These young hockey players at 2022 Winter Olympics could become NHL stars
When the Olympic Athletes of Russia won the gold medal in the non-NHL 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, some prominent future NHL players were on the roster.
Forward Kirill Kaprizov, who scored the overtime winner in the gold medal game, would become NHL rookie of the year last season and an All-Star this season with the Minnesota Wild. Backup goalie Ilya Sorokin is establishing himself as the No. 1 goalie with the New York Islanders. Igor Shesterkin, the extra goalie in those Games, is a midseason favorite for the Vezina Trophy with the New York Rangers.
U.S. forward Troy Terry, meanwhile, made the NHL All-Star Game with the Anaheim Ducks during a breakout season.
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The NHL won't have players at the Beijing Olympics. Which Olympians could develop into key players in the NHL?
D Owen Power, Canada
The University of Michigan star was drafted No. 1 overall by Buffalo Sabres in 2021 but chose to return to college. He had a hat trick in the world junior championships before COVID shut down the tournament and he played against older players on Canada's gold-medal world championships team in 2021. He has 26 points in 24 games. He's 6-6 and will be a key player on the Sabres' blue line for years.
He says going to the Olympics will help his development.
“I think it’s going to be huge," he said in a recent Team Canada Zoom session. "I think just the experience itself. You learn so much being around the older guys who have been playing pro for so long. … You’re playing against older, stronger guys, so you’re definitely going to learn a ton.”
F Matty Beniers, USA
Power's college teammate and the Big Ten's top scorer with 36 points was taken second overall in 2021 by the Seattle Kraken. Once he leaves college, he can help an expansion team that ranks in the bottom third of the league in scoring.
D Jake Sanderson, USA
The North Dakota sophomore was the U.S. captain at the world juniors. He's No. 2 on the Fighting Hawks in scoring and was drafted fifth overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2020. He's the son of six-time NHL 30-goal scorer Geoff Sanderson.
F Mason McTavish, Canada
The 2021 third-overall pick played nine games with Anaheim, picking up three points, before being returned to junior hockey. He'll eventually fit in the talented youngsters on the Ducks, who will need center depth once Ryan Getzlaf retires.
F Brendan Brisson, USA
Another Wolverine. The son of prominent agent Pat Brisson is among college hockey's leading goal scorers with 17. The center is undersized but has a hard shot and goes into the tough areas. He was taken late in the first round in 2020 by the Vegas Golden Knights, who have a lot of depth but also have salary cap woes and will need younger players.
F Juraj Slafkovsky, Slovakia
Central Scouting has Slafkovsky, 17, as the second-ranked international skater in the 2022 NHL draft. He's projected to go into the top 10. He's 6-3, 216 pounds, and is playing in the Finnish league. Slovakia teammate Simon Nemec, a defenseman, could also go in the first round in 2022.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Owen Power among Winter Olympics hockey players who could be NHL stars
