Yahoo Sports Why Bedard Was Left Off Team Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off Roster
The Team Canada roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off definitely had a ton of players that could have made the team. There are a lot of snubs that many fans aren't too happy about, especially for Canada, including Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The young superstar in the making is going to be a part of Team Canada in the future, but didn't make the cut this season and it isn't entirely surprising. While in past events, the country is known for taking a player or two who's generally younger in anticipation for the next event, that wasn't the case for this smaller non-Olympics tournament.
Related: Lots Of Current And Former Blackhawks On Four Nations Faceoff Rosters
The roster for Team Canada appears to have been chosen by production this season more than potential or future stars. This saw Bedard, who has struggled to produce offensively like the rest of the Blackhawks, left off the roster. He has five goals and 19 points in 26 games while everyone on the team has been very productive offensively. Even a ton of snubs arguably deserved to make the team more than Bedard at this time.
Just because the Blackhawks' young star didn't make Team Canada this year, doesn't mean he isn't going to be a game-changer when the 2026 Olympics rolls around or when any future events happen.
Canada might not see this small tournament as a developmental area for certain younger stars in the making ahead of the 2026 Olympics. If they did, Bedard and someone like Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers would have been chosen.
Lack of team success definitely hurt Bedard's chances as only one player from a below .500 team made Team Canada, and it was Sam Montembeault as the likely third-string goalie.
The hope is that a fire is now lit under Bedard and he finishes the season, which still has a lot of games left in it, on a high note. He is playing like the best player on the team most nights, but has to take the next step and the decision will be a lot easier to take him to the 2026 Olympics by Team Canada.
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