For the majority of players not heading to the Winter Olympics, the next few weeks will be a welcomed time to relax, refresh and heal up any nagging injuries that have been bothering them throughout the season thus far. However, those that are headed to Milan won’t have that luxury. The hockey should be very intense as many talented stars like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews have been waiting to play in an Olympics for their entire careers.
The No. 1 priority for most players will be winning a gold medal, but for others there are additional stakes. Having a good showing at the Olympics can potentially turn someone’s season around or put to rest the narrative that they didn’t deserve to be on their respective rosters. There’s also an opportunity to really make a name for yourself. Just ask TJ Oshie, whose stock rose in a big way after his incredible display in the shootout in 2014.
Some may also be under pressure to turn in a good performance and could be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Here are four players who have something to prove in Milan:
Drew Doughty, Canada
Doughty’s inclusion on the roster was never really in doubt, as the Los Angeles Kings defenceman has represented Canada several times on the international stage and is a two-time Olympic gold medallist. That said, some would argue that the 36-year-old may be losing a step and other young talented blue-liners deserved a look.
Doughty’s competitive drive remains as strong as ever, though there is some evidence that gives credence to belief he’s slowing down. The condensed schedule may be taking a toll on Doughty, as he’s struggled over the past month or so. In Doughty’s past 18 games, he’s managed just a single assist and is a minus-12. The Kings have also been outscored 15-8 at five-on-five when Doughty has been on the ice over that stretch.
You could also point to the fact that Doughty isn’t as quick as he once was. His maximum speed is down slightly from what it was two years ago and five of his six highest bursts of the year came back in October or November, according to NHL Edge. We know the rink in Milan is going to be smaller than NHL standards but you can bet the pace of the game is going to be much faster. Doughty is really going to be tested if he’s forced to defend high-end talent from the U.S. or Sweden off the rush.
There is likely going to be scrutiny on the Canadian blue line, and Doughty specifically, if they struggle for a couple of reasons. The first being Doughty is the third-oldest player on the team and the oldest defenceman, so if foot speed is an issue the fingers may start pointing to Doughty. Secondly, many younger and offensively gifted rearguards were passed over by Canada for this tournament. Evan Bouchard is one of the best power-play quarterbacks in the league and might be one of the hottest players going right now, but was ultimately passed over. Same goes for Jakob Chychrun, who is already up to 21 goals on the season. Matthew Schaefer was potentially the most surprising omission, as he’s taken the league by storm and may already be one of the smoothest skaters in the NHL.
Canada felt taking the same eight defencemen that won at the 4 Nations was the right call due to their experience and chemistry, but they’ve definitely left themselves open for criticism if speed and puck movement from the back end is an issue. Doughty is going to have to be at his absolute best when called upon.
Connor Hellebuyck, United States
You may be wondering what Hellebuyck has left to prove after capturing the Hart and Vezina Trophies a season ago. Well, as stellar as Hellebuyck is during the regular season, his postseason stats leave a lot to be desired and there is a belief by some that he doesn’t deliver in big games.
Last season Hellebuyck finished with a .925 save percentage and 47 wins, as the Winnipeg Jets netminder lapped the field in the competition for the league’s best goalie. However, Hellebuyck really struggled in the playoffs, to the tune of an .866 save percentage as the Presidents’ Trophy winners were bounced in the second round and were probably fairly fortunate to even make it past the first. His previous two post-seasons weren’t much better, as Hellebuyck posted a mark of .870 in 2023-24 and then an .886 in 2022-23. The Jets lost in the first round on both of those occasions, winning just one game in each series.
Hellebuyck did play very well at the 4 Nations last February for the most part, though. He was excellent in the Americans' two round-robin games against Finland and Canada, allowing just two goals total over the two starts. Still, the 32-year-old came up short in a rematch against Canada in the final, getting outdueled by Jordan Binnington. The St. Louis Blues goaltender was spectacular during overtime of the championship game, where Hellebuyck needed to make one more save.
It will be interesting to see how the U.S. handles the goaltending rotation in Milan. Hellebuyck will certainly get a chance to run with the starting job, but given his play in last year’s playoffs and the fact he’s having a down season, it’s possible the Americans could make a switch if he struggles. Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman are more than capable of coming in to take over, so Hellebuyck could be on a short leash in this tournament.
J.T. Miller, United States
Some felt that Miller should not have been included on the American roster this time around. Miller is having a bit of a down year by his standards and is now minus-22 on the campaign, leaving many to think the Americans left off a few more deserving choices.
Part of Miller’s struggles can be attributed to the New York Rangers taking a step back and retooling, but there’s definitely an argument to be made that the Americans had a handful of choices that are playing far better than Miller has. Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat all have a case to be included in the squad over Miller given the numbers they put up this season. Now Miller does play centre, but the Americans have no shortage of pivots they can use. Matthews, Jack Hughes, Brock Nelson, Vincent Trocheck, Dylan Larkin and Jack Eichel give the U.S. more than enough down the middle.
One thing Miller does bring to the table is physicality. He didn’t shy away from fighting Colton Parayko at the 4 Nations and while we’re unlikely to see anyone drop the gloves at the Olympics, the fact that Miller provides a gritty element is no doubt something the U.S. squad values. The Americans left a lot of goals at home with Robertson, DeBrincat and Caufield, so Miller is going to have to effectively play on the edge and chip in some offence here and there as well to compensate.
Elias Pettersson, Sweden
What has happened to Pettersson? It was only three years ago when he was a 100-point player and he still was well over a point per game in 2023-24. But Pettersson isn’t anywhere near as dynamic as he once was. It used to be easy to spot Pettersson standing out among the majority of skaters but now he looks very ordinary on most nights. After managing only 45 points in 64 games a year ago, Pettersson is once again underwhelming this season with just 34 at the moment.
With the Vancouver Canucks rebuilding, there have even been rumblings that Pettersson is on the trade block but his value is probably at an all-time low right now. A strong showing at the Olympics could change all that, though. There was a similar feeling about Pettersson’s Swedish teammate Erik Karlsson heading into last year’s 4 Nations, as the Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman also was a potential trade target at the time. Karlsson ended up staying put, though he did do a lot at the 4 Nations to prove he could still play at a high level. The veteran had three points in three games and handled the speed of the world’s best players very well.
Pettersson has a similar opportunity to rebuild some of his value and whether that leads to a trade or just allows him to generate some momentum to close out the season remains to be seen. Sometimes when a player like Pettersson is in a difficult situation for a couple of years, it can do a number on their confidence. In Milan, Pettersson is going to be playing with and against elite players everywhere he turns, so if that doesn’t bring out his best, it’s probably time for the Canucks to be very concerned about how his contract is going to age.
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