Winnipeg Jets Who Could Feature at 2022 Beijing Olympics
As we look ahead to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, here are members of the Winnipeg Jets that could feature for their home countries at the games.
One of the biggest questions around the NHL this year is whether its players will be allowed to participate at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The Winnipeg Jets along with every franchise in the NHL has a three-week gap in their schedule in February for the Olympics, but there is still no indication if NHL players will be competing in Beijing.
This article is going to look at some players from the Winnipeg Jets who could make that trip to the games to compete for Gold if NHLers are allowed to play.
Nine countries have already clinched a spot in the Olympics including the USA, Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, and China. Three other nations will book their tickets to the games at the Olympic qualifiers that are set to take place at the end of August in Europe.
In total, out of the countries that have already solidified their spot at the Olympics along with the countries that are competing in the qualifiers, there are three countries that could potentially have a player or players from the current Winnipeg Jets roster feature on their roster. Those nations along with the Jets player(s) that will be representing them are listed below:
3. Denmark
Nikolaj Ehlers
As our site wrote about on Thursday, Denmark is one of those teams that are playing in the Olympic qualification tournament running from August 26-28 in Oslo, Norway.
Nikolaj Ehlers would feature for Denmark at the Olympics, but that all hinges on if Denmark can get through the qualifiers and finish top of the group against Norway, South Korea, and Slovenia.
During the qualifiers, each country will play a round-robin against the other teams from their group. At the end of those games, the nation with the most points will clinch a spot at the Olympics, while the other nations will be out of contention for an Olympics spot.
If Denmark does get through, Ehlers would definitely be one of the players to watch at the games. Compared to the heavyweights of the tournament, Denmark does not have the same NHL caliber roster as that of Canada, USA; and Russia, but they do feature some NHL talent.
Ehlers would play top-line minutes at the Olympics and could be the difference-maker for Denmark. If Denmark does qualify, it will be exciting to watch Ehlers use his elite speed on the bigger ice.
2. Canada
Mark Scheifele
One Winnipeg Jet who could potentially suit up for Canada at next year’s winter games is Mark Scheifele.
Scheifele, who is from Kitchener, Ontario, has been one of the Jets’ top performers the past couple of seasons and could be considered one of the top-centerman in the NHL.
The twenty-eight-year-old led the Jets in points during the past season and was tied for the team-lead in points during the 2019-2020 season with Kyle Connor. During the 2021 season, Sceheifele scored 21 goals and added another 42 assists for a total of 63 points.
Scheifele has represented Canada three times at the senior level including representing them at the 2015, 2016, and 2017 editions of the IIHF World Championships. During those tournaments, he has a combined 21 points in 27 games. Scheiefle was also a member of Team Canada twice at the under-twenty World Championship and also competed as a member of Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.
If there is NHL participation at the winter games, Canada is to have a stacked roster with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon. With that being stated, some hockey analysts have projected that Sceifele could be a bottom-six forward on the team or even be the thirteenth forward on the team.
A great start to the 2021-2022 season will only help Scheifele’s case to make the roster for the Canadian Olympic team.
1. The United States of America
Connor Hellebuyck, Kyle Connor, and Blake Wheeler
The United States may have the most Winnipeg Jets on their roster compared to any other country at the tournament.
We could see three Jets, and even potentially a fourth, wearing the red, white, and blue come mid-February.
Since the start of the 2016-2017 regular season, no American goaltender has won more games in that time span than Connor Hellebuyck.
The former Vezina Trophy winner is set to lead the United States in goal and has performed outstanding when wearing his country’s colors. Hellebuyck has been called up for the USA three times for the World Championships, although he only appeared in games during two of those tournaments. During those tournaments, Hellebuyck has a record of 9-1-0 with a 1.59 goals against average and a .942 save percentage.
The second player to make the cut for the USA is Kyle Connor. Connor has been extremely consistent with the Jets the past four seasons and has scored 246 points in 285 games played. The twenty-four-year-old fits in extremely well with a group of fast American forwards.
Blake Wheeler may be the third Jet to make USA’s roster at the games. Wheeler may play a bottom-line role and provide the USA with depth and a needed veteran presence. Some hockey analysts predict that Wheeler will make the team while others say that he may be one of the ones to miss out on the games.
On the Bubble: Neal Pionk
Pionk may miss the cut due to a number of fantastic offensive defensemen that the USA coaching staff has to choose from. Therefore, Mike Sullivan and his coaching staff may look to complete their roster with two-way defensemen and/or defensive-defensemen rather than adding the offensive Pionk.
As we all know, injuries do happen and with a strong run of performances in the early part of the season, Pionk may work himself on to USA’s roster for the games.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: If NHL players are allowed to compete at the 2022 Olympics, which Winnipeg Jets players do you predict will represent their respective countries at the games? Leave your comments below!
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