Why Connor Bedard isn’t playing at Olympics for Team Canada
One younger star is shining shiny for Team Canada at these Winter Olympics within the type of Macklin Celebrini.
They might’ve had two, besides Connor Bedard was left at residence.
The Chicago Blackhawks‘star heart was in consideration for the roster, and in the long run, many have been stunned he did not make the lower.
But that is the way in which the cookie crumbles, and Bedard can solely root on his countrymates towards a gold medal from afar.
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Why isn’t Connor Bedard playing at the Olympics?
Bedard missed the crew as Canada went for (principally) a veteran roster.
Celebrini is the exception, not the rule. He’s been approach too good in 2025-26 to have left him at residence, and he has validated the choice at the Games.
Bedard, nonetheless simply 20, was the No. 1 general choose within the 2023 NHL Draft after playing for the Regina Pats.
This season, he has performed 44 video games and has 23 targets with 30 assists for the Blackhawks.
It wasn’t a shoo-in to place Bedard on the crew. He’s not essentially made to be a bottom-six participant, as he is principally an offensive-minded participant at this level in his profession.
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Nick Suzuki was one of many previous couple of forwards to make the roster, and Canada preferred his capability to play on the wing and contribute in a number of alternative ways.
The most headline-grabbing snub was Sam Bennett from the Panthers, and he was chosen as an damage alternative after Anthony Cirelli needed to be taken off the roster because of damage.
Bedard has loads of time to make Olympic rosters.
This time round, I simply missed the lower.
