With the Women’s Ice Hockey Championship ending earlier this week, it got me looking forward to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics’ and the hockey being played there. Which led me to think if the NHL sends players over, which Edmonton Oilers could we potentially see there in February?
Let’s dive in with the Edmonton Oilers’ players that couple represent their specific countries:
Team Canada
Connor McDavid
- The NHL’s most valuable player, Connor McDavid is a lock for Team Canada. The only way McDavid isn’t in Beijing in February is because the NHL players aren’t going.
Darnell Nurse
- Nurse took huge steps last season with Oscar Klefbom out of the lineup. He was able to handle being a number one defenseman. Not only did he handle it, but he also exceeded all expectations. If he is playing well at the start of the season this year it will be hard for team Canada not to take him.
Leon Draisaitl
- The NHL’s second-leading scorer, Leon Driasaitl could very well be the captain of team Germany. Leon will have to put the team on his back if he wants to get the Germans into medal contention.
Team Finland
Jesse Puljujarvi
- Having a great season playing along Connor McDavid, Puljujarvi will be a welcome addition to the Finnish team. The young Edmonton Oiler will likely be playing lower in the lineup than he does on the Oilers, but he will still likely make the team.
Team United States of America
Kailer Yamamoto
- Yamamoto had a took a dip in his performance last year with the Edmonton Oilers. If he is able to bring his playback to his just under a point a game player he had a couple of years ago, there is a chance he could make the USA roster. Not that great of a chance, but a chance nonetheless.
We are still waiting to see if the NHL and the Olympic Committee can come together on a deal to send players over. I really think that the NHL players going makes hockey a must-watch event at the Olympics. Not having NHL players at the last Olympics really made watching the hockey something I didn’t need to do.
Every time we do not get to see Connor McDavid in a best on best tournament I think the hockey world misses out. The NHL built in the Olympic break into the schedule so I think eventually we will see it happen, but the longer it drags out the more nervous I get though.
Team Germany