The 2024 Summer season Olympics in Paris have come to an finish, and now the NHL prepares to ship its gamers to Milan in 2026 to compete within the Winter Olympics for the primary time since 2014. Whereas it’s too quickly to inform precisely what every nation’s rosters will appear like, let’s check out a number of the Winnipeg Jets’ potential Olympic candidates.
Josh Morrissey – Crew Canada
Josh Morrissey needs to be a shoo-in to play defence for Crew Canada. He’s an important two-way participant, and he’d be a stable addition to the workforce as one of many NHL’s most expert left-shot defencemen. In 81 video games, he scored 10 targets and tallied 59 assists, and he completed fifth in Norris Trophy voting, so his expertise isn’t going unheralded. In 2015, he helped Canada win gold on the World Juniors and was subsequently named to the First All-Star Crew after his spectacular exhibiting. There’s little doubt in my thoughts that he needs to be on Crew Canada.
Mark Scheifele – Crew Canada
Whereas Mark Scheifele will not be the almost certainly candidate for Crew Canada, his title nonetheless deserves to be within the dialog. He completed this previous season with 72 factors (25 targets and 47 assists), one in all his highest profession totals. His title seemingly hasn’t come up relating to Canada’s 4 Nations Faceoff roster, however that doesn’t imply he can’t nonetheless make it to the Olympics.
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He performed for Crew Canada on the 2014, 2016, and 2017 World Championships, successful gold in 2016 and silver in 2017. He might be competing with a slew of proficient NHL gamers for a spot, but when he retains up his present degree of play, he definitely has an opportunity.
Connor Hellebuyck – Crew USA
Out of everybody on this record, I’ve essentially the most confidence in Connor Hellebuyck making the Olympic roster. He’s a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, along with his most up-to-date award coming this previous season, and he’s persistently confirmed to be probably the greatest goalies within the league for the previous a number of seasons. He completed the 2023-24 season with a .921 save share in 60 video games and introduced house the William M. Jennings Trophy for permitting the fewest targets within the common season.
He helped Crew USA safe the bronze medal on the 2015 World Championship, so he’s no stranger to worldwide play. He’s one of many strongest candidates for the USA if they need a shot at bringing house the gold.
Kyle Connor – Crew USA
Two-time NHL All-Star Kyle Connor is a speedy offensive ahead and an vital asset to the Jets’ high six. His title has already been talked about in talks for Crew USA’s 4 Nations Faceoff roster, so it’s exhausting to think about he gained’t be a high contender for the Olympic roster as properly. In 65 video games, he recorded 61 factors (34 targets and 27 assists) and continues to be one of many greatest offensive forwards on the workforce.
Crew USA is loaded with expertise, so there’s a very good likelihood he might be relegated to the underside six. He’s solely represented the USA as soon as on the senior degree internationally, which was in 2016. Even so, he’s a robust offensive presence who can forecheck properly and could be a incredible addition to the workforce.
Nino Niederreiter – Crew Switzerland
Even at 31 years previous, Nino Niederreiter continues to be one in all Switzerland’s most expert forwards. This previous season with the Jets, he scored 18 targets and recorded 16 assists, bringing him to a grand whole of 34 factors in 77 video games. He’s a constant five-on-five participant and an important all-around asset.
On the 2023 World Championship, he captained Crew Switzerland, the place they got here in fifth place. Throughout the 2024 World Championship, he completed with seven factors in 10 video games and helped the workforce win silver. Though he’ll be a bit of on the older facet, he’s positive to make the Swiss workforce once more in 2026.
Nikolaj Ehlers – Crew Denmark
Earlier than Nikolaj Ehlers can characterize Denmark on the Olympics, he’ll have to assist them get there first. He was named to Crew Denmark to compete within the qualifying spherical for the Olympics, which can occur from Aug. 29 till Sept. 1. Denmark will play in opposition to Nice Britain, Japan, and Norway, and whoever wins will clinch an Olympic berth.
It’s no query that Ehlers is one in all Denmark’s greatest forwards. He had 5 targets and 4 assists in 2021 to assist Crew Denmark make it to the 2022 Beijing Olympics till the NHL in the end pulled its gamers from the competitors. In 82 video games final season with the Jets, he recorded 61 factors (25 targets and 36 assists), and his velocity and talent to create and end performs are coveted across the league. Ought to Denmark make it to the Olympics in 2026, I’ve full confidence he might be named to the workforce.
Vladislav Namestnikov – Crew Russia, or a Potential Impartial Equal
Vladislav Namestnikov is the largest wild card on this record for a few causes. To start out, Russia’s Olympic eligibility has but to be decided. Russia was banned from the 2024 Paris Olympics, however athletes have been allowed to compete below a impartial title (the Particular person Impartial Athletes). Whether or not or not the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) upholds its ban stays to be seen, but it surely places Namestnikov’s (and different Russian athletes’) Olympic hopes on maintain within the meantime.
Russia additionally has lots of nice forwards already, like Nikita Kucherov, Alex Ovechkin, and Artemi Panarin, to call a couple of, which lessens Namestnikov’s general probabilities. Nonetheless, he nonetheless has a shot at making the workforce as a depth piece. He’s identified for making the teammates round him higher, and he performs a troublesome recreation. He additionally beforehand performed for Russia through the World Cup of Hockey in 2016 and helped Crew Russia safe bronze on the 2017 World Championship. If the IOC in the end permits Russian athletes to compete (below their nation’s flag or in any other case), he no less than has an opportunity to make the roster.
The Jets Ought to Be Represented on the 2026 Olympics
Even with some uncertainty surrounding taking part nations, it will come as an enormous shock to not see a number of the Jets representing their nations in 2026. Gamers like Hellebuyck, Morrissey, and Niederreiter are locks for his or her respective groups, which implies Jets followers may have numerous totally different nations to root for when the time comes. Will probably be a while earlier than Olympic rosters are set, however I’m assured a number of Jets will be capable of add “Olympian” to their resumes.
