Possible Toronto Maple Leafs Playing in the 2022 Olympics
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be well represented in Beijing.
After NHL players missed out on playing at the 2018 winter Olympics, the 2022 games immediately became a topic of discussion. Thankfully, the NHL announced their approval of NHL participation at this upcoming Olympics, barring any last-minute issues. The Toronto Maple Leafs – and the rest of the league – will pause their season for two weeks, but it will be well worth it.
Most fans will focus on how their country will perform. Others look to enjoy the best of the best go head-to-head in an All-Star-like tournament.
Well, I’m here to tell you that many players from the Toronto Maple Leafs will play in Beijing. Here are the expected players to play in the 2022 Olympics.
Auston Matthews
That should come as no surprise. Not only is Auston Matthews the biggest name on the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he is one of the best players in the world. He was one of the first three Americans announced to make the roster.
His history of playing at an international level is well-noted, with appearances playing in the World Cup of Hockey, World Juniors, and World Championship. In total, he donned the red, white, and blue in 42 games and three games with North America’s under-23 team at the 2016 World Cup.
Most recognize Matthews as one of the best players in the NHL, but we must give credit to his international play. He averaged at least one point-per-game in five of his seven international tournaments, totaling 56 points over that span.
He should play on the top line for the U.S.A. alongside other stars. Auston will likely play alongside familiar faces in Beijing, such as Johnny Gaudreau, Seth Jones, and Connor Hellebuyck.
Mitch Marner
Another part of the big three youngsters in Toronto is Mitch Marner. The winger is one of the better players in the NHL at threading the needle. He regularly makes difficult passes look easy and has an underrated shot, opening up the opportunity to score goals.
While Marner did flash internationally, he is not as solidified as Matthews. The Markham native played in 20 games wearing the red maple leaf. In that time, he accumulated 27 points.
Team Canada will be full of top-notch goal-scorers. To complement that, they need playmakers that can set everyone up from anywhere on the ice. That player is Mitch Marner.
While Canada is always stacked, Marner should still make the team one of the few elite pure wingers. He should also see time as one of possibly four forwards on the top power-play unit.
William Nylander
Here is the third of Toronto’s big young three. William Nylander is considered the third-best , but he would still be a top player on any team in the NHL. His ability to control the puck, dangle and score goals catches the eyes of everyone.
William Nylander was born in Calgary as his father, Michael Nylander, played for the Calgary Flames. He was born a Canadian, but he represents Sweden internationally. After playing his u13 and u14 seasons in Chicago, he moved back to Sweden and dominated.
He played a total of 70 international games, with all of them representing Sweden. He racked up an impressive 101 points over that span. The large stage does not frighten Nylander, as he has shown up at every tournament he played.
His stardom should earn him a spot on the top line. The team lacks top-notch scorers but has a plethora of tier-two forwards. That gives Nylander and his 0.85 points per game over the past two seasons in the NHL the edge to play as the first-line winger.
Morgan Rielly
Morgan Rielly was a 2012 fifth overall selection and played in the big leagues after one season split between the Marlies and the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Rielly played 40 international games, notching 19 points. He was part of the 2016 gold medal team at the World Championship and bronze medal team at the u17 World Juniors but failed to record any medals in his four other tournaments.
He is an offensive-minded two-way defenseman that is efficient moving the puck. While some wish he was more responsible defensively, he is better than some belief.
He should earn a spot on either the second or third pairing for Team Canada. There is a turnaround for defensemen representing the country, with older players unable to hold their roster spots. Despite the invading youth, the 27-year-old Rielly should crack the lineup.
Petr Mrazek
A new arrival in the 6ix will be representing his country in Beijing. Goaltender Petr Mrazek is expected to split games with Jack Campbell but could be relied upon for the Czech Republic. The 2010 fifth-round selection has been a fringe starter for most of his NHL career.
He has played 34 career international games, with five in the World Championship and two in the World Cup of Hockey. No, that is not much experience at all.
Stats don’t back up his play either, with a .894 save percentage in 10 international games during the ’16-’17 season. That goes to show what you will get in a goaltender like Mrazek.
