with Staff USA. Nelson’s uncle, Dave Christian, was on the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ group, and each his grandfather (Invoice Christian) and nice uncle (Roger Christian) performed on the U.S. group that received gold on house ice in Squaw Valley in 1960.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (35-15-6) Carolina is sending two Danes who may have an enormous say in how the membership fares within the type of goalie Frederik Andersen and winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Jaccob Slavin can be Staff USA’s shutdown man on the blueline and centre Sebastian Aho can be a lead horse for Finland.
4. Dallas Stars (34-14-9) 4 Stars — defencemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindel, winger Mikko Rantanen and centre Roope Hintz — can be monumental elements of Staff Finland. Jake Oettinger dons the pads for the Stars and Stripes, Radek Faksa can be up the center for Czechia and Thomas Harley is a Canadian blue-liner.
5. Minnesota Wild (34-14-10) One 12 months after being pressured to overlook the 4 Nations resulting from damage, defenceman Quinn Hughes can be there for the Individuals. He’ll be joined by his ordinary companion, Brock Faber, and scoring winger Matt Boldy. Minnesota’s Swedish goalie battery of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt is headed to Italy, together with winger Marcus Johansson and massive centre Joel Eriksson Ek. Defenceman David Spacek — who’s performed two NHL video games this 12 months — will line up for Czechia, whereas centre Nico Sturm will signify Germany.
6. Buffalo Sabres (32-18-8) American ahead Tage Thompson and Swedish rearguard Rasmus Dahlin will signify Buffalo overseas.
7. Detroit Pink Wings (33-19-6) Moritz Seider will get all types of ice time in Detroit and you may wager the German blue-liner can be taking part in near half-hour per sport on the Olympics. Ahead Dylan Larkin can be there for Staff USA and winger Lucas Raymond can be counted on to assist drive the Swedish offence.
8. Montreal Canadiens (32-17-8) Winger Alexandre Texier is France’s lone NHLer, rookie centre Oliver Kapanen is on Finland and Nick Suzuki may conceivably play on any one in all Canada’s 4 ahead traces. In the meantime, winger Juraj Slafkovsky — who turned a nationwide hero 4 years in the past at age 17 by main Slovakia to a bronze medal that represented the nation’s first Olympic hockey medal — is again gunning for extra glory.
9. Boston Bruins (32-20-5) Charlie McAvoy was crushed to go away the 4 Nations final February with an damage. He’ll be again on Staff USA’s blueline in Italy, with Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman alongside him. Anticipate winger David Pastrnak to have an enormous smile when he carries the Czechia flag on the opening ceremonies, whereas Pavel Zacha will be part of him on the high of Czechia’s ahead crew. The no-relation Lindholms — Hampus on defence, Elias up entrance — can be there for Sweden, whereas defenceman Henri Jokiharju is on Finland with goalie Joonas Korpisalo, the latter being a last-minute alternative for injured Sabre Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets (29-20-7) Elvis Merzlikins is a Latvian goalie and Zach Werenski can be an enormous presence on the American blueline.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12) Sixteen years after scoring the golden objective in Vancouver, ahead Sidney Crosby continues to be a key cog on Staff Canada. Goalie Arturs Silovs will put on Latvia’s colors, whereas defenceman Erik Karlsson and winger Rickard Rakell will rep Sweden.
12. New York Islanders (31-21-5) Ahead Bo Horvat obtained the nod for Canada, whereas new Islander Ondrej Palat can be up entrance for Czechia.
13. Anaheim Geese (30-23-3) Might Lukas Dostal steal an vital sport within the Czech crease? He’ll be joined by defenceman Radko Gudas. Sadly, an damage will forestall Leo Carlsson from lining up for Sweden, however American defenceman Jackson Lacombe can be there as a alternative for the dinged-up Seth Jones. Veteran ahead Mikael Granlund will as soon as once more signify Finland.
14. Utah Mammoth (30-23-4) 4 Mammoth gamers will signify 4 completely different counties in Italy. They’re American winger Clayton Keller, German winger JJ Peterka, Czech goalie Karel Vejmelka and Finnish D-man Olli Maatta.
15. Vegas Golden Knights (26-16-14) Centre Jack Eichel and defenceman Noah Hanifin will put on the Stars and Stripes, whereas wingers Mitch Marner and Mark Stone will swimsuit up for Canada. Defenceman Shea Theodore — who sustained an damage on the 4 Nations that ended his match — is again on the Canadian blueline. Large ahead Tomas Hertl is on Czechia, new Knight Rasmus Andersson is a Swedish D-man and goalie Akira Schmid is on Switzerland.
16. Seattle Kraken (27-20-9) Philipp Grubauer’s efficiency within the German crease can be key to that nation attempting to tug off any type of massive upset. Forwards Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen are Finnish Lions. Ahead Oscar Fisker-Molgaard — a second-rounder in 2023 who’s performed three NHL video games this 12 months — is a part of Staff Denmark.
