NHL isn't going to 2022 Winter Olympics, but some Stanley Cup winners are there
Eric Staal, who won a gold medal with Canada in 2010 and didn't go in 2014, had little chance of making the 2022 team. He was an unsigned free agent and Canada has enough talent to field multiple teams of NHL players.
But his fortunes changed when the NHL dropped out of the Olympics in December amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Now, the 2003 No. 2 overall pick will be one of the key players as Team Canada's captain tries to help his country improve on its 2018 bronze medal and win gold for the third time in the last four Olympics.
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"When you think of Team Canada, you think of a guy like Eric Staal," general manager Shane Doan said. "I think that gives credibility to the group, and I think he's somebody we're going to count on for his leadership and lots of parts of his game."
Staal, 37, won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, was the team's captain for seven seasons and had 1,034 points in 1,293 games with five teams over 17 seasons. He went to the Final with the Montreal Canadiens last season.
He had kept skating in a bid to land an NHL contract and played four games for the AHL Iowa Wild so Team Canada management could watch him. He impressed Doan with his play and an overtime goal.
“Sometimes an opportunity like this just kind of comes and falls into your lap and you need to cherish and relish the moment," Staal said. "For me, I’m prepared for it and excited for it."
Team Canada's Jason Demers, Daniel Winnik, David Desharnais and Josh Ho-Sang also have NHL experience.
A look at some other recognizable former NHL players in Beijing:
Forward David Krejci, 35, Czech Republic: The former Boston Bruins' No. 2 center returned to his native country during the offseason. He won a Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011 and had 730 points in 962 games. He's averaging close to a point a game in the Czech League. He also played in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. Former NHLers Michael Frolik and Vladimir Sobotka also made the roster.
Valtteri Filppula, 37, Finland: He won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and played more than 1,000 NHL games. He's averaging close to a point a game in the Swiss league. Former NHLers Sami Vatanen, Markus Granlund, Leo Komarov and Mikko Lehtonen also made the team.
Artem Anisimov, 33, Russia: He had four 20-goal seasons in the NHL and went to the 2012 conference finals with the New York Rangers. He's playing in the Kontinental Hockey League this season. This will be his second Olympics. Former NHLers Mikhail Grigorenko, Slava Voynov and Nikita Gusev also made the team for the defending Olympic gold medalists.
Frans Nielsen, 37, Denmark: He played 10 seasons with the New York Islanders and five with the Red Wings, scoring 25 goals in 2013-14. He's playing this season in Germany. Denmark has qualified for the Olympics for the first time. Former NHLer Mikkel Boedker also made the team.
Marcus Kruger, 31, Sweden: The role player and penalty killer played eight seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks — winning Stanley Cups in 2013 and 2015 — and one season with the Carolina Hurricanes. He won a silver medal in 2014 and is currently playing in Switzerland. Forwards Jacob de la Rose and Lucas Wallmark also played in the NHL.
Former NHL players for other countries:
USA: The American team chose to skew young with college players, but six have NHL experience, led by Nick Shore (299 games) and Steven Kampfer (231). Former Red Wings veteran Justin Abdelkader was named as an alternate.
Germany: Tobias Rieder played 478 NHL games and winger Tom Kuhnhackl won Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
Switzerland: Defensemen Yannick Weber, Raphael Diaz and Mirco Mueller combined for 885 NHL games, led by Weber's 499. Reto Berra was an NHL backup goalie.
Latvia: Forward Kaspars Daugavins has the most NHL experience with 91 games.
Slovakia: Defenseman Martin Marincin and forward Tomas Jurco combined for 448 NHL games.
China: The team consists of the KHL's Beijing-based Kunlun Red Star. Forward Brandon Yip has the most NHL experience at 174 games.