My NHL U.S. Olympic Team

There's been a lot of discussion (much of it on this blog) about the NHL's decision not to take a midseason break for the Olympics, just as they have every Olympic year since 1998.  I think I've made my feelings on that decision pretty well-known, so I'm not going to reiterate them again.

Anyway, the lack of an NHL presence sure took the star power out of the team announcement at the Winter Classic (which was held at the second intermission instead of after the game, when Jack Eichel and Ryan McDonagh would've skated out in their Team USA jerseys).  But instead of what could be an NHL All-Star team, the United States will be represented by a bunch of former NHL players (such as captain Brian Gionta), as well as European pros and collegians.  We don't know what to expect from this team, but, considering the pathetic performance by the American team at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, it won't be hard for them to have a better showing than the NHL guys did a year and a half ago.

That didn't stop me from wondering what a U.S. Olympic team made up of NHL players would've looked like.  It almost certainly would've marked the first Olympic appearance for Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews and Johnny Gaudreau, the guys who'll be the faces of American hockey for the next decade.  We also likely would've seen Patrick Kane, arguably the greatest American player of all-time, and Sochi hero T.J. Oshie in perhaps their final Olympics.

As for the starting goalie, that's easy.  Jonathan Quick of the Kings has earned the role for his body of work over the past few seasons.  The Devils' Corey Schneider is also an easy call as the backup, with the third spot up for grabs between a handful of goalies.  After some consultation, I went with Anaheim's John Gibson, a young guy who would benefit from the international experience.

Here's my entire team, listed alphabetically by NHL team at each position.  I went with 13 forwards and seven defensemen, just in case of an injury (I also named an injury replacement for Chris Kreider):

Goalies: John Gibson, Ducks; Jonathan Quick, Kings; Corey Schneider, Devils

Defensemen: Jack Johnson, Blue Jackets; Seth Jones, Blue Jackets; Ryan Suter, Wild; Ryan McDonagh, Rangers; Kevin Shattenkirk, Rangers; Shayne Gostisbehre, Flyers; John Carlson, Capitals

Forwards: Ryan Kesler, Ducks; David Backes, Bruins; Jack Eichel, Sabres; Johnny Gaudreau, Flames; Patrick Kane, Blackhawks; Dylan Larkin, Red Wings; Zach Parise, Wild; Max Pacioretty, Canadiens; Chris Kreider, Rangers (injured); Phil Kessel, Penguins; Joe Pavelski, Sharks; Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs; James Van Riemsdyk, Maple Leafs (replacing Kreider); T.J. Oshie, Capitals

My team captain would be one of the veterans, I'm thinking either David Backes or Ryan Kesler.  The other would be an assistant captain, along with Joe Pavelski.

Of course, none of these players will actually be wearing the Red, White and Blue in PyeongChang.  Instead they'll be wearing the jerseys of their NHL employers while we watch a group that brings us back to Olympics past.  And I give the NHL guys a ton of credit.  They're disappointed about the league's decision to keep them out, but they don't begrudge the players who are going.

And why should they?  There's no reason to begrudge them.  It's not their fault the NHL decided against participating.  And, besides, someone had to go.  This was their opportunity to be Olympians, an opportunity that may not ever come around again.  They would've been stupid to pass it up.

So, instead of seeing the familiar faces of Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews and Phil Kessel, we'll get to learn some new names.  Names like Troy Terry and Jordan Greenway, who could be joining Eichel and Matthews on a number of U.S. National teams moving forward.  We'll also see Chris Bourque (if the last name's familiar, it should be) and Bobby Sanguinetti, who both got NHL cups of coffee and nothing more, as well as Ryan Zapolski, who's widely considered the top American goalie not playing in the NHL.

Once the Olympics start, we'll probably forget that they don't play in the NHL.  We won't care that, for many of them, this might be the biggest hockey stage they'll ever play on.  All we'll care about is that they're representing the USA.  And they'll likely endear themselves to us, especially if they make a deep run.  Another "Miracle On Ice" it won't be, but that wouldn't make it any less unlikely.

You can't help but wonder, though, how different things would've been had the NHL agreed to shut down for the Olympics, just as it did from 1998-2014.  How would this team fare in Korea?  We'll never know.  Which is a shame.  No offense to the 23 players who will represent the United States at the Olympics, deserving selections all, but the NHL guys should be there.  Hopefully the powers that be realize that in 2022.