17. Los Angeles Kings (23-18-14) Drew Doughty had simply turned 20 years outdated when he received gold with Canada in Vancouver. Now, at 36, he’s again on the Canuck blueline, with goalie Darcy Kuemper sporting the identical sweater. Offensive wingers Kevin Fiala (Switzerland) and Adrian Kempe (Sweden) are headed to Italy, as is Finnish winger Joel Armia.
18. Toronto Maple Leafs (27-21-9) Auston Matthews had his probabilities to win the 4 Nations for Staff USA in extra time of the ultimate versus Canada. He’s again, attempting to guide America to Olympic glory. Winger William Nylander can be a front-line Swede, whereas Oliver Ekman-Larsson can be a part of the Swedish ‘D’ crew.
19. Edmonton Oilers (28-22-8) Connor McDavid lastly obtained his unimaginable worldwide second when he ended the 4 Nations remaining in extra time versus Staff USA. Can he take it up a notch with Olympic gold for Canada? Ahead Leon Draisaitl can be Germany’s flag-bearer in Italy.
20. Ottawa Senators (27-22-7) Ahead Tim Stutzle, together with Leon Draisaitl, can be liable for driving the German offence. Winger Brady Tkachuk is a signature American, whereas Jake Sanderson can be on the Staff USA blueline. Veteran Danish centre Lars Eller is headed to Italy, as is Finnish rearguard Nikolas Matinpalo.
21. Washington Capitals (28-23-7) It certain appears to be like like Logan Thompson can be Canada’s starter, whereas winger Tom Wilson will get his probability to bang and rating up entrance. Martin Fehervary is a Slovakian defenceman.
22. Florida Panthers (29-24-3) Centre Sam Bennett is headed to the Olympics in any case as a alternative for Anthony Cirelli on Canada. He’ll be joined by fellow forwards Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand. Florida can also be sending three Finns; D-man Niko Mikkola and forwards Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. Shutdown Swedish D-man Gus Forsling and Latvian rearguard Uvis Balinskis are each headed to Italy. And, after all, winger Matthew Tkachuk is kind of the face of Staff USA. In all, Florida, Tampa and Minny will all ship a league-high 9 gamers to Italy.
23. San Jose Sharks (27-24-4) Let’s simply take a minute to zoom out and marvel on the reality 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini truly cracked Staff Canada and will play a significant function for the membership on the Video games. Three different Sharks forwards are a part of the enjoyable; Alexander Wennberg (Sweden), Philipp Kurashev (Switzerland) and Pavol Regenda (Slovakia).
24. Philadelphia Flyers (25-20-10) Dan Vladar is within the Czech goalie combine, whereas two massive defencemen — Canadian Travis Sanheim and Finn Risto Ristolainen — are Italy-bound.
25. Nashville Predators (26-23-7) Defenceman Roman Josi is the person for Switzerland, winger Filip Forsberg can be counted on for Swedish objectives, whereas goalie Juuse Saros and ahead Erik Haula are repping Finland.
26. New Jersey Devils (28-26-2) The expectation is injured ahead Jack Hughes will nonetheless lineup with brother Quinn on Staff USA. The Devils are offering three key Swiss gamers in centre Nico Hischier, winger Timo Meier and D-man Jonas Siegenthaler. Goalie Jacob Markstrom and winger Jesper Bratt are on Staff Sweden, whereas defenceman Simon Nemec is there for Slovakia.
27. Winnipeg Jets (22-26-8) It’s nonetheless in all probability Connor Hellebuyck’s internet to lose for Staff USA, whereas winger Kyle Connor can be hoping for an even bigger function than he obtained on the 4 Nations. Canada can be relying on Josh Morrissey’s cerebral sport on the again finish, whereas Nino Niederreiter should rating some objectives for the Swiss.
28. Calgary Flames (23-27-6) With Rasmus Andersson now a Golden Knight, the lone Flame consultant is Slovakian ahead Martin Pospisil.
29. Chicago Blackhawks (22-26-9) With Connor Bedard not fairly cracking Canada, the one Blackhawk headed to Italy is Finnish ahead Teuvo Teravainen.
30. St. Louis Blues (20-28-9) Will Jordan Binnington get an opportunity to play hero once more for Canada in objective? Defenceman Colton Parayko can also be suiting up for Canada. Philip Broberg will put on Sweden’s lovely colors, whereas forwards Pius Suter and Dalibor Dvorsky will attract for Switzerland and Slovakia, respectively.
31. New York Rangers (22-28-6) Forwards J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck are a part of the Stars and Stripes. One other ahead, Mika Zibanejad, is on Sweden.
32. Vancouver Canucks (18-33-6) Two Czechs — defenceman Filip Hronek and centre David Kampf — are headed to Italy, as is Latvian ahead Teddy Blueger. Kevin Lankinen is a Finnish goalie, whereas centre Elias Pettersson will attempt to spark Sweden’s probabilities.
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