Three former Leafs and two Leafs prospects have made Team USA's Olympic roster
The 2022 Winter Olympics begin in a couple of weeks and the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be well-represented on Team USA. While we will not get to see any NHLers at this year's Olympics, we will get to see 3 former Leafs and 2 current Leafs prospects lace up their skates for Team USA!
Matthew Knies is one of the prospects expected to be named to Team USA on Thursday. Knies was the Leafs' second round pick in 2021. The 6'3, 210-pound power forward has 20 points in 20 games this season at the University of Minnesota. Knies' chance to represent Team USA was cut short at the World Juniors after the tournament was postponed. He's now getting his second chance to represent Team USA at the Olympics in February.
The other Leafs prospect who is expected to make the cut is recent Hobby Baker Award nominee, Nick Abruzzese. Abruzzese was a 4th round pick by the Leafs in 2019. He has climbed up the Leafs prospect ranks due to his excellent play at Harvard, where he captains the team. This year he has 21 points in 13 games and will now look to add a goal medal to his Hobby Baker caliber season.
Meanwhile three former Leafs have been named to the team as well, including Kenny Agostino, who spent the bulk of his time in the Leafs organization with the Toronto Marlies. He did get into 1 game with the Leafs last season. This year, Agostino is having a productive season in the KHL and has earned his spot on Team USA.
The second former Leaf is shutdown centre Nick Shore. Shore is most famous as a Leaf for being the 4th line centre on opening night when Mike Babcock scratched Jason Spezza in 2019. Shore ended his NHL tenure in Winnipeg but he was always a decent bottom 6 forward with a good defensive game. Since his departure from the NHL in 2020, he has been playing in Europe. A big Olympic tournament could put him back on the radar for NHL teams.
Finally, David Warsofsky, one of the pieces who came over from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deal that saw Kasperi Kapanen return to Pens in the deal that landed the Leafs the 15th overall pick in the 2020 draft. The diminutive blueliner has 16 points in 31 games this season playing in Europe.
Team USA's roster may not feature the likes of Auston Matthews and Jack Campbell like we thought it would, but it will be good for fans to get another look at former Leafs and at some promising young prospects. Hopefully they show up big on the world stage.. so long as they don't take the gold away from Canada that is.
