Canucks could have plenty of representatives at 2022 Olympics

If NHL players participate in the 2022 Winter Olympic games, the Vancouver Canucks won’t be lacking in representatives.

There’s plenty of work to be done, but if the NHL gives the green light for its players to participate in the next Winter Olympics, the Vancouver Canucks should be represented nicely.

To the dismay and frustration of NHLers and countless hockey fans, the league did not send its players to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

It is unclear right now if NHL players will be able to participate at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China, although IIHF president René Fasel has stated that he’ll need an answer from commissioner Gary Bettman by the end of this August.

We may not get our answer for a while, but it still never hurts to look ahead and preview the potential rosters. TSN’s Craig Button got the ball rolling when he offered early projections for the Team Canada and Team USA rosters, which you can see below.

If Button’s calculations are correct, the Canucks will be proudly represented by three American players: Defenceman Quinn Hughes and forwards J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.

Team USA is extremely deep at forward, so Adam Gaudette faces a serious challenge here. But seeing how much he’s progressed in 2019-20, it’s not crazy to think that he’ll make a serious push for a roster spot.

On this current Vancouver roster, Bo Horvat is the only potential candidate to make Team Canada. But as you can see on Button’s projected roster, the Canadian squad is simply loaded with superstar talent. So it’s going to be very hardy for Horvat to make the team, but I wouldn’t completely discount the possibility.

For Team Sweden, it’s safe to call Elias Pettersson an absolute lock, and it’d be very surprising if Jacob Markstrom wasn’t on that team — although he (a pending UFA) might not even be a Canuck in 2022. Alexander Edler will be nearing the age of 36 during the 2022 Games, so let’s call it 50-50 right now.

Depending on his growth and development, 2019 first-round pick Vasili Podkolzin could make Team Russia. That might be wishful thinking, but he’s too talented to fully rule out. I would not be overly surprised if he made the cut.

Things always change, and there’s a high chance that NHLers don’t take part in the 2022 games. But if it happens? Let’s just say general manager Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green (if they still have their jobs, of course) will have plenty of smiles on their faces as they watch several roster players compete for Olympic gold.