There are a number of NHL players that would have been fun to watch at this year’s Olympic games. While it was expected the players would go to the event, the league and its players decided it would be best to hold off from going to the games.
This obviously is the best move for the NHL and the season going on, especially with all the postponements this past month from COVID. While it was the right move, that doesn’t mean there are not a handful of players that would have been fun to watch at the event.
Let’s go over some of the top NHL players that would have been fun to watch at this year’s game:
1. Connor McDavid – Canada
Of course, this list needs to start with Connor McDavid. McDavid was going to be the heart and soul of the team this year and it would have been the first chance McDavid had to play during the Olympic stage. The fact that he can’t go to the games this year and play with the world’s best is bad for the game of hockey as he truly is a once-in-a-lifetime talent – just look at one of his highlight-reel goals so far this season.
2. Steven Stamkos – Canada
Steven Stamkos is 31 years old. He has played over 800 games in the NHL and has won two Stanley Cups. Yet he still hasn’t been able to represent his country at the Olympics. The fact that McDavid hasn’t gotten a chance and is missing this season is tough, Stamkos missing again is even harder to see.
Stamkos hasn’t been able to go to the Olympics in the past because of injuries and other misfortunes. Hopefully, he is still playing at a high enough level to get on the roster in four years, but at 35 who knows.