Connor Bedard left off Canada's Olympic roster

As the 2025-26 NHL season began, Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard was considered a long shot to make Team Canada for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Many felt the 20-year-old would need the combination of a monster start to the season and a couple of injuries to other Canadian players to make the roster.

Bedard got the first part of that equation right. He started his third NHL season with numbers worthy of the Hart Trophy. He scored 19 goals and 44 points through the first 31 games of the season. Not only did he have pundits talking about him representing his country in Milan, but also about the Blackhawks contending for a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Unfortunately, Bedard suffered a shoulder injury against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12. This was likely all Team Canada needed to keep him off the roster. Had he kept producing at the same rate over the past three weeks, it would have been very difficult to make a logical case for leaving him at home. However, he could still be named as a replacement if he comes back before the games.

While not playing in this year’s Winter Olympics is a disappointment, it could be a blessing in disguise. With Bedard already suffering a serious shoulder injury, getting three weeks off in February is not the worst thing that could happen. Getting some extra time off without the contact that comes from playing NHL games will only serve him well for the stretch run after the Olympic breaks. Besides, at only 20, Bedard will have plenty of other chances to win gold for his country.

Here is the roster Team Canada will be bringing with them to Italy in a few weeks:

Forwards

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
Brendan Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Bo Horvat, New York Islanders
Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers
Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals

Defensemen

Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche

Goaltenders

Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings
Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals