Now professionals, Donato, Greenway and Co. "That was a fun year, and I kind of feel the same way right now.” “It kind of feels like back in 2018: that year when I played in the world juniors and the Olympics and KHL," Tolvanen said. Only 2010 Olympic gold medalist Drew Doughty and 2022 Norris Trophy winner and playoff MVP Cale Makar - who turned down Canada's invite to the Olympics five years ago - are seeing more ice time this season than Dahlin.įinally seeing quality ice time in the NHL, Tolvanen is thriving with Seattle. Now the Sabres' top defenseman, Dahlin is playing plenty. “I was enjoying every second,” Dahlin said. Sorokin said Koshechkin “showed me how he works and plays in very big-pressure games, important games.” Dahlin felt the same way practicing with older Swedes. 3 goalie behind veteran national team starter Vasili Koshechkin. ![]() “But I feel like it definitely helped me that they saw me in person at the tournament and saw what I’m capable of.”ĭahlin, now with Buffalo, got into just two games with Sweden New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin played in one for the Russians and Rangers Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin was the No. “I think the scouts knew me from the KHL, and they kind of knew what my game looked like,” Francouz said. The Avalanche became the first team since 1972 to hoist the Cup after two goalies won at least five games each during their run, and they can, in part, thank Francouz's experience five years ago for putting him on the radar. "It’s great to see the success."įor all their individual successes, Francouz is the only player from the 2018 Olympics to win the Stanley Cup since. ![]() “It seems like it’s really helped him to get to the new place and get some more minutes there," Heiskanen said. Claimed by the Kraken, he has since scored nine goals in 20 games. Heiskanen is now a standout for Dallas in the NHL Tolvanen languished with Nashville before going on waivers this season. Heiskanen was the third pick in the draft, Tolvanen went later in the first round and then they were roommates while teaming up for Finland. Tolvanen and Heiskanen looked like the real deal at the time, too. “There was not much talk in North America at that time about him, but everybody that played in the KHL or played against the Russians at the national stage knew that he’s the real deal.” “Since the first game we played against them, I knew that he was going to be a really good player,” said Tolvanen, who had three goals and six assists in five games at the Olympics before turning 19. Only one player had more points than Kaprizov and Tolvanen, who knew all about his Russian counterpart from their time facing off in the KHL. It has for Kaprizov, who was the best player on the ice for those two weeks while still being an unproven NHL prospect. You kind of got a sense that if those guys could hang around a lot of longtime NHLers, that it would bode well for their career.” ![]() “You had a lot of guys who played in the NHL for a long time. “It’s a testament to how good the hockey was there,” said Donato, who tied with Kaprizov and Ilya Kovalchuk for the tournament lead with five goals. in an elimination shootout in that tournament now his name is on the Stanley Cup after helping Colorado win it last season.įrom Kaprizov to Francouz, the success stories from the 2018 Olympics are now playing out in the NHL. Before joining the Kraken and scoring at will this season, Eeli Tolvanen was roommates with Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who along with then-17-year-old Swede Rasmus Dahlin are among the best at the position.įew knew about Czech goaltender Pavel Francouz before he beat the U.S. in Pyeongchang alongside Seattle forward Ryan Donato. He plays with Jordan Greenway who paused his college career to represent the U.S. Turns out, the tournament in South Korea offered a glimpse of what was to come for a handful of players.įive years since starring for the Russians on their way to gold, Kirill Kaprizov is now a dominant force for Minnesota. The NHL skipping the 2018 Olympics looks in retrospect like a major mistake, since the world's best players have yet to face off against each other on the international stage. Henrik Lundqvist never got a chance to win a second gold medal with Sweden, this time with Victor Hedman in front of him. Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel did not get the chance to play alongside Patrick Kane for the U.S. ![]() Connor McDavid could not team up with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon for Canada.
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