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Team Slovakia Announces 2026 Olympic Roster

By | at January 8, 2026 10:48 am

Slovakia became the latest country to announce its roster for next month’s Olympics this morning. Now, only the host country, Italy, has yet to release its full roster for the event, which begins on Feb. 11.

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While most secondary hockey powers that have released their Olympic rosters in recent days have had a clear weak spot on defense, the same can’t be said for the Slovaks. Five of their eight defenders have NHL experience. Three of them are currently playing impact roles in the bigs, with Cernak and Fehervary serving as top-four staples in Tampa and Washington, while Nemec is amid a breakout season in New Jersey. Koch only had a cup of coffee with the Coyotes in 2023-24, but Marincin, now 33, played in 227 games across eight seasons with the Oilers and Maple Leafs from 2013-20.

The men between the pipes are the biggest question marks as they attempt to upset one of Finland or Sweden for a top-two spot in Group B (the host Italians pose little threat to them for third place). None of them has NHL experience, although the two youngest names on the list are both NHL-affiliated.

Hlavaj, 24, was an undrafted free agent signing by Minnesota in 2024 out of Plzen in the Czech Extraliga. He started for them in the Olympic qualifiers last year and is the expected No. 1 heading into the tournament, but he’s having a tough year with a .876 SV% in 13 games for AHL Iowa. Gajan, an unsigned second-rounder by the Blackhawks in 2023, is having a breakout year in college and will compete with the European pro veteran Skorvanek for backup duties.

As for the forwards, the most experienced NHLer on the entire roster is Tatar, who’s no longer in the league after signing in Switzerland last summer. Tatar and Marincin are the only returning members from the 2014 Olympics, the last time NHLers were permitted to attend. The 35-year-old had 496 points in 927 career NHL games before heading off to Zug, where he’s tied for third on the National League club in scoring with 23 points in 26 games.

The rest of Slovakia’s high-profile offensive talent is on the younger side. Dvorsky and Slafkovsky were both top-10 picks in the last four years, with the former just beginning to lock down an NHL role with St. Louis. Pospisil, 26, has back-to-back 20-point seasons in Calgary but hasn’t played yet this year due to an undisclosed injury. Regenda has bounced between the NHL and AHL with the Ducks and Sharks over the past several years, but has been on a tear in San Jose this season, scoring six goals in six games.

9 comments Olympics Team Slovakia

Team Switzerland Announces 2026 Olympic Roster

By | at January 7, 2026 10:35 am

Team Switzerland has locked in its roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to the IIHF:

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Well over half the Swiss roster carries NHL experience. In goal, there might be a rare situation where the only NHL-contracted name ends up as the third-stringer. Berra, now 39, played parts of five big league seasons but returned home to Fribourg-Gottéron several years ago. He was their starter at the 2022 Olympics and has long been one of Switzerland’s top goalies domestically. Genoni, 38, has been a starter in Switzerland’s top flight since 2007, is a seven-time league champion, and has won three World Championship silver medals.

Switzerland could very well have one of the tournament’s more lethal top defense pairs in Josi and Moser. Both are lefties but have spent significant time on their off sides in Nashville and Tampa. Berni, Kukan, and Siegenthaler round out the depth with NHL experience.

The Swiss are in Group A with Canada, Czechia, and France, easily the most competitive pool. They don’t have the pure offensive firepower of the Canadians and Czechs. However, they have some of the NHL’s most cerebral two-way forwards in Hischier, Niederreiter, and Suter, while boasting Fiala and Meier for high-end goal-scoring ability on the wings.

3 comments Olympics Team Switzerland

Denmark, Germany Announce 2026 Olympic Rosters

By | at January 7, 2026 8:43 am

Wednesday morning, Denmark and Germany became the latest nations to have the IIHF announce their rosters for next month’s Olympics:

Denmark

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Many will be surprised by the number of Danish names with NHL experience. Nine out of their 15 forwards have a big-league game to their name, even if only a handful are still left playing in North America.

Bjorkstrand and Ehlers are this roster’s only star-caliber skaters on an international level, though. The lack of high-end depth at both forward and defense will be a challenge for them as they aim to surpass Germany or Latvia and avoid finishing last in Group C.

Goaltending is a strong suit, comparatively. Andersen and Søgaard have struggled stateside this season, but Andersen has been spectacular in his recent but limited international experience. He had a .938 SV% in three games in last season’s Olympic qualifying tournament to help get them here, just their second Olympic appearance all-time after making a shock quarterfinal run in their debut in 2022.

Mølgaard will be an intriguing name to watch. The 20-year-old is the youngest name on the team by four years and was a second-round pick by Seattle in 2023. In his first season in North America, he’s made his NHL debut and recorded 18 points in 29 AHL games.

Germany

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There will be understandable conversations about Germany’s depth as they compete with Latvia for second place in Group C, but there’s no question that their star power is the best it’s ever been. Draisaitl, Peterka, and Stützle as the top-six anchors up front would be an envious trio for most “second-tier” hockey nations, while Seider as a No. 1 option on the blue line is leagues better than what competitors like Denmark, Slovakia, or even Czechia have to offer.

