The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have come to an end, and now the NHL prepares to send its players to Milan in 2026 to compete in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014. While it’s too soon to tell exactly what each country’s rosters will look like, let’s take a look at some of the Winnipeg Jets’ potential Olympic candidates.
Josh Morrissey – Team Canada
Josh Morrissey should be a shoo-in to play defence for Team Canada. He’s a great two-way player, and he’d be a solid addition to the team as one of the NHL’s most skilled left-shot defencemen. In 81 games, he scored 10 goals and tallied 59 assists, and he finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting, so his talent isn’t going unheralded. In 2015, he helped Canada win gold at the World Juniors and was subsequently named to the First All-Star Team after his impressive showing. There’s no doubt in my mind that he should be on Team Canada.
Mark Scheifele – Team Canada
While Mark Scheifele may not be the most likely candidate for Team Canada, his name still deserves to be in the conversation. He finished this past season with 72 points (25 goals and 47 assists), one of his highest career totals. His name seemingly hasn’t come up regarding Canada’s Four Nations Faceoff roster, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still make it to the Olympics.
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He played for Team Canada at the 2014, 2016, and 2017 World Championships, winning gold in 2016 and silver in 2017. He will be competing with a slew of talented NHL players for a spot, but if he keeps up his current level of play, he certainly has a chance.
Connor Hellebuyck – Team USA
Out of everyone on this list, I have the most confidence in Connor Hellebuyck making the Olympic roster. He is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, with his most recent award coming this past season, and he’s consistently proven to be one of the best goalies in the league for the past several seasons. He finished the 2023-24 season with a .921 save percentage in 60 games and brought home the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the regular season.
He helped Team USA secure the bronze medal at the 2015 World Championship, so he’s no stranger to international play. He’s one of the strongest candidates for the United States if they want a shot at bringing home…
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