Will these Boston Bruins play in another Winter Olympics?
By Bryan Murphy
David Pastrnak – Czech Republic
The shift winger would have been one of, if not the top player on Czech Republic in Beijing. Pastrnak has yet to play in an Olympics, but at just 25 years old, another Olympics or two is expected for him in the future.
Verdict – Will play in another Olympics
Tomas Nosek – Czech Republic
Nosek is 29 years old, so he’ll be 33 by the time 2026 rolls around. He likely would have played a bottom-six role for Czech Republic. It feels like this was his one chance at representing his country at the Olympics, with Czech having a top-heavy group at forward.
Verdict – Won’t play in another Olympics
Jakub Zboril – Czech Republic
Jakub Zboril was in line to be either a bottom-pair on extra defenseman on the Czech team. It would have boiled down to whether the team wanted experience/age or promising talent.
The blue line is quite weak for the country, and Zboril could even be a top-four skater by the time he’s 28 at the Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Verdict – Will play in another Olympics
Linus Ullmark – Sweden
There was a good possibility Linus Ullmark would have been the third goalie for Sweden this February behind Robin Lehner and Jacob Markstrom. Given that Ullmark is younger than the other two, the likelihood of him playing in 2026 for his country is high.
Markstrom will be 35 and Lehner will be 34 in 2026. That’s not to say they won’t be capable goaltenders, but age will likely take a toll. The only true threat that is coming through the ranks that could compete with Ullmark is 2021 first-rounder Jesper Wallstedt.
Verdict – Will play in another Olympics
Erik Haula – Finland
Haula wasn’t a guarantee on Finland’s squad for this February. His play so far with the Bruins hasn’t stood out, but he would have provided veteran experience in a fourth-line/extra forward role.
Given his age (30) and the fact that even in his prime, he wasn’t a shoe-in for a spot, it would be unlikely to see Haula repping Finland in Milano Cortina.
Verdict – Won’t play in another Olympics
Tuukka Rask – Finland
OK so he’s not an official member of the Bruins but, we’re a pro-Tuukka group here at Causeway Crowd and it’s likely he’ll be a member of the team at some point in 2022.
That said, a Tuukka Rask retirement has felt inevitable for a couple years now. Between the injuries and how vocal he has been about it, there are questions whether he’s playing in the NHL next season, let alone in 2026.
I would say 2026 is definitely out of the question … but is 2022? Rask is a free agent, and as long as he’s not under an NHL contract, the NHL’s decision to not send its players, when it comes, won’t affect him. We saw that in 2018 with Brian Gionta, who was a free agent, played in the Olympics, then signed with the Bruins after.
As much as the Olympics would be a great mini tune-up for Rask if/when he returns to Boston, with all the COVID concerns and coming off an injury, it doesn’t seem like the smartest choice. Plus, Rask did get the chance to play in Sochi in 2014, so an Olympics participation has already been checked off for Rask.
Verdict – Won’t play in another Olympics