For the NHL’s lost generation of Olympians, 4 Nations Face-Off is a reminder of what could have been

At the age of 21, he was at the peak of his career, feeling unstoppable, on top of the world. Terms like “acetabular labrum” were foreign to him, and COVID-19 hadn’t yet made its mark on the world. The future seemed all about 40-goal seasons, with the Team Canada jersey — and the gold medal — within reach. Time and talent were firmly on his side.https://svtoday.org/

That’s why it stung when Tyler Seguin was left off the 2014 Olympic roster. Despite a scorching start to his first season with the Dallas Stars, his fourth in the NHL, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot. Still, he couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy for his friend Jamie Benn, who made the team and went on to win gold in Sochi, Russia.

“I lived through him vicariously, and that took the sting away a bit,” Seguin shared.

But Seguin was certain that his chance would come. When you’re young, you believe with unwavering confidence that success is inevitable. Doubt doesn’t cross the mind of a 21-year-old star athlete. He had won the Stanley Cup as an 18-year-old rookie and had made another Final appearance just two years later. Back then, it all seemed so easy.

“At that age, you feel invincible,” Seguin reflected. “You think you’ll stay healthy, remain at the top, and have another shot. Then suddenly, it’s 2025, and you realize there’s no second chance.”

Seguin’s NHL journey has been remarkable. He’s 12 games shy of 1,000, with 360 goals, 808 points, and 133 playoff games under his belt, not to mention six All-Star appearances. His name is forever etched on the Stanley Cup.

But one thing is missing from his resume: an Olympic appearance. And he’s come to terms with that.

“Is there bitterness?” he wonders. “Ask me again in ten years. I’m still bitter about not making the World Juniors. That one still stings. As for the Olympics, I don’t know — ask me when I retire. But man, what an experience that would’ve been.”

Seguin, like many others, belongs to a generation of NHL players whose Olympic dreams were dashed between 2015 and 2024. They missed the 2018 Pyeongchang Games due to a dispute between the NHL, IOC, and IIHF, and the 2022 Beijing Games were lost to the pandemic. With the 4 Nations Face-Off starting this week in Montreal and Boston, the spotlight is now on the stars vying for a spot in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games — while the hopes of many others have been forever lost.

Injuries or circumstances kept Steven Stamkos, Brent Burns, Ryan O’Reilly, Taylor Hall, Claude Giroux, and Mark Scheifele from representing their countries in the Olympics. Neither Anders Lee for the United States nor Mikael Backlund for Sweden ever had the chance, either.

Giroux, who posted 102 points in the 2017-18 season, would have been a shoe-in for Team Canada in Pyeongchang. O’Reilly, fresh off a Conn Smythe and four straight top-five Selke Trophy finishes, would have made the team in Beijing. Stamkos, a player who should have competed in three Olympics, was robbed by a broken leg in Sochi, the NHL’s refusal to participate in Pyeongchang, and the pandemic’s impact on Beijing. Now, age may prevent him from making the next team.

These players are among the NHL’s best, with many having represented their countries in World Championships or the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. But the Olympics, the pinnacle of global competition, remains an unattainable dream for them.

“If it doesn’t happen, it wasn’t meant to be,” Stamkos said. “I had three opportunities, but injuries and circumstances kept me out. It’s just the way life goes.”

It’s more than a missed opportunity — it’s a bizarre twist of fate, a product of poor timing. And while none of these players need the Olympics to validate their extraordinary careers, the absence of an Olympic experience still leaves a nagging emptiness. Sidney Crosby, undoubtedly one of the greatest players in history, would still be revered without his iconic golden goal in Vancouver, but that moment placed him in a league of his own. Carey Price, despite never winning a Stanley Cup, solidified his legendary status with his play in Sochi.

The Olympics might not alter a legacy, but it certainly has the power to cement it.

“Growing up, playing in the driveway, you dream of winning the Stanley Cup,” O’Reilly said. “The Olympics, though, is different. It’s truly the best against the best. That’s what makes it so special. Even though I never thought I’d get the chance, being so close but missing out is disappointing. It’s a real letdown.”

The Olympics represent more than just athletic achievement — it’s about the experience, too. Living in a quaint alpine village, watching ski jumping and the luge, mingling with top athletes from across the globe. No other competition can compare.

“Being an Olympian is something unique and incredible,” O’Reilly shared. “I’ve had the privilege of playing in international tournaments like the World Cup in 2016, but it’s not the same. The stories you hear about living in the village and experiencing everything firsthand — that’s something special. It’s not just about representing your country; it’s about being part of that Olympic experience. I wish I had the opportunity to try, at least.”

This sentiment echoes in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Though the tournament promises high-level hockey, it’s also an audition for the 2026 Olympics — the real prize. NHL players have their sights firmly set on Milano Cortina.

Frederik Andersen, the Hurricanes’ goalie, played for Denmark in the IIHF qualification tournament last September to ensure his country’s Olympic berth and fulfill his lifelong dream of competing in the Games at 36. At 8 years old, watching the 1998 Olympics in Japan sparked his desire to become both an NHL player and an Olympian. While his first dream came true quickly, the second has taken decades to materialize.

“The 1998 Olympics were on TV, and it was such a cool experience,” Andersen recalled. “It made me want to be a part of it.”

For many players, the 2018 Games in South Korea represent the missed opportunity they’ll never forget. The NHL’s decision not to participate frustrated many, as it deprived them of a chance to compete on the world’s biggest stage. While the 2022 Beijing Games were limited by pandemic restrictions, they still offered some form of participation.

“I know some of the guys who went, and they were happy to be there, but it wasn’t the full Olympic experience,” Andersen reflected.

At 36, Andersen still hopes to play in the Olympics, even if he isn’t currently on an NHL roster. Others aren’t so lucky. Team Canada’s depth makes it unlikely that aging veterans like Seguin, Hall, O’Reilly, and Burns will make the cut. Stamkos still holds out hope, but his exclusion from the 4 Nations roster after a slow start is a tough sign.

“Who knows what could happen until it actually happens?” Stamkos said.

For many in this generation, the Olympic dream remains just that — a dream that will never come true.

“I don’t think about it often, but it does cross my mind from time to time,” Seguin admitted. “I’ll probably look back on it when my career is over and feel it’s unfortunate. It’s something that will probably get harder to accept as time goes on.”

These lost Olympians hope their story serves as a reminder to the hockey world to never let this happen again.

“It’s always been my dream to be in the NHL, but above that was representing Canada in the Olympics,” Hall said. “A whole generation of us missed that chance. I hope they don’t make that mistake again. We belong in the Olympics. Hockey fans deserve to see the best compete against the best. It’s good for the game, good for everyone.”