NEWSLETTER
Tell me Stan Bowman is biased without telling me Stan Bowman is biased.
Ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, each team participating in the Men’s Hockey tournament was asked to select three preliminary players to their rosters ahead of named their expanded roster invite list later this month. On Thursday, Team USA announced their first three selections from Team USA GM Stan Bowman. The first three players named to Team USA’s 2022 Winter Olympic Men’s Hockey team are Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane, and Seth Jones.
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1446134460223688705?s=20
The first two players are not surprising whatsoever. Kane and Matthews are arguably the top two U.S.-born players on the planet right now. There was no doubt they would be on the team. Seth Jones on the other hand, was a bubble-player for the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
But with Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman serving in the same role with Team USA for the 2022 Winter Olympics, not only is his new No. 1 defenseman in Chicago on the team, he is one of the first three players given a roster spot.
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adam fox JUST won the norris https://t.co/9hW7B1KovR
— dom at the athletic (@domluszczyszyn) October 7, 2021
Even I had to laugh that Jones was named as one of the first three players to the team. With U.S.-born defensemen like Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy, Zach Werenski, and Jaccob Slavin in the mix, it’s hilarious that Bowman just went ahead and chose Jones right out of the gate.
From Bowman and Team USA’s official press release:
“It’s no secret we’re excited about the prospects of our team for the 2022 Games,” said Stan Bowman, general manager of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. “Patrick, Auston and Seth reflect the high level of talent that will make up our final roster as we strive to bring gold back home to the U.S.”
All three of Jones, Matthews, and Kane have represented Team USA in the past at various levels, all with relative success. Jones was part of the 2013 World Junior Championships Gold Medal USA team, as well as the 2015 World Championships Bronze Medal team. Matthews has won two U18 World Junior Championships Gold Medals with Team USA in 2014 and 2015, and won Bronze at the 2016 World Junior Championships. Kane won the 2006 U18 World Junior Championships Gold Medal, the 2007 World Junior Championships Bronze Medal, the 2010 Olympics Silver Medal, and the 2018 World Championships Bronze Medal as Captain of that USA squad.
With this clearly biased move by Bowman, there’s a 100% chance Alex DeBrincat will also be headed to Beijing with Team USA. Here’s hoping now that, not only will Jones earn his contract extension’s worth with the Blackhawks, but now he’ll have to earn his early roster spot with Team USA. No pressure, right?