In goal, Grubauer’s resurgence stateside couldn’t come at a better time for the German national team. He’s been the best backup in the league behind Joey Daccord, flourishing with reduced workload and expectations after largely flaming out as the Kraken’s starter. In 14 appearances, he’s put up a league-leading .926 SV% and ranks seventh in the league in goals saved above expected with 11, per MoneyPuck. While it’s his first Olympic appearance, he’s made 22 World Championship appearances over the years and has a .915 mark in those.

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Czechia, France, Latvia Announce 2026 Olympic Rosters

By | at January 6, 2026 8:35 am

Today, the IIHF revealed three additional rosters for next month’s Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy. Czechia, France, and Latvia have now locked in their 25-man groups. We’re still waiting on five countries – Denmark, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, and Switzerland – to confirm their rosters.

Czechia

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Goaltending will be the Czech squad’s anchor as they look to medal for the third time since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992. While Vladař would likely have been the third-stringer had this roster been released a year ago, his emergence as a top-tier starter in Philadelphia this season may give him the inside track on the No. 1 job.

Hertl and Zacha will anchor Czechia’s top lines from the middle while Nečas and Pastrňák give them one of the tournament’s most formidable one-two punches on the right side. Even among their non-NHL talent, it’s a comparatively deep forward group that gives them a medal chance. Plenty of names playing overseas have NHL experience, and the only two who don’t (Flek and Stránský) are currently the top goal-scorers in their respective leagues.

Defense – particularly their left-shot rearguards – is where things stand to get hairy for the Czechs as they attempt to unseat the nucleus of Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the U.S. for a medal. They might do well to shift a righty to their off side to give them a more dynamic two-way element than what shutdown NHL veterans Kempný and Šimek have to offer. Ticháček, 22, may be the most talented offensive producer Czechia’s defense has to offer – even ahead of their clear No. 1 in Hronek – but at 5’9″ and 170 lbs, size is a concern as he goes up against the most difficult competition of his life.

France

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If not for the host country, Italy, fielding a club, France would be the favorite to finish with the worst record in the tournament – especially as they face arguably the toughest competition out of anyone with Canada, Czechia, and Switzerland in Group A. That’s not to say they’re devoid of NHL-caliber talent, though.

Texier and Bellemare, now 40 years old with 700 games of NHL experience, will anchor their forward group. Whether they share a line remains to be seen as France weighs whether having them each anchor their own unit may be more beneficial as they attempt their only realistic potential upset against the Swiss. Da Costa, still an All-Star caliber player in Russia at age 36, spent parts of four seasons with the Senators in the early 2010s.

Defense is their weakest position. Only Auvitu has any NHL experience, and three-eighths of the group are from France’s own Ligue Magnus, one of the lowest-caliber top divisions in Europe.

The crease will feature the 21-year-old Keller, a Capitals seventh-rounder in 2023 who’s yet to sign his entry-level deal. He played briefly for their ECHL affiliate this season before heading to Switzerland’s top league, where he has a .900 SV% in nine starts.

Latvia

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Perhaps no hockey country’s stock is rising quicker than Latvia’s, which upset their way to a bronze medal at the World Championship in 2023 and has had its fair share of memorable moments at the junior level in recent years as well. They only have three Olympic group stage wins in history – two in 2002 and one in Sochi in 2014 – but are a clear-cut favorite ahead of Denmark in Group C and should be on relatively equal footing with Germany to finish second behind the United States.

Easily the strongest roster they’ve ever sent, half their forward group are playing in the NHL or AHL while under contract with a parent club. Among the European league talent they’re drawing from, two of those names – Balcers and Daugaviņš – have NHL experience. With a pair of NHLers in net as well and a third-stringer in Gudlevskis with NHL experience, they’re well-positioned to make noise.

Like the other two rosters locked in today, defense is their weak spot, but they have two NHL veterans in Balinskis and Rubīns. The most intriguing talent to watch, perhaps on the entire team, will be Šmits. The 6’3″ lefty is fresh off his 18th birthday and is a slam-dunk top-20 pick in the 2026 draft. He’s coming off a stellar World Juniors showing that saw him record five points in five games.

7 comments Newsstand Olympics Team Czechia Team France Team Latvia

Team Sweden Announces 2026 Olympic Roster

By | at January 2, 2026 10:10 am

After the other medal frontrunners unveiled their Olympic rosters earlier today, Team Sweden has also formalized the 25 players it’s taking to Milan, Italy, in February. Their full roster can be found below.

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Like Canada and the United States, Sweden’s roster is made up entirely of NHLers as the players make their first Olympic appearance since 2014. Headed to do battle with Finland, Slovakia, and the host Italy in Group B, they’re well-positioned as the favorite with one of the tournament’s deeper blue lines and highest-ceiling creases.

In goal, Gustavsson was Sweden’s starter at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off and is likely ticketed for the No. 1 role again. He’s joined by two new faces, Markström and his teammate Wallstedt, who replace the struggling Samuel Ersson and Linus Ullmark from one year ago. The veteran Markström’s porous .884 SV% in 20 appearances for New Jersey this year indicates the Minnesota tandem, each of whom has saved more than 10 goals above expected (per MoneyPuck), will be leading the way.

