Olympic Opportunity: Former NHL Players Return to the Ice with Global Attention

MILAN — Dominik Kahun’s journey in professional hockey began with a prominent role on Munich’s top-tier team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, helping them clinch the championship in each of his initial three seasons. During this period, Kahun established himself as a reliable player, averaging a goal every four games and nearly maintaining a point-per-game pace in the 2017-18 season. Despite his contributions, he was never his team’s leading scorer and didn’t rank among the league’s top ten scorers. Standing at 5-foot-11, Kahun seemed destined to remain a formidable player in European circuits, his name largely unfamiliar to North American audiences.

While NHL scouts occasionally attended Munich’s games, they seldom focused on Kahun. Nevertheless, the prospect of the 2018 Olympics brought new opportunities. With the NHL absent from the Games for the first time since 1994, Kahun saw a path to greater exposure.

The Olympics are going to be big for me if I can showcase my skills there, I have a chance,

he anticipated.

Selected for Germany’s national squad, Kahun played a pivotal role as Germany secured a silver medal in South Korea. Kahun’s notable performances included a key assist against Switzerland, a decisive goal against Sweden in the quarterfinals, another assist in their victory over Canada in the semifinals, and a crucial goal in the gold-medal game against Russia.

Though NHL players weren’t present, the attention of NHL general managers was. Kahun was well aware of the stakes:

There’s a lot of pressure I put on myself, but I knew the Olympics were an immense opportunity to get noticed,

he reflected.

His performance caught the eye of the Chicago Blackhawks, leading to a contract shortly after the Olympics, influenced by his showing in Pyeongchang. Kahun’s deal included incentives and an option to return to Europe if he couldn’t secure his place in the NHL. His subsequent NHL career saw him contribute 34 goals and 83 points over 186 games spanning teams like the Blackhawks, Penguins, Sabres, and Oilers. Moving to Switzerland in the 2021-22 season, Kahun has now returned to the Olympics with Germany, pondering possibilities of rekindling his NHL aspirations.

At 30, Kahun remains hopeful:

The future is uncertain, but I’m here with an open mind, striving for excellence, focusing on team success which benefits everyone individually.

Dominik Kahun isn’t alone in this Olympic journey — he’s joined by others like the Czechs’ Dominik Kubalik and Ondřej Kaše, Slovakia’s Tomáš Tatar, Latvia’s Rūdolfs Balcers, Switzerland’s Denis Malgin and Dean Kukan, and France’s Pierre-Édouard Bellemare. Among them, for most, this tournament represents perhaps their last shot at returning to the NHL.

At 30, Kubalik, who last played for the Ottawa Senators, regards the Olympics as a stage to prove his ongoing capability:

While it’s not about proving anyone wrong, performing well can remind others of your potential and skill.

Kubalik’s foray into the NHL followed the 2018 Olympics, after his significant performances for the Czech Republic. Although no longer part of the NHL ecosystem, Kubalik’s recent stint in Switzerland places him fourth in the National League with 21 goals in just 43 games.

The Czechs aim to showcase their country’s prowess in hockey along with personal objectives:

More than individual accolades, it’s about demonstrating Czech excellence to other nations.

Brimming with national pride, hockey teams in Milan emphasize collective achievements over individual glories. NHL attention, if garnered, is incidental to their broader focus:

We stand united for our country. Success as a team leads to individual recognition but isn’t our primary focus.

states Tatar, complementing his National League contract with Swiss club Zug, alongside Kubalik.

The allure of the NHL remains significant due to its unparalleled lifestyle and level of play, despite competition quality enjoyed in high-regarded European leagues like Switzerland’s National League:

There’s always a desire to seize opportunities in the NHL, if they arise.

says Balcers, a prominent player in Zurich.

Ondřej Kaše, returning to Czech Extraliga after an NHL career, contemplates the prospect:

While unsure of returning, our focus remains on performing well at the tournament.

Whether any of these former NHL players make their return is uncertain. Still, the Olympics provide a platform for them to exhibit their skills against the world’s elite, leaving the door open for potential future opportunities. Participation at this level brings together players in the spirit of competition:

Competing against familiar faces at such a prestigious event is thrilling,

Tatar remarks.