Rick Nash and Marc Staal are awaiting word from Team Canada management while Carl Hagelin awaits notice from the Team Sweden hierarchy whether they will be selected on Tuesday to represent their respective countries in the Olympics.
It will be a formality for Henrik Lundqvist to be named to Team Sweden for the third straight time and for Mats Zuccarello to be named to Team Norway for the second straight time and thus join previously selected mates Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan (Team USA) in Sochi.
Nash, who played for Canada in both 2006 and 2010, is expected to be named to the squad despite his down year thus far for the Rangers, according to those with insight into the selection process. It is, however, no sure thing at all.
“Obviously it’s in the back of your mind but I can’t control much now,” Nash said after scoring his eighth and ninth goals of the season in Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Blue Jackets at the Garden. “It’s out of my hands.
“If I make it, great. If not, I’ll move on.”
Staal, who attended Canada’s Olympic Orientation camp, is believed among a cluster of candidates — including Dan Boyle, Brent Seabrook, Mark Giordano and Dan Hamhuis — for the final left defense spot. Boyle is a right-handed shot who would have to switch to his off side.
“I haven’t been told how it’s going to go,” Staal said. “I don’t know if guys will receive advance notice in the morning if they don’t make the team before it’s announced [at 10:30 a.m.]. Obviously it would be great to go.”
Hagelin played for Team Sweden in the 2008 World Junior Tournament but has never played for the national team. The 25-year-old winger was invited to his country’s summer orientation camp.
“I’m hopeful and have a good feeling from being at the camp and from what I was hearing the last time management was in New York during the season,” Hagelin said. “They have their top three lines set, so I know the role I would have, which would of course be OK with me.”
Lundqvist, who won gold with Sweden in 2006 — as did Nash with Canada in 2010 — believes Hagelin would be an asset for his team.
“His speed on that big ice surface would definitely be valuable to have,” he said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him.”
Dylan McIlrath, down with a knee injury he suffered in Hartford on Dec. 21 playing for the AHL Wolf Pack, skated for the first time on Monday and reported no issues. There is no estimated timeline for the defenseman’s return. McIlrath had played two games for the Rangers in making his NHL debut the week before the injury.
The Rangers are 3-2 in the shootout, with Lundqvist 2-2, having allowed six goals on 17 shots (.647 save percentage). The King came into the season with a 45-30 record in the skills competition while allowing 68 goals on 287 shots (.763).
“A lot of it is about patience and confidence,” Lundqvist said. “I just need to work on it in practice and get the timing better.”