Last week when USA Hockey announced its management and coaching staffs for the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics, there was much speculation that the team would be made up mostly from the college ranks. After all, Tony Granato the head coach of the squad is also the head coach at the University of Wisconsin, and there had already been several college names playing on the international stage at this spring’s World Championship.
In another wonderful profile by Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated, Team USA GM Jim Johannson admitted that he’d already reached out to somewhere between 85 and 90 potential players, 60 percent of whom are currently playing in Europe. The rest are “evenly split between the AHL and NCAA ranks” according to Prewitt. That would seem to suggest that the US team will have a more professional atmosphere, with players like Chad Rau being likely targets. Rau has found success in both the Finnish Liiga and Russian KHL over the past few seasons, and could lend a level of experience to the team.
Johannson also said that currently unsigned NHL players are on his radar, but he’ll have to wait to see what their future in the league is before trying to bring them in. Any player on an NHL contract is ineligible to play, even if they are currently in the minor leagues. Players signed to AHL-only contracts can be taken.
You guys named 1 person Chad Rau.
Any chance you could name others? Article said they contacted 85-90 players.