Team USA Olympic gold medalists chase historic NHL Stanley Cup double
Several Team USA stars are bidding to join an elite group of just eight ice hockey players to win Olympic gold and the NHL Stanley Cup in the same season.
The American national side recently ended their men’s Olympic gold medal drought at the Winter Games in February.
Now, a host of triumphant international players return to domestic action aiming for a rare double championship.
Only eight men have ever achieved the feat of lifting both trophies in a single campaign.
Elite club awaits new members
Ken Morrow became the inaugural dual champion after securing gold with the famous ‘Miracle on Ice’ squad before claiming the 1980 title with the New York Islanders.
In 2002, Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan matched the achievement representing Canada and the Detroit Red Wings.
The most recent additions to this exclusive list were Los Angeles Kings duo Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty a decade ago.
Top contenders for the double
Colorado Avalanche centre Brock Nelson is considered a prime candidate to reach the milestone this year.
The Denver-based franchise remain one of the strongest outfits in the league and are well-positioned for a deep postseason run.
Vegas Golden Knights pair Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin also feature prominently among potential dual champions.
The Nevada team possess a favourable route through the playoff bracket compared to their Central Division rivals.
Challengers across the league
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel offers another strong possibility if his side can navigate a highly competitive Atlantic Division.
Minnesota Wild boast three recent champions in Matt Boldy, Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes.
However, the trio face a formidable opening-round challenge against a battle-tested Dallas Stars roster.
The Texan franchise themselves feature backup netminder Jake Oettinger, who earned a medal during the national triumph and backstops what many consider the sport’s most complete team.
