Olympic Stock Watch: Will top Flyers, Islanders fall with their teams? – NHL

The NHL currently plans on sending players to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, with an early February break in the schedule. For some Olympic mens hockey teams, most roster spots are no-brainers. That said, theres room to move. Players can work their way off or onto Olympic rosters. In some cases, a fringe player could end up being key.

PHTs Olympic Stock Watch monitors ups and downs for players for the U.S. mens ice hockey team, Team Canada, and other countries hunting for medals.

Click here for the first Olympic Stock Watch from early November. Our last Olympic Stock Watchwas headlined by Troy Terry and Steven Stamkos.

Unless otherwise noted, stats come from before Thursdays NHL games.

In the grand scheme of things, people expect a turnaround for the Islanders. At least compared to sprawling teams like the Canadiens, Canucks, Flyers, and Senators. But for Islanders fighting for especially competitive roster spots at the 2022 Winter Olympics, this slump could really hurt.

Often, its unfair to allow a teams struggles to undermine a single players 2022 Winter Olympics chances. That seems especially pertinent to the Islanders underrated defensive duo of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock.

But this really has been a tough season so far for Mathew Barzal.

Arguably, Barzal set expectations too high, too early with his captivating Calder campaign from 2017-18. As tantalizing as his 85-point explosion was, hed likely take a more contained presence in exchange for team success.

Over the past three seasons, Barzals RAPM charts argue that hes found a nice balance: quality offense without the sort of defensive lapses that would earn too much Barry Trotz ire.

So far this season, that balance is off.

Importantly, note that the sample size is small. Dont take this as some broad statement about Barzals overall all-around abilities.

Instead, graphics like Evolving Hockeys RAPM charts can provide quick snapshots, even in small sample sizes. In this case, Barzals RAPM chart reads more like those candid photos of people screaming down the scariest drop of a roller coaster.

Again, no reasonable person would argue that Barzal cant rebound and that hes not a first-line center.

But Team Canadas 2022 Winter Olympic choices translate to the usual buffet of overflowing options. Sure, its nice to dream about Barzal fully unleashed with forwards who can bury the beautiful chances hed surely set up.

Look at PHTs Team Canada Olympic Projections from before this season. Every PHT staffer (myself included) listed Barzal on Team Canadas projected roster. However, three of the four rosters including Barzal as an extra forward, and one had him in a lineup on the equivalent of a fourth line.

In other words, Barzals grip on an Olympic roster spot was already tenuous. With troubling two-way numbers and so-so offense (14 points in 21 games), Barzals season only dents his chances.

That said I wouldnt fault Doug Armstrong one bit if he was merely too enticed by Barzals game-breaking talent.

On Nov. 9, The Athletics Arthur Staple noted (sub. required) that Team Canada may consider one of Adam Pelech or Ryan Pulock. Staple identified Pelechs chances as the strongest, picturing the wildly underrated defenseman as the 2022 edition of Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

Judging by PHTs staff picks, Pelech was by far the more likely Olympic consideration.

So far this season, Barzals struggled more prominently than those two Islanders defensemen. In their cases, its been more about missing time with injuries.

That said, for a seemingly all-defense consideration like Pelech, this bumpy start could really hurt. What if Team Canada merely searches for someone who can fit that Pelech role, but whos been healthy and on a more successful team?

(For what its worth, Id still have Pelech on Team Canada.)

No, its not really fair to blame all of the Flyers failings on Carter Hart. That said, his seasons been up and down. His .911 save percentage and almost even GSAA argue that he hasnt been able to overcome his teams failings. Team Canada might look at that and ask, What if we need a goalie to bail us out?

Most simply, hes also on a personal six-game losing streak.

Overall, Im not too concerned about Sean Couturiers chances of making Team Canada. Once you get past explosive scorers like Connor McDavid, youll want two-way options. Couturier justifies most of that hype.

But he hasnt been immune to the Flyers struggles. Consider where he ranks in xGAR this season, via Evolving Hockey:

Big picture, thats nothing to panic about. Again, though, its important to remember that Team Canada enjoys a ludicrously deep array of options. Hence, the nitpicking.

Generally, JVR was already a dark horse Olympic candidate. He didnt make any of the PHT staff lists.

But its worth noting that, on last seasons disappointing Flyers team, James van Riemsdyk enjoyed a heck of a season. With 43 points in 56 games, JVR tied for the team lead in scoring.

In this latest disappointing Flyers season, van Riemsdyks been a big disappointment, too. Hes only scored six points in 24 games, and its not as though his power play time dropped too dramatically.

When things are clicking, JVRs nose for the net can make him a rare weapon, especially on the power play. Things are not clicking.

James OBrienis a writer forPro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line atphtblog@nbcsports.comor follow him on Twitter@cyclelikesedins.

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Olympic Stock Watch: Will top Flyers, Islanders fall with their teams? - NHL