Team Canada could regret passing on Blackhawks star

This year’s Olympic cycle is officially underway with the announcement of rosters for the upcoming tourney in Milano-Cortina. Team Canada kicked off the ceremonies by unveiling its roster with the pomp and circumstance fitting of election results.

There were few surprises, if any, for the Canadian roster. But one conspicuously absent name was Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. As my colleague Greg Boysen initially reported, Team Canada's roster was devoid of Bedard's presence.

Bedard had been in the conversation for a spot at the Olympics, given the great season he’s had.
However, a shoulder injury earlier this month likely hurt Bedard’s chances of making the team. Injuries notwithstanding, Team Canada could regret not picking Bedard for the Olympics.

There’s a very simple reason for that. Bedard is an elite playmaker and scorer. He can play center and wing. That combination of skill and versatility makes Bedard an ideal choice for the tourney.

But there’s one key reason why Canada could rue leaving Bedard off its roster. The games are likely to be tough, tight-checking affairs. Yes, space will be at a premium. If the 4 Nations Face-Off was any indication, there won’t be much ice to maneuver.

Then again, that’s where a player like Bedard can break the game open. One misstep, a small miscue, or a sudden mental lapse, and Bedard can make the opposition pay.

Sure, there are plenty of highly skilled players on Team Canada’s roster. They’re the presumptive gold medal champs. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that they passed on one of the game’s best players at the moment.

Blackhawks Bedard shoo-in for 2030

While there’s still a chance for Bedard to make the team, it would take an injury to give him that shot. However, that’s unlikely at this point. But it’s safe to assume that Bedard will be among the crop of talent that could represent Canada in 2030.

This iteration of Team Canada is a mostly veteran squad filled with proven Stanley Cup winners. But some of these players could be aged out. For instance, it’s easy to assume that Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand, Mark Stone, and Tom Wilson will not be back in 2030.

Crosby, Marchand, and Stone could retire within the next four seasons. And even if they kept playing, they won’t make the next Olympic cycle. Plus, aging stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon could easily open up a spot for Bedard.

Of course, that’s assuming that Bedard will continue to play at the elite level he’s currently at. There’s no reason to assume he won’t. Unless injuries become a serious issue, Bedard could headline the next group of Canadian stars looking to capture Olympic gold.