Canadiens: Team Canada’s Unlikely Roster at the Beijing Olympics

While NHL players love to represent their countries at the Olympics, sometimes, it’s just impossible for them to do so. At the start of the Christmas break in the NHL in 2021, the league and the NHLPA came to an understanding that would prevent their players from taking part in the 2022 Beijing Olympics as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on.

It was a bitter deception, especially for the players who had never had the opportunity to take part in the Olympic tournament. When the league had announced the players would be allowed to take part in September 2021, many were vocal about it being a dream come true. Connor McDavid was quoted as saying winning a gold medal for his country was right there next to winning a cup for his team. Unfortunately for McDavid and co., the pandemic had other plans.

One man’s loss is another man’s gain however and the NHL pulling out meant national teams had to find replacement players in a hurry. For a few former Montreal Canadiens it meant suiting up for Team Canada at the Olympics for a first time, or for some, having a final swan song on the international stage. Marc Barberio, Morgan Ellis, Adam Cracknell and Eddie Pascale all had short stays in the Canadiens’ organization before wearing the national jersey in Beijing.

There were, however, some former Canadiens fans probably remember more; Jordan Weal, David Desharnais and Eric Staal, all had longer stays in Montreal and various level of success, it must be said.

The Trade Deadline Acquisition

In his Montreal GM days, Marc Bergevin had a knack for making underwhelming acquisitions at the trade deadline and 2019 was no exception. In the run up to the deadline that year, he acquired Christian Folin, Dale Weise, Nate Thompson and Jordan Weal. The Canadiens would be Folin’s last team in the NHL as he would go back to Europe after the following season. Weise would go to Russia after the 2019-2020 season and be joined by Weal after the 2020-2021 season. I will give the GM props for Nate Thompson though. He was a great veteran presence around youngsters and instantly became “Uncle Nate.”

Even though Jordan Weal only played two more seasons in the Canadiens’ organization, he did manage to find some success overseas taking part in three KHL seasons with Kazan Ak-Bars and Moscow Dynamo, where he ended his career with 77 points in 66 games.

In five games played in Beijing, Weal picked up three goals and two assists. Including three points in Canada’s playoff game against China. His performance helped the Canadians qualify for the quarter final with a 7-2 win over the host nation. Canada’s journey in Beijing would end with a 2-0 defeat against Sweden who finished fourth in the competition.

The First Centre Placeholder

Desharnais was never drafted and he had to fight every step of the way to get his place in the NHL. At just five-foot-seven, he didn’t have the stereotypical  body of an NHL player, but still, he worked his way into the Canadiens’ organization and found instant chemistry with one of the Canadiens’ brightest prospects; Max Pacioretty, a first-round pick at the 2007 draft.

In his first full season with the Canadiens, Desharnais gathered 60 points in 81 games while Pacioretty had 65 in 79 matches. The diminutive center would never be able to replicate his initial success but stayed on the captain-to-be’s line for years. A part of the Habs faithful felt he didn’t deserve his spot and when he was signed to a four-year deal worth $14 M, he soon became their official scapegoat. Montreal’s then-mayor Denis Coderre even joined in on the action, tweeting Desharnais should be demoted to the AHL, much to his teammates’ annoyance. The former number 51 had the last laugh though when Coderre lost the municipal election to Valerie Plante.

Bergevin eventually traded him to the Edmonton Oilers for Brandon Davidson and the following Summer he signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers. Then, he moved to Europe spending one year in the KHL before playing in the Swiss league for a few seasons.

When Canada called for the 2022 Olympics, he was having his best season with Fribourg-Gotteron HC. At the Games, Desharnais was named alternate captain but could only muster an assist in Canada’s five games. Still, the Laurier-Station native will always be able to say he skated for his country in the Olympics and proudly wore an “A” on his jersey.

The Proven Leader

After the Canadiens Cinderella-story run to the Stanley Cup finals in 2021, Staal wasn’t able to find a contract for the following season. Once Team Canada called, he played four games in the AHL to get himself ready. A member of Team Canada’s reserves at the Torino Olympics in 2006, Staal was a full member of the Vancouver 2010 squad who won the gold medal in overtime on the famous “Crosby Golden Goal”.

Had the NHL players been allowed to go to Beijing, Staal would not have been able to get that swan song participation in the Olympics. In five games, the eldest Staal brother notched four points in the tourney and wore the captain’s C. His performance was good enough to get him a final contract in the NHL with the Florida Panthers.

It was recently announced that after not playing in the 2023-2024 campaign, the former Carolina Hurricanes captain had signed a one-day deal with the team to retire in the city where he won his only Stanley Cup. The 39-year-old has certainly made his mark on the franchise’s history.

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