Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard will not be part of Team Canada for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off in February, as his name was absent from the roster revealed on Thursday.
Responding to his exclusion, the young player took it in stride and attributed the missed opportunity to his own performance.
During an intermission interview on TNT’s “NHL Face Off,” Bedard reflected on his omission with a sense of accountability.
“I don’t know, I mean, you kind of sleep in the bed you make,” he stated. “I obviously haven’t been too happy with the start of the year, but for me, it’ll be a good time–you can use that for a little motivation. Just keep working hard and trying to get better, and that’s what I’m going to do, for sure.”
The decision was made by Team Canada general manager Don Sweeney, who chose to include experienced players like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon instead. Although Bedard has demonstrated significant potential, he is currently experiencing a “sophomore slump,” with a daunting 12-game stretch without a goal and a total of just five goals in 26 games for the struggling Blackhawks.
Sweeney explained that the choice was made with Bedard’s long-term growth in mind. “He’s working through that situation where he gets all the attention possible from the best players he’s playing against each and every night,” Sweeney noted. “It’s only going to help him build his resume.”
On a positive note, Sweeney suggested that Bedard could still be a strong contender for Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster. “We just know the special qualities he has,” he said. “He is a terrific young player, and when we went through the process, certainly with an eye towards the next wave of future great players, Connor certainly falls in that category.”
Having already led Team Canada to victory at the 2023 World Juniors, it is reasonable to expect that Bedard will feature prominently in the nation’s future international hockey efforts, starting with the 2026 Olympics.