The Czechs do not have many options if Mrazek is considered an option. His competition includes David Rittich and Pavel Francouz. While you shouldn’t pencil in Petr to be a starter, he is a lock as one of the three fringe goalies on the team.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Captain
While John Tavares was once a lock to represent his country, the tide has turned. The 31-year-old is younger than some believe, but his play might not be enough to remain one of the elite Canadian forwards. If he doesn’t make the team, he already owns a successful international career.
He played 32 international games with the men’s teams and 25 games with the Canadian Junior Teams. He earned two gold medals at the World Juniors, one at the Olympics, and won the World Cup of Hockey.
While he had zero points in his four games at the 2014 Olympics, he notched four points in six games at the World Cup and 25 points in 22 games at the World Championship. Not to mention he is still hanging around the one-point-per-game mark in the NHL.
Some projected rosters have Tavares on the outside looking in, but others pencil him in as a fourth-liner or an extra forward. Being a bottom forward sounds like a good spot for Johnny T to impact as a leader and contribute if any injuries creep up.
On most teams, he would be a top-six player. Unfortunately, Team Canada is always filled from top to bottom with top-end talent. That’s not anything against John Tavares. There is an enormous amount of talent coming out of Canada.
Ilya Mikheyev
The farthest shot of them all on the Toronto Maple Leafs to realistically play in the Olympics is Ilya Mikheyev, who represents Russia. He isn’t the most established player, but he is a reliable bottom-six defensive player with offensive upside.
Mikheyev represented Russia in Division I (19 games) and Division II (9 games) tournaments, totaling 12 points. That’s not the most impressive resume internationally, but his game stretches beyond the offense.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs, he is a third-line winger and sees time on the penalty kill unit. He won’t do anything splashy, but he will do the little things right.
Russia is known for being a top-heavy team. With that in mind, Ilya Mikheyev can sneak into the fourth line or as an extra forward. His two-way style of play and a dropoff in talent beyond the third line gives him that chance.
Jake Muzzin
Some consider Jake Muzzin to be the best defenseman on the Toronto Maple Leafs. I would argue otherwise, but it’s encouraging for the Leafs to have two prominent defensemen at their disposal. I never thought I would be able to say that.
He has 11 international games to his name, with ten being in the 2015 gold medal run at the World Championship. He was a reserve player for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey cup winning team, playing in only one game.
In those games, Muzzin was a stable defender while putting up eight points. All were from the World Championship run. His recent international experience and improvement as an overall player should keep him in the discussion for the roster.
I have yet to see a projected lineup with Jake Muzzin penned into the roster, but that could change with an impressive start to the 2021-2022 season. He is a frequent name on the “just missed” section, which should have him in the discussion for an extra defenseman roster spot.
Recap – Toronto Maple Leafs to Watch in the 2022 Olympics
Altogether, that’s a list of eight Leafs that could crack a roster spot on their country’s Olympic teams. It’s an impressive number, but it will likely be limited to six.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a very talented roster. Players will get featured on four (maybe five) teams at the Olympics, so you will have a lot to watch. Here are the players by country:
Canada
- Mitch Marner
- Morgan Rielly
- John Tavares
- Jake Muzzin
U.S.A.
- Auston Matthews (My lock)
Sweden
- William Nylander
Czech Republic
- Petr Mrazek
Russia
- Ilya Mikheyev (My darkhorse)
I listed my lock and darkhorse to make their respective national teams. For obvious reasons, Auston Matthews will play on the top line for the U.S.A. That is unless injuries hold him out.
Ilya Mikheyev is fighting an uphill battle but wants a more prominent role with the Leafs to prove himself. If he gets his wish and takes advantage of it, he could crack the lineup on the fourth line or extra forward. It’s more realistic than some believe.
Most of you will want to watch Team Canada. That may be because you are Canadian or because there is the possibility of four Maple Leafs playing on the team.
It’s the first time since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey NHL players will play in an international tournament. I’m not counting the World Championship because the top players don’t play. If you don’t remember, the NHL didn’t allow their players to play in the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang.
Thankfully, things are different this time around. After eight years of waiting, the time is almost here. The 2020 Olympics in Beijing begin on February 4th, with hockey expected to start on the 3rd. It’s odd, but hey, give me some Olympic hockey. ( All Stats courtesy of Elite Prospects).
Next. Leafs Top 10 Prospects (Updated for the New Season). dark
Regardless, this is some of the most entertaining hockey you can watch. The NHL doesn’t like it, but it’s true. Sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the best-on-best tournament.