The Other Guys

While Gamble and Hoitz may have solved the biggest crime New York City has ever seen, there will be no happy ending to this story. As you may have heard, the NHL has all but made the the annoucement that they're opting out of participating in the Olympics due to the growing COVID-19 problem within their ranks and across the planet. As a result, we won't see a MacKinnon-McDavid-Crosby line work their magic anytime soon or, perhaps, ever. But, like Gamble and Hoitz, I'm here to tell you that there are two empty desks once filled by Danson and Highsmith, and it's time for the other guys to step in and do this country proud!

Obviously, the announcement that Canada was withdrawing from the Spnegler Cup means we won't get a good look at a pile of players who likely would have suited up for Canada in Beijing. By withdrawing, it reduces the total time that the new, makeshift Canadian squad will have in coming together, so we'll have to see who Canada can convince to make the trip to China to try and bring home a gold medal. There are options out there, so let's start turning over stones to find these other guys.

Former UND forward Corban Knight is likely on the short list after his work in the KHL with Avangard Omsk. Knight currently sits third in KHL scoring with 16 goals and 24 assists in 40 games. Knight has been a bright spot for a team that was struggling around the .500 mark, so he should be tabbed for a potential Canadian spot if he wants to play.

Curtis Valk of Barys Astana, Philippe Maillet of Magnitogorsk, Daniel Audette of Vityaz, and Ryan Spooner of Avtomobilist should also be given consideration when it comes to building this team as all four players have more than 30 points in the KHL with their respective teams. Canada would be wise in including Stephane Da Costa Avtomobilist for his long service with Hockey Canada and his experience playing in the other European leagues, and Eric O'Dell of Dynamo Moscow would be another solid veteran forward pick from the KHL for Canada to consider.

On the back end, Jesse Blacker is having a solid season on the blue line for Avtomobilist as he's amassed five goals and 19 assists for Yekaterinburg thus far while former NHLer Steven Kampfer is playing good hockey for Ak Bars Kazan in terms of his nine goals and 12 assists. Darren Dietz might be someone I'd use as a power-play specialist, but his -17 stat playing for two playoff-bound teams this season in Astana and CSKA Moscow has me wondering what is happening when he's on the ice. His eight power-play goals can't be overlooked, though.

The only Canadian goalie in the KHL I'd be asking is Eddie Pasquale. The journeyman goalie seems to have found a home with Lokomotiv, but don't let his 18-14-3 record scare you when he's sporting a 1.95 GAA and a .919 save percentage. He's been through the war in the AHL and he's been excellent there as he's showing in the KHL for a Lokomotiv team that's just +11 in goa differential after 41 games. Pasquale's done enough for me to short-list him as well.

Over in the Swiss League, Chris DiDomenico should be a lock for Team Canada if he wants to play as his 11 goals and 26 assists have him sitting fourth-overall in league scoring with HC Fribourg-Gottéron. Daniel Winnik might be a good add as a veteran player as his 14 goals and 13 assists have done wonders for Genève-Servette. Long-time KHLer Justin Azevedo and former New Jersey Devil John Quenneville have good chemistry with Zurich in terms of 27 and 26 points, respectively, so they would be good additions to Team Canada's list.

Defender Maxim Noreau is once again near the top of the defensive scoring leaders in the Swiss League, so it makes sense to bring him as he's always answered the call for Canada during the Spengler Cup. Mark Barbeiro has only played in 14 games this season for Lausanne, but his six assists shows he can still make plays. Beyond that, there aren't many Canadian defenders shaking up the Swiss League, and the goaltenders aren't anything about which one should be excited.

Anthony Camara is having a decent season for HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga as he has 12 goals and 12 assists in 30 games. Max Veronneau is second in scoring in the Swedish Elite League with Leksands IF, and his 19 goals and 14 assists could boost Canada's scoring as he leads the SHL in lighting the lamp. Adam Tambellini of Rogle is right behind him with 28 points and is third in the league with 15 goals, and Ty Rattie of Timra has 15 goals and 25 points.

Matt Tomkins might be a goalie that Canada wants to keep an eye on as the Frölunda netminder is second in save percentage in the SHL at .926 while sporting a 2.09 GAA in 12 wins over 18 appearances. Tomkins never really stood out in his short time with Rockford and Indy in North America, but he seems to be putting it together with Frölunda. He might be an option in net.

Of course, we shouldn't avoid looking at the AHL where Jack Quinn of Rochester might be a guy who gets a look after scoring 11 goals and 13 assists in just 17 games. Jakob Pelletier in Stockton has ten goals and 17 assist in 23 games. On the blue line, Jake Christiansen of the Cleveland Monsters is making a name for himself with five goals and 13 assists in 21 games while Sean Durzi of Ontario has scored five goals and added 11 helpers in just 13 games.

I know it might seem like a long shot for Hockey Canada to consider, but I'd suggest that one of the goalies who goes to the Olympics be Rylan Toth from the UBC Thunderbirds. Toth has been ridiculous for the T-Birds this season in compiling a 9-1-1 record while sporting a Canada West-best 1.62 GAA and a conference-best .941 save percentage. Toth hasn't just been the best goalie this season, but he's likely the Canada West MVP in terms of how he's played. Hockey Canada needs to look in their own backyard and give Toth a shot.

Of course, I could be way off in all my assessments of players I believe should be headed to Beijing to wear the maple leaf on their chests. Hockey Canada may know about 30 other players they'd like to ask before the players listed above, but it is nearly a certainty that Team Canada will have a roster of "the other guys" when it comes to competing for gold who I'll be cheering on in their quest for greatness. As the narrator says in the Adam McKay-directed film,

"Let's be honest, we all wanna be superstars and hotshots. But guess what? The people that do the real work, the ones that make the difference, you don't see them on TV or on the front page. I'm talking about the day-in, day-outers, the grinders. Come on, man, you know who - the other guys."

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!