European Hockey Players Look to Olympics for NHL Opportunities

In Milan, Dominik Kahun once rose from relative obscurity as a budding professional player to catch the attention of North American audiences. Early in his career, he was a competent player for Munich, contributing to their Deutsche Eishockey Liga championship wins during his first three seasons. Despite an impressive record of nearly a point-per-game in 2017-18, Kahun didn’t top the scoring charts and remained under the radar for many in the NHL.

However, the Olympic Games provided Kahun a unique chance to showcase his abilities when the NHL decided not to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Recognizing this opportunity, Kahun expressed, “I was definitely thinking about the NHL in 2018.” This foresight proved beneficial when the German national team, with Kahun playing a pivotal role, clinched the silver medal in South Korea.

Kahun’s Olympic performance was instrumental, securing a key assist against Switzerland, a goal in the quarterfinal against Sweden, and another vital contribution in the semifinals against Canada. Though Germany narrowly missed gold, losing in overtime to the Russians, Kahun’s skills caught the eyes of NHL scouts.

In the months following the Olympics, Kahun secured a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, partly attributed to his Olympic performance, as noted by general manager Stan Bowman. Though his NHL stint totaled 34 goals and 83 points over 186 games with various teams, including the Blackhawks, Penguins, Sabres, and Oilers, Kahun has continued his career in Switzerland since 2021-22. He’s now preparing for another Olympic stint, hopeful for a similar impact.

Reflecting on this opportunity, Kahun shared, “You never know what can happen, obviously. I’m just coming to Milan with a free mind. What matters most is our team success. But if the team does well, it’s good for everybody individually. You never know.”

“You never know what can happen, obviously,” he said. “I’m just coming to (Milan) with a free mind. I’m always trying to do my best and play my best game. What matters most is our team success. But if the team does well, it’s good for everybody individually. You never know.”

Kahun is among several ex-NHLers participating in these Olympics. Players like Dominik Kubalik for the Czech Republic, Tomáš Tatar for Slovakia, and others are seizing this chance to potentially reignite their NHL careers. Despite his modest NHL career, Kubalik, only 30 years old, aims to prove his worth on the Olympic stage.

In a similar vein, Kubalik remarked, “I can’t say I want to prove people wrong or something like that, but obviously you would like to have a good tournament.” He, like Kahun, traces his NHL journey back to his post-Olympic signing with Chicago, building on his national team exposure.

Kubalik departed from the NHL after the 2023-24 season with Ottawa but remains a prolific scorer in the Swiss National League. His determination to demonstrate his abilities is shared by others like Rūdolfs Balcers and Ondřej Kaše, who also wish for a return to North American ice.

Though successes are not guaranteed, these athletes revel in the Olympic stage, which offers them not only chances for individual comebacks but also pride in representing their countries. Kahun, Kubalik, and their peers maintain a collective focus on team accomplishments as their primary goal.

As Tatar reflected, “It’s great to see all these guys who I used to play against, now at the level of the Olympic Games. It’s very exciting for all of us.” While the odds of returning to the NHL may be challenging, the Olympics provide a global stage where anything remains possible.