2026 Stanley Cup Remaining: Jaccob Slavin turns into second American to win gold medal, Stanley Cup in identical season

When the clock hit zero on the Carolina Hurricanes’ 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Recreation 6, Jaccob Slavin cemented his place in American Hockey historical past. The Hurricanes defenseman grew to become simply the second American, together with Ken Morrow, ever to seize an Olympic gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the identical season.

Again in February, Slavin was celebrating on the ice in Milan after ending the Individuals’ 46-year Olympic gold medal drought. 4 months later, he was lifting the Stanley Cup over his head and skating it round T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.

“It’s unbelievable,” Slavin told NHL Network after the sport. “Accidents at the start of the 12 months, I did not know after I’d come again. Simply needed to actually lean into my relationship with Christ and simply belief in his timing. I seemed on the entire 12 months, and the phrase that involves thoughts is grateful.”

Slavin is simply the ninth participant in historical past to win an Olympic gold medal and a Stanley Cup in the identical 12 months. Previous to Slavin, the latest gamers to perform that feat have been Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter, who gained gold with Canada on the 2014 Olympics earlier than main the Los Angeles Kings to their second Stanley Cup win in three years.

The checklist of the primary eight double-dippers is plagued by present or future Corridor of Famers:

That checklist is so quick primarily as a result of NHL gamers have solely competed in six Olympics. The primary 12 months NHL gamers participated was in 1998, and there was a 12-year hole from 2014 to 2026 on account of points between the NHL and the Worldwide Olympic Committee.

Oddly sufficient, the one American to win a gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the identical 12 months was Morrow, who did it 18 years earlier than NHL gamers have been within the Olympics. Morrow was a defenseman on the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” staff, and he signed knowledgeable contract with the New York Islanders shortly thereafter. Instantly, Morrow grew to become a key a part of the Islanders’ dynasty that rattled off 4 straight Cup victories from 1980-83.

For 46 years, Morrow has stood alone as the one American to double-dip in the identical 12 months. Now he has some firm due to the efforts of Slavin.