Dec 16, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer (44) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Two ex-Boston Bruins have been invited to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. No, we’re not talking about David Krejci. We’re talking about Steven Kampfer and David Warsofsky.
Yupp, that’s right. The former Bruins defensemen are two of 15 invitees by USA Hockey to play on the Olympic men’s ice hockey team in Beijing, according to reports by Daily Faceoff’s Chris Peters and Frank Seravalli.
Kampfer spent the previous three seasons in the Bruins’ organization before heading to Russia to play in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan for the 2021-22 season. The 33-year-old blue liner played five total seasons in two stints with Boston. He tallied 25 points in 113 games played with the Bruins.
Warsofsky played just 10 games for Boston over the span of two seasons back in 2013 to 2015. He’s currently with ERC Ingolstadt of Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Kampfer, Warsofsky could provide veteran leadership for Team USA at the Olympics
Are either players Olympic-level players? Uhh, no, not really. Maybe for China’s national team, but in normal circumstances, not for the United States.
No disrespect to either of them, but the only reason why they’re being considered is because of the NHL’s decision to not send its players to Beijing.
Now, out of the players available for USA Hockey to choose from, I completely understand why Kampfer was invited. He rightfully should be considered, as he’s fourth in the KHL in points by American players with 29. The three American players ahead of him in points – Kenny Agostino (who played five games for the Bruins), Brian O’Neill and Andy Miele – all were also invited to the U.S. team.
The native of Ann Arbor, Michigan could potentially get top-four minutes on the U.S. squad, depending on who is named to the squad. Out of those invitees, Kampfer has the most NHL experience among the defensemen.
For Warsofsky, he only played in 55 NHL games and the last time he skated at that level was in 2017-18 with the Colorado Avalanche. But again, out of the options the U.S. has, he’s still a reliable one.
They might not be as talented as Jake Sanderson, Brock Faber or Drew Helleson, but they have the experience. Those three are college prospects who that have never played against men as old as those that will be at the Olympics, so it will be a different kind of feel for them.
Also among the invitees is current Providence Bruins defenseman Aaron Ness. The 31-year-old has skated in 25 games with the P-Bruins this season, registering seven points.
While neither Ness or Kampfer are Charlie McAvoy, who would have been fun to watch along the United States’ blue line, it still will be cool to see some Bruins representation with the United States’ squad, albeit it being a former player and/or current AHLer if those two choose to go.
