TAMPERE. A new generation of superstars is waving the scepter in the hockey NHL. In the front row marchers, for example Connor McDavid (26 years), Leon Draisaitl (27), Nathan MacKinnon (27) and Cale Makar (24).
Finns have carried the torch in recent years Mikko Rantanen (26), Miro Heiskanen (23), Sebastian Aho (25) and Alexander Barkov (27).
They all belong to the same generation of players that will dominate the dollar league for years to come. In international ice hockey, however, their contribution has fallen short. Of course, it’s not because of them.
The world’s best players have not been brought together in the same tournament since the 2016 World Cup. It can also be discussed whether the World Cup was a real top tournament. It was organized before the start of the NHL season and, in addition to Canada and the USA, a special team of young players from North America was seen there.
Almost seven years have passed since the World Cup, and there is no certainty about the next World Cup or the participation of NHL players in the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan. There are some plans, maybe there is a will, but there is a lack of concrete.
The danger is growing that an entire generation of NHL superstars will lose the opportunity to play against each other in a top-level national team tournament. The losers also include ice hockey followers who have been waiting for the highest level tournament for years with water in their tongue.
– This situation is a bit miserable. It would be great to have all the best in the world in the same tournament. I hope it will be done. It would be really fun to see how we would do. We have a lot of good players in their prime, Finland’s talisman Rantanen commented in Tampere.
Rantanen went to the World Cup largely because he lacks a championship in the men’s national team. The star striker states in the middle of the World Cup tournament that Olympic hockey against the best would be very difficult for him.
– Playing in the Olympics once in a lifetime would be a dream come true.
Rantanen was not involved in the 2016 World Cup, so he lacks the experience of playing against the best in a Suomi shirt.
That’s what many others lack. Heiskanen made it to the Olympic team in Pyeongchang when he was only 18 years old, but there were no NHL players.
Considered the best defender in the world, Makar has yet to play a single prestigious men’s tournament in a Canadian shirt.
We went through the biggest NHL stars of the moment player by player. You can find the list at the end of the article.
Since the 2016 World Cup was of questionable status, only the world’s current top players have played in the absolute number one tournament Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson and Roman Josi.
The NHL players were supposed to perform at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, but Corona watered down the dream that had been built for years.
Now the patterns are confused by Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The NHL might be ready to organize the World Cup so that the Russians could participate, but many countries would not accept the plan. The clock is ticking for the Olympic Games in Milan, and peace in Ukraine does not seem likely at the moment.
Rantanen does not want to take a position on how the participation of the Russians should be handled.
– I can’t really say about that. The decision-makers decide, says Rantanen.
German star Moritz Seider he also commented very carefully on the Russia issue.
– I’m not a politician, I play hockey and I want to play against the best. Of course, we have to remember the big picture, but I won’t comment on that now, says Seider.
The international ice hockey confederation IIHF informed that the chairman Luc Tardif answers questions about the World Cup or Olympic hockey at the media conference on the closing day of the World Cup tournament.
NHL and players’ association NHLPA informants (you switch to another service) last November that the World Cup will not take place in February 2024, although this was planned. The next opportunity could be in February 2025.
– Many people do not understand how difficult the process of building such a tournament (World Cup and Olympic hockey) is. Consent of the NHL, NHLPA and IIHF is required. I hope it would be successful in a few years, because people would really like it, USA powerhouse Alex Tuch amount.
The value tournaments of the world’s sharpest tip
Connor McDavid, Canada
2 World Cups (2016, 2018)
1 World cup (2016)
Leon Draisaitl, Germany
5 World Championships (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
1 World cup (2016)
Nathan MacKinnon, Canada
3 World Championships 2014, 2015, 2017)
1 World cup (2016)
Mitchell Marner, Canada
1 World Cup (2017)
Mikko Rantanen, Finland
4 World Cups (2016, 2017, 2018, 2023)
Auston Matthews, USA
1 World Cup (2016)
1 World cup (2016)
Matthew Tkachuk, USA
–
Artemi Panarin, Russia
3 World Championships (2015, 2016, 2017)
1 World cup (2016)
Sidney Crosby, Canada
2 Olympic Games (2010, 2014)
2 World Cups (2006, 2017)
1 World cup (2016)
David Pastrnak, Czech Republic
4 World Cups (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)
1 World cup (2016)
Nikita Kutsherov, Russia
2 World Cups (2017, 2018)
1 World cup (2016)
Jason Robertson, USA
1 World Cup (2021)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Canada
2 World Cups (2012, 2018)
1 World cup (2016)
Elias Pettersson, Sweden
2 World Cups (2018, 2019)
Johnny Gaudreau, USA
4 World Championships (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019)
1 World cup (2016)
Kirill Kaprizov, Russia
1 Olympic Games (2018)
2 World Cups (2018, 2019)
Steven Stamkos, Canada
3 World Cups (2009, 2010, 2013)
1 World cup (2016)
Erik Karlsson, Sweden
1 The Olympics (2014)
2 World Cups (2010, 2012)
1 World cup (2016)
Cale Makar, Canada
–
Adam Fox, USA
1 World Cup (2019)
Roman Josi, Switzerland
1 The Olympics (2014)
8 World Championships (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019)
1 World cup (2016)
Quinn Hughes, USA
2 World Cups (2018, 2019)
Victor Hedman, Sweden
3 World Cups (2010, 2012, 2017)
1 World cup (2016)
Andrei Vasilevsky, Russia
3 World Cups (2014, 2017, 2019)
1 World cup (2016)
The ten attackers and five defenders who scored the most points in the last three seasons made it to the list, as well as the goalkeeper who saved the most victories. In addition, players who broke the 100-point mark in one season from the last three seasons were also included.