Calgary Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau’s Case for the Non-Olympics
By Ramina Shlah
A sad time in every hockey fan’s life: No Olympics. Let’s take a look at Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau’s case for making Team USA if there was an Olympics.
With an unfortunate ending with the NHL and the IOC not being able to come to an agreement, NHL players will not be allowed to go to the Winter Olympics in 2018. It seemed like a lot of people were against this decision, but according to NHL.com, they ran a poll and supposedly, in the United States, 73 percent said they were not in favor. In Canada, it was 53 percent against the break. The NHL has participated in every Winter Olympics since 1998. Many players have expressed their thoughts on the matter. And many aren’t in favour of the decision. Including Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau.
Via Sportsnet:
"Yeah, it’s a little difficult. Obviously everyone wants to represent their country and I’ve had the chance to do that three or four times. It’s been great every single time, but I don’t think anything compares to the Olympics. Being part of the Olympic Village and everything like that and watching other athletes compete for your country, it’s just a really cool experience from what I’ve heard from a lot of other players.It’s unfortunate that we won’t be able to do that, but I think it gives some of those college kids and some kids in the AHL a chance to do something that a lot of players won’t get the chance to do at some point in their careers. I know when I was in college I was watching T.J. Oshie four years ago. That’s glued in my memory there, watching that and something you wanted to be a part of, but it’s the way it goes sometimes. Gotta move past it and worry about your season with your NHL teams."
Unfortunately for Gaudreau, he won’t be able to live out his childhood dream next year. But would he have even made Team USA for the Olympics? Let’s find out.
First, he was just ranked as the 10th best winger by NHL.com. Only two players ahead of him on that list were American. But let’s look at his international playing and see how well he would gel on an international stage.
Related Story: Johnny Gaudreau Ranked 10th Best Winger by NHL.com
International
He’s also played internationally on several occasions. In 2013, he won a World Junior Gold Medal with Team USA. He had seven goals and nine points in seven games. That led the tournament. He was also voted as one of the best three players on Team USA.
In 2014, he also played with Team USA at the World Championship where he had 10 points in eight games, even though he only played in one NHL game in his career. More recently, he played with Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey last year where he had four points in three games.
He most recently played for Team USA this past May for the World Championship again where he had six goals and 11 points in eight games. He was also named a top three player for Team USA.
Related Story: Johnny Gaudreau's Journey at the World Championship
Based on his previous international performances, it makes sense that he would make Team USA. But let’s dive in a little deeper. Johnny Gaudreau has only been in the NHL for three seasons with the Calgary Flames, and he’s made the All-Star team three times. He was third in voting in his rookie season in 2014-2015 for the Calder Trophy, and he won rookie of the month twice that season. That season was the first time the Flames made the playoffs in six years.
This past June, he won the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player. In the three seasons that Gaudreau has been playing, the Calgary Flames have made the playoffs twice. Like I said, they didn’t make it for six years before that. And they hadn’t made it past the first round since 2004.
Furthermore, since his first NHL season in 2014-2015, he’s fourth among all American skaters in points with 203 in 231 games. Moreover, since then, he’s third among all American skaters in assists with 131 and he’s tied for third for points/per game with 0.88 pts/gp.
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This is quite the solid case for Johnny Gaudreau to make Team USA. In the Olympics that could have been, he would be a strong contender on a first line pairing at an Olympic stage where millions of people are watching him.
First, the NHL doesn’t let Johnny light his stick on fire at the All-Star game. Now, they’re taking away his chance at the Olympics. When will this oppression end?