Team USA claims Olympic gold for the first time since Miracle '80, while NHL vets Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper snag silver with their squads and Joel Armia grabs bronze in a medal bonanza. These guys balance national pride with club contracts, fueling GM war rooms plotting summer moves around Olympic glow-ups. Front offices already dissect how this hardware shifts trade values and extension talks as the NHL season resumes.

The Kings hit the ice for practice without their full Olympic crew, but coach Jim Hiller drops a bombshell by sliding Quinton Byfield from center to wing alongside Anze Kopitar and Trevor Moore to spark his game. With Kevin Fiala nursing a fractured leg that sidelines him through the regular season and Darcy Kuemper still in Italy, the lineup features fresh faces like new trade acquisition Artemi Panarin jumping into drills.

Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper lace up for Team USA's gold-medal push, while Joel Armia grinds for bronze in a medal round that tests every ounce of NHL poise. These battle-tested vets carry the weight of national dreams into games where one shift changes legacies. Front offices watch closely, knowing Olympic metal polishes resumes for those next big contracts.

Team Canada’s men’s hockey squad, packed with NHL millionaires like Sidney Crosby, starts in the Olympic Village but quickly bolts for a five-star hotel courtesy of the NHL and NHLPA. Goalies Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper insist it’s all about stacking the deck for gold, not snubbing the dorm-life vibe that USA stays with. GM Doug Armstrong points out this mirrors Vancouver and Sochi setups, where comfort trumps tradition to sharpen their edge in Milano Cortina.

Drew Doughty anchors the blue line, Darcy Kuemper stands tall in net, and Joel Armia brings the grit as their teams claw through overtime thrillers into the Olympic medal round. These NHL vets know the stakes in Milano Cortina, where every shift echoes the playoff pressure back home. Canada, USA, Finland, and Slovakia set up semis that promise more drama, with gold on the line and league GMs taking mental notes on who's rising to the moment.

The Los Angeles Kings bring back goaltender Pheonix Copley from the AHL's Ontario Reign just as the Olympic break winds down. Copley, who's bounced between LA and the minors all season after stints with waivers and a quick Tampa detour, steps in for practice reps this week. With Darcy Kuemper set to return post-Olympics, this move buys the Kings insurance in net during a critical stretch before the playoff push ramps up.