There have been eight hockey players who have won an Olympic gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the same season. Ken Morrow was the first. After winning gold for the US with the “Miracle on Ice” team, he joined the New York Islanders and became part of a dynasty that included winning a Cup in 1980.
In 2002, the second Olympic Games in which active NHL players were able to participate, Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan won a gold medal with Canada, then won a Cup with Canada. detroit red wings a few months later.
Eight years later, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and jonathan toews achieved with canada and chicago blackhawks.
The most recent event was 2014, completed by Jeff Carter Drew Doughtywith canada and Los Angeles Kings.
Team USA ended its Olympic gold drought in the men’s division this year, and several of those players are currently on NHL teams in playoff berths.
So which players who won Olympic gold in February can join this prestigious “double champion” club of winning gold and silver within a few months of the same season? (I’m not counting Matthew Tkachuk Here, who technically won Cup Olympic gold the following season).
Here is my list:
The Avs are often (but not always) the best team in the NHL. If the playoff bracket goes right and they survive a grueling second-round matchup against Minnesota or Dallas, they are in prime position to win their second Cup of 2020.
The Golden Knights have an easier path on paper than the central “multiple final boss” gauntlet, which is why I put them at the top of my list. They could face Anaheim in the first round and then Edmonton in the second round (or vice versa).
probably playing against an apostle connor mcdavid Not ideal… but then again, the Central’s top three teams are a tough ask.
If the Lightning finish on top of the Atlantic Division (despite heavy competition from Buffalo and Montreal), they could face one of Ottawa/Detroit/Philadelphia/Columbus/Washington in the first round, then the Canadiens or Sabers in the second.
With a strong candidate for the Hart Trophy (and Art Ross leader), Tampa Bay has again proven itself to be a strong team Nikita Kucherovwhose existence was ignored by many it Nice before the season starts.
It would be great to see this trio go one after another, but does the Wild have enough to overcome the battle-tested Stars in the first round?
I’m choosing this post more for impact during the Olympics than for the Wild’s confidence in reaching the Stanley Cup Finals (which is still pretty high).
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Matt Boldy scored against the Canucks
Matt Boldy scored against the Canucks
Although Oettinger was not very active in the games on the way to the gold medal, he was still part of the team and earned a medal.
According to many, the Stars are the most complete team in the NHL. Is this their year?
The first two rounds of the playoffs won’t be pillow fights, but compared to Central they’ll probably feel like it.
That gives the Ducks a slight edge on that side of the equation, though LaCombe and his teammates are still down on the Wild and Stars.
Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour again leads his team to the playoffs, and can keep the “win at least one playoff series” streak alive.
But is this the year the Canes finally return to the Cup Final for the first time since 2006… and win?
McAvoy’s journey this season has been incredible; He has been a frequent visitor to the Bruins team dentist due to several facial injuries. It is durable and tough.
That emotional, tear-filled speech before the Four Nations final turned into a poetic gold medal at the Olympics a year later. Could his journey end with a cup?
The Sabers are my sentimental choice on the list. Imagine what the atmosphere will be like for the first home game of the playoffs this spring after missing the postseason for 14 years.
Then imagine what the first home game of a cup final, the first since 1999, would be like. This could be one of the biggest crowds at sports in our generation.
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Tage Thompson scored on the power play
Tage Thompson scores a power-play goal against the Islanders
It’s possible Utah faces Edmonton in the first round, and the Oilers have been dominant in the early rounds – mostly because they’ve been bullying LA for the last four years.
Keep in mind that the Mammoth have more regulation wins this season than the top three Pacific Division teams, so if there was ever a team to “cross division” in the postseason and make the conference finals, they are a strong candidate.
Honorable Mention: Rest!
This is a group that also includes defensemen Zach Werenski of columbus blue jacketsCenter dylan larkin of detroit red wings, jake sanderson (d) and brady tkachuk (f) of ottawa senatorsas well as forward kyle connor and goaltender connor hellebuyck of winnipeg jets.
These teams are either barely in (in the case of Ottawa), or on the bubble.
If the Jets join, will Hellebuyck return to being an unbeatable force during the Olympics?
Proceed:
games of the week
what i liked this weekend
Hart Trophy candidates
social post of the week
paste tap
biggest games of the week
Given how tight the Eastern Conference wild-card race is, the focus is on those teams
On Tuesday, the Red Wings will face two fellow wild-card contenders, the Blue Jackets philadelphia flyers On Thursday.
and this washington capitals Are also back in the race. They play home-and-home series against pittsburgh penguins Perhaps his fate will be decided on Saturday and Sunday.
Hart Trophy contenders if the season ended today
With less than two weeks remaining, the scoring race remains tight. McDavid leads the way with 126 points in 77 games, including 10 points in his last five.
Kucherov has 125 in 70 games, including six of his last five nathan mackinnon He has 122 points in 74 games, including seven in his last five.
All three play on the current division leaders, although the Avs have the edge over the Lightning and Oilers.
These three have been at the top of my list for some time now, but is there a chance McLean Celebrini Comes back into the mix?
Celebrini’s case is definitely among the “most valuable” to his team“Part of the definition. Celebrini is fourth in the NHL with 105 points. Next best is on the Sharks Will SmithWith 54. Celebrini has scored or assisted on 46% of the Sharks’ goals this season, which is tied with Wayne Gretzky for the highest rate by a teenager in NHL history.
not bad.
what i liked this weekend
For the first time since 2011, the Buffalo Sabers are in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
As mentioned above, this fan base deserves this opportunity after sticking with the team for so long. The atmosphere is going to be electric.
The team posted a video after clinching a playoff spot. It featured the voice of legendary broadcaster Rick Jenrette, who died in 2023:
This thing of ours is forever, buffalo. pic.twitter.com/pUzOX32ake
– x – Buffalo Sabers (@BuffaloSabres) 4 April 2026
weekend social media posts
When it comes to fashion, PK Subban always brings it and he is also adept at making fun of himself, be it on air or on social media. I never thought I’d see PK’s threads compared to McLovin’s, but here we are.
He has to open another button 🫣 #hard bounce https://t.co/2aBx2K2x7D
– PK Subban (@PKSubban1) 4 April 2026
Also, do we have any updates on the woman who gave birth at the Oilers game on Saturday?
A baby is being born at Rogers Place right now during an Oilers game pic.twitter.com/02Tcg1GN2d
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 5 April 2026
paste tap
Wyatt Ross is an aspiring sports broadcaster about to enter college. He spent the last several years as an NHL youth reporter (e.g. interviewing players). auston matthews And Sidney Crosby), serves on the NHL’s Power Players Youth Advisory Board.
I met him while hosting NHL Youth Innovation Competition In January he returned to Florida, where he served as a judge.
Ross visited ESPN this weekend to seek inspiration on his growing career journey.
I am impressed by his passion for sports (especially hockey and college football), his thoughtful questions (for all the teams in the innovation competition and career questions for me and others), as well as his confidence and conviction at such a young age. Hats off to her amazing parents, Michael and Jennifer, who support her dream and take her wherever she wants to go, even to Bristol, Connecticut for a day. Go get them, Wyatt!
