The Olympic stage is a dream for any athlete, and the absence of NHL players in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games left a void for many Hurricanes players. Personally, I believe these opportunities are not just about the medals but also about the experience of representing one's country on the world's biggest sporting platform.
The 2018 Olympics: A Missed Opportunity
The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, saw the Olympic Athletes from Russia take the gold, showcasing a talented team led by Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk. In the absence of NHL players, the Hurricanes could have been well-represented by a few key players.
One of the most promising prospects was the American defensive quartet of Brett Pesce, Noah Hanifin, Justin Faulk, and Jaccob Slavin. While their careers were still developing, Hanifin's performance that season could have earned him a spot as an extra defenseman for Team USA. Faulk, with his experience and right-handed shot, might have also been in the running.
However, the Canadian forward group is notoriously difficult to crack, and Jeff Skinner would have been the only Hurricane with a remote chance. For Sweden, Elias Lindholm and Victor Rask could have been dark horses, but their odds were slim.
The real standouts for the Hurricanes were Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen, who, in my opinion, were locks for the Finnish team. Aho, at just 20, was already a rising star, and Teravainen was right by his side, leading the Canes in scoring.
2022: A Broader Pool
The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, delayed due to the pandemic, saw Finland take the gold. With NHL players absent once more, the Hurricanes could have had a stronger presence.
Aho and Teravainen remained locks for Finland, with Aho's well-rounded game securing him a spot in the Top 6. Teravainen's two-way play added depth to an already strong Finnish forward group.
Other Hurricanes who could have made the cut include Frederik Andersen, starting for Denmark; Nino Niederreiter for Switzerland; Martin Necas for Czechia; and Jaccob Slavin, who came close in 2018, for the USA.
There were also some close calls, with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Brady Skjei just missing out for Finland and the USA, respectively. Vincent Trocheck and Jesper Fast were also considered but ultimately fell short.
Simulating the Medal Race
Playing for a top hockey nation like Canada, the USA, Russia, Finland, or Sweden certainly increases a player's chances of medaling. In a simulated scenario using the fixtures from the 2018 and 2022 Games, I found that Canada, the USA, and Russia consistently made the podium. This simulation suggests that only Andrei Svechnikov and Jaccob Slavin would have brought home medals for the Hurricanes before the 2026 Games.
The Impact of Olympic Participation
The absence of NHL players in these two Olympic cycles is a missed opportunity for both the players and the league. Hockey is at its most captivating when the world's best players compete for their countries. While it's great that the NHL is participating in the 2026 Games, I can't help but wonder about the 'what-ifs' of the past.
Imagine the legacy of a player like Sebastian Aho, who could have been a three-time Olympian and a Stanley Cup champion by now. It's a missed opportunity, but one that highlights the importance of international competition in the sport.
