Power among group of players joining Canada's Olympic team; long list includes some surprising names

Canada's Olympic team is making some interesting moves that could still push them into being the team to beat at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Owen Power, the first overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, will be joining the team among a group of other talented players that have either played in the NHL or will very soon.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Owen Power and Mason MacTavish highlight the group of players that will be on the team. The team will reportedly be fully in place in roughly two weeks.

Other noticeable players that are believed to be in the mix for making the team are Devan Dubnyk, Eduard Pasquale, Tyler Wotherspoon, and Adam Cracknell. Since the NHL decided that they would yet again not be allowing players to participate in the Olympics, teams are scrambling trying to find players.

Meanwhile, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic also released some names that he believes are on the long list to make Team Canada for the Olympics. Two of them are raising some eyebrows. They include Brendan Leipsic and Jake Virtanen. Leipsic had his contract with the Washington Capitals terminated after contents of a private message group were leaked online showing him making disparaging and misogynistic remarks about teammates and their wives/girlfriends. Virtanen was bought out by the Vancouver Canucks supposedly due to his lack of production. However, there are also allegations of sexual assault that have been levelled against him. Both are now playing in the KHL.

Russia seems to be the favorites as of right now since they can pull all of their players from arguably the second best professional hockey league in the world, the KHL. With this being said, Canada and the United States are both making moves towards being top contenders with their rosters of upcoming prospects and former NHLers.

Team Canada will have its Olympic Mens Hockey team in place in two weeks. Among the names I'm hearing on the list, include Mason MacTavish and Owen Power. Devan Dubnyk, Eduard Pasquale , Tyler Wotherspoon and Adam Cracknell also among the early names believed to be in the mix.— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 5, 2022

Sources: The following players are on Team Canada's long list for consideration for the Olympics (2/2):
Jack Quinn
Tyler Wotherspoon
Michael Del Zotto
Adam Cracknell
Chris Terry
Josh Ho-Sang
Chris Bigras
Cal O'Reilly
Devon Levi
Brendan Leipsic
Jake Virtanen— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 5, 2022

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