Macklin Celebrini has made a strong case for his inclusion on the Canadian Olympic roster, showcasing exceptional performance this season. His standout play, particularly evident in recent games, positions him as a near-lock for the national team heading to the Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy, in February. Meanwhile, other players from the San Jose Sharks, including William Eklund and Alexander Wennberg, are still striving to secure their places representing their countries.
As of Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars, both Eklund and Wennberg have recorded 22 points, placing them tied for 11th among all Swedish forwards. Notably absent from this list is Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has already been confirmed for the Swedish team. Eklund commented on their shared challenges, stating, “We’re in a similar situation, so we’re trying to grind it out together.”
John Klingberg has also been making waves, ranking sixth among Swedish defensemen with 15 points in 25 games. Although Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, currently injured, is expected to compete in the Olympics, he is already confirmed for the Swedish roster. In contrast, Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev is considered week-to-week due to an upper-body injury, but Sharks coach Ryan Warofsky indicated that Kurashev’s condition should not hinder his chances of making the Olympic team.
Pavol Regenda, a forward with the Barracuda, is anticipated to be included in Slovakia’s Olympic roster. The deadline for all participating nations to submit their Olympic rosters is December 31, with Canada expected to announce its selections on that day. Teams from Sweden, the United States, and Finland will reveal their rosters on January 2. Each country can include up to 25 players, typically comprising 14 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goaltenders.
Eklund emphasized his commitment to performing well in the remaining games leading up to the roster deadline. “I can only do the things that I do here every day. I can only control coming to the rink every day and getting better,” he noted.
Before Thursday’s game, Celebrini was the NHL’s third-leading scorer, with a remarkable 51 points in just 34 games, trailing only Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, both of whom are already named to the Canadian team. Celebrini had a standout performance in a recent match against the Calgary Flames, where he scored four points, capturing the attention of Hockey Canada officials, including senior vice president Scott Salmond.
Reflecting on the possibility of representing Canada at the Olympics, Celebrini expressed his longstanding dream, stating, “As a kid, watching the Olympics, watching World Juniors, seeing the Canadian Maple Leaf, it’s always the biggest honor. So, it would be a dream come true.”
In terms of lineup changes, Adam Gaudette returned for the Sharks on Thursday after missing the previous game due to injury. He replaced Jeff Skinner, who was a healthy scratch for the second time in five games. Warofsky discussed Skinner’s performance, noting that he needs to focus on the finer details of his game without the puck. “We’re going to give him some freedom to make plays that he’s done his whole career to create offense, but there needs to be some more detail without the puck in his game,” he explained.
As the Sharks approach the deadline for Olympic selections, the pressure mounts for players like Eklund and Wennberg to enhance their performances, while Celebrini’s spot on the Canadian team seems increasingly secure.
