The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun has revealed the six goaltenders that are expected to compete for Canada’s goaltending spots at the 2022 Beijing Olympics: Carey Price, Marc-Andre Fleury, Darcy Kuemper, Jordan Binnington, Carter Hart and MacKenzie Blackwood will all be contending for three roster spots.
As mentioned on Insider Trading, sources say goalies on Canada’s Olympic long list submitted last week are Price, Fleury, Kuemper, Binnington, Hart and Blackwood.
Final 25-man Olympic rosters to be announced sometime in January. https://t.co/HnhFqHMd0u— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 21, 2021
LeBrun goes on to say that the front-runners look like Fleury, Kuemper and Binnington, as nobody is sure how long it will take Carey Price to return from the Player’s Assistance Program, and the Canadian management does not plan to pry or try and rush him during this personal matter. If Price is able to return by then, though, he is almost certainly a lock to make the team.
Hart and Blackwood are there due to their potential. They struggled last season, but if they end up progressing over the next few weeks and were left off of the shortlist, there would likely be outrage. They’ll get a look, but at the moment they are at the bottom of the list of potential goaltenders.
The most shocking player left off was netminder Mike Smith of the Edmonton Oilers, especially given Ken Holland’s role with Team Canada’s front office, but LeBrun says Edmonton may want Smith to rest during the Olympic break, regardless.
Other Canadian goaltenders that were left off of the list include Cam Talbot, Matt Murray, Braden Holtby, Tristan Jarry, Adin Hill, Jonathan Bernier, Jake Allen and Chris Driedger.
LeBrun states that a lot can happen between now and when final rosters are submitted in January, so we shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves.
News & Notes
- Adin Hill strong in Sharks’ impressive win over Maple Leafs [NBC Sports Bay Area]
- Five reasons why Bob Boughner’s Sharks are off to a perfect start [East Bay Times]
- Early season waiver wire bargains [Last Word on Sports]/
Blood in the Water
- LeBrun: Carey Price makes Canada’s Olympic long list, but will he be ready to play in Beijing? [The Athletic]
- Winless Canadiens still favourites on Saturday NHL odds [Sportsnet]
- U.S. Center for SafeSport opens investigation into Wild GM Guerin, source says [TSN]
- Hockey Canada hopes new COVID-19 vaccination policy will lead to less event cancellations [Energetic City]
- Lightning claim forward Alex Barre-Boulet off waivers from Kraken [Sportsnet]
- Colton White placed on waivers [Pro Hockey Rumors]
- Seattle “on the radar” for outdoor game [Pro Hockey Rumors]
- Max Jones out 4 to 6 months with torn pectoral muscle [Anaheim Calling]
- Still no timetable for Sidney Crosby’s return to Pittsburgh Penguins following wrist injury [ESPN]
- Exploring John Klingberg’s potential next contract with the Stars — is he worth the likely asking price? [The Athletic]/
Scores & Recaps
- San Jose Sharks 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 3
- Boston Bruins 4, Buffalo Sabres 1
- Los Angeles Kings 2, Dallas Stars 3 (OT)
- Edmonton Oilers 5, Vegas Golden Knights 3/
Click on a team name to find a recap on their SB Nation site!
On the Schedule
- New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators, 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on TSN5, RDS, MSG, ESPN+
- Calgary Flames at Washington Capitals, 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on NHLN, NBCS-DC, SNW
- Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild, 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET on BSN, BSWI+, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+
- Buffalo Sabres at New Jersey Devils, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on MSG, MSG-B, ESPN+
- Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on CITY, TVAS, BSDET, ESPN+
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Pittsburgh Penguins, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on CBC, NHLN, SNPT
- Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on BSSUN, ALT, ESPN+
- Florida Panthers at Philadelphia Flyers, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on NBCS-PH, BSFL, ESPN+
- Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on BSOH, BSSO, ESPN+
- Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on SN360, CITY, BSSO, SN1, ESPN+
- Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on BSMW, BSW, ESPN+
- New York Islanders at Arizona Coyotes, 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET on BSAZ+, MSG+, ESPN+
- Vancouver Canucks at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on CBC, CITY, TVAS2, SN1, HULU, ESPN+/
As many of you know, Fear the Fin is an independent site run by Sharks fans for Sharks fans. Help keep Fear the Fin independent by contributing to our