My Two Cents: Team Canada’s Classic Journey, Team USA’s Classic Fall

Don’t Look for Canada’s Dominance To End Anytime Soon

Team Canada at the Gold Medal Ceremony. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports Imaging.

If the NHL allows its players to play in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, look for Canada’s dominance to continue and be as strong as ever.

Even if the NHL decides not to participate four years from now, the Canadian amateur pool is as deep as anyone’s. Most of the players you are seeing on Team Canada today came from that very same pool at one point before they turned professional.

As for Sweden and Finland, they are very good hockey nations that earned their Silver and Bronze medals respectively. It was not an accident that they got medals either, as the right teams won the medals. Team USA finished a distant fourth, and trust me, compared to the other three, they weren’t close (More on that shortly).

If you are looking ahead to 2018, most of the 2014 roster will likely be there, as a number of their players are just now getting close to the prime of their careers. As for the Sharks, look for Logan Couture to be amongst those that will be in strong contention to make the 2018 Canadian roster. Vlasic will be a strong candidate to return. Sharks captain Joe Thornton and Marleau are probably unlikely as they will both be 38 by the time the next Winter Olympics roll around.

Players such as Corey Perry, Matt Duchene, Patrice Bergeron, Jamie Benn, John Tavares along with Crosby, Getzlaf and Toews will most likely to be back. Steven Stamkos, because of an unfortunate injury, did not participate this Olympiad, but will most likely be there in 2018.

This is a national team that is built to win and a national program that is built to last. The next nation to win the gold medal not named Team Canada will certainly have to earn it and fight and claw to do all they can to get their hands on the big prize. The Canadians earned the gold medal and they will not be looking to part ways with it anytime soon.

Congratulations to Team Canada on not only a job well done, but also on games well- played. Special congratulations go out to both Marleau and Vlasic as their contributions were one of many multiple assets Team Canada benefited from.