Will we see Montreal Canadiens players at the 2022 and 2026 Olympics?

The NHL hasn’t gone to the Olympics since 2014, but that might change. The question is whether there will be representation from the Montreal Canadiens.

Hockey fans have been deprived of international hockey on the grandest stage for six years and counting. The NHL tried to replace things with the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, where we saw Montreal Canadiens players Shea Weber and Carey Price win, but it wasn’t nearly close to the level of importance. Not to mention the fact that it was taking place before the 2016-17 season seeing players rightfully holding back to avoid injury.

Players want back in the Olympics. Aside from winning the Stanley Cup, it’s something you dream about when working towards a career in professional hockey. Unfortunately, financial quarrels between the NHL and IOC (International Olympic Committee) kept that from happening. And then there’s Pierre Lebrun’s tweet.

With the calendar switching to July, the NHL is running out of time to finalize their Return to Play plan. This will detail who Phase 3 (Training Camp), Phase 4 (Restart of the season), the two hub cities, as well as the new CBA. However, Lebrun is hearing that the CBA could include allowing NHL players to play in the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics.

If that’s true, then that is beyond awesome. Cheering for your nation’s team is one thing, though there’s an extra layer of fandom when players from your NHL team is on the roster. But will there be Montreal Canadiens players on any of those Olympic teams?

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With a number of core players set to become UFAs at the end of the 2021-22 season, the Montreal Canadiens could look a lot different. That said, I don’t believe that Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Danault, Joel Armia or Jordan Weal would make their respective teams. That’s no disrespect to Gallagher and Danault, but Canada is stacked as it is. If Tomas Tatar winds up getting an extension, he’ll surely be added to Team Slovakia (assuming he’s still got it at 31.

Weber is still a very respected and revered defenceman in the NHL, and I’m sure Canada’s coaching staff will find a way to put him on the team. The same thing goes from Price. A lot can happen in two years, but for now, it’s safe to assume that he’d be one of the goalies invited to camp.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi has a chance to make it, if not 2022, then perhaps 2026. The former faces of Finnish hockey are getting older, and there will be open spots. Mikko Koivu and Valtteri Filppula, for example, will surely be replaced by a player such as Sebastian Aho of Carolina. The next two years will dictate whether Kotkaniemi can improve his game and get that recognition.

Alexander Romanov will be named to Team Russia if he follows the trajectory many expect for him. The Russian defence hasn’t had much skill on the backend in previous years aside from Andrei Markov and Dmitri Orlov at the WCOH. Romanov can bring that element to the team, and similarly to Kotkaniemi if it’s not 2022, then perhaps 2026.

Nick Suzuki has had a solid start to his career, but he may fall victim to the monster that is Canada. The same can be said for Cole Caufield on Team USA, possibly making 2026 their year if everything pans out.

Olympic hockey is irreplaceable, and it seems as if the NHL has finally realized that. If the new CBA includes participation, it’ll definitely be the best thing to come out of all of this.