Patrick Kane disappointed that he won't get to play with Auston Matthews at the Olympics

It was not just the fans who were left disappointed, as the NHL players had been preparing for the opportunity to attend the Olympics and to represent their countries - which NHLers have not been able to do since 2014.

One such player is Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, who was looking forward to getting a closer look at Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews - potentially even getting a chance to play on a line with #34.

"We stay in touch throughout the season and got a lot of respect for him as a player, how good he is at scoring goals, his shot, just his overall game," Kane said of Matthews,�according to reporter Charlie Roumeliotis.

"He's become one of the best players in the league, so would've been huge to have that type of player on the U.S. team and maybe get a chance to play with him as well. Hopefully, we can get a chance to play together in the future, another big tournament, and have that opportunity."

The U.S. may have been able to ice arguably the deepest team at every position at the Olympic Games, save maybe the center position, with Canada boasting the likes of Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point and John Tavares, among others.

Still, despite the level of competition that Team USA may have faced, Kane believed that USA Hockey stood a pretty good chance a gold medal.

"I just think in general, for USA Hockey, we would've put together a pretty competitive team, and that's disappointing," Kane said. "I don't think that'll change four years from now, but would've been fun to have that opportunity and welcome the next generation of USA hockey players and be able to be part of that."

Kane still has a shot at competing at the Olympics in 2026, though he will be 37 by that time.