Dahlin and Hedman will be the left-side anchors of Sweden’s top four group on defense after being locked in as two of their initial six players over the summer. Every single name on the list is a bona fide top-four piece for their NHL club – something only them, Canada and the US can say – with an appropriate mix of younger talent like the up-and-coming Broberg, while boasting two of the NHL’s best shutdown defenders in Brodin and Forsling. The only player not returning from the 4 Nations group is the Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm. He’s been replaced by Ekman-Larsson and Broberg as the Swedes added an eighth defender as permitted under IIHF rules.

Up front, Nylander will be the centerpiece of Sweden’s offense. The Toronto star has missed some time recently with an injury, but with 41 points in 33 games this season, he leads Swedish NHLers in points per game.

Both their forward and defense groups boast arguably the tournament’s most cohesive two-way identity. They boast multiple veteran, well-regarded all-situations centered like Eriksson Ek and Wennberg – although the latter’s linemate in San Jose, William Eklund, is a glaring omission, while more bottom-six/penalty-kill oriented options like Holmberg find themselves included.

1 comment Newsstand Olympics Team Sweden

Team Finland Announces 2026 Olympic Roster

By | at January 2, 2026 10:08 am

Finland has become the second country to announce their Winter Olympic roster on Friday. The roster closely aligns with Finland’s lineup at the 2025 4 Nations tournament, with some notable additions from across the hockey world. The full roster is as follows:

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The biggest difference between Finland’s 4-Nations and Olympic rosters is the addition of star defenseman Heiskanen, who was unavailable for last year’s international tourney. He may be the country’s best representation on the NHL stage, offering top-level play on both sides of the puck. Heiskanen has 35 points in 41 NHL games this season and scored a career-high 73 points in 79 games in the 2022-23 campaign. He will be leaned on as a top player for the Finnish side, and could lead the team in average ice time.

Finland has also added Lehtonen and Canadiens rookie Kapanen – two interesting additions as the country looks to add a bit more bolt to their lineup. Lehtonen is a journeyman of international hockey. He has played in five top leagues and recently found a home with the Lions in Switzerland’s National League, where he won league championships in 2024 and 2025. He currently has 16 points in 32 games this season and offers downhill offense at the expense of robust defense. Centerman Kapanen has found a similar downhill drive in his first NHL season. He has 12 goals and 21 points in 40 games for Montreal, with no signs of slowing down. Kapanen was a revelation as a young player in Finland’s Liiga, where he totaled 65 points in 124 games and three seasons.

The Finns will return their 4 Nations roster otherwise, set to lean heavily on Aho, Rantanen, and Hintz as the explosive pieces of an otherwise fundamental offense. It was Granlund who led that team in scoring, though, with four points in three games – double the scoring of Finland’s top offensive pieces.

Second and third on the 4 Nations team in scoring were Patrik Laine (three points) and Aleksander Barkov (two points), who will both miss the Olympic Games due to injury. Barkov, one of the NHL’s premier two-way centers, had to undergo ACL and MCL surgery after a preseason injury. Laine is also on the mend after undergoing surgery in October.

With the slightly shorthanded roster and brave additions of an NHL rookie and Swiss-league defender, the Finns will step up as a team to watch this tournament. They don’t seem to offer the firepower of Sweden, the USA, or Canada, but could surprise with a significant defense addition supporting a goaltending room that struggled at the 4-Nations.

0 comments Newsstand Olympics Team Finland

Team USA Announces 2026 Olympic Roster

By | at January 2, 2026 8:34 am

USA Hockey has officially announced its 25-man roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. The roster was contested until the final days and features a few players who didn’t appear with the U.S. at the 2025 4-Nations Face-Off. The full roster is as follows:

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As expected, Team USA is bringing a star-studded front to what’s sure to be a closely contested Olympic Games. Their strongest pillar stands in the net, where reigning NHL MVP Hellebuyck will be making his Olympic debut. Helleybuyck has fallen to a .907 save percentage in 22 games this season – but his track record of dominant play stretches back years. He has recorded a save percentage north of .910 in each of the last eight seasons, including five years north of a .920. He’s held onto those routinely league-topping numbers while playing upwards of 60 games a season.

Helleybuyck could back a potentially explosive offense. The States tied for the most goals at the 4 Nations tournament while leaning on Guentzel, Eichel, and the Tkachuk brothers to strong-arm the offense, while smooth-moving Werenski led the tourney in scoring with six assists. Boldy and Matthews were also key pieces of the 4 Nations offense, each netting three points.

Notably, the United States did not have former Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes at the 4 Nations tournament. Hughes missed the tournament due to injury and was replaced by Sanderson, who did enough to earn an Olympic berth. But Hughes’ impact could be a tourney-winning X-factor. The 26-year-old has 30 points in 27 games this season and is only two years removed from a 92-point campaign with the Vancouver Canucks. He is among the – or perhaps thee – best offensive defensemen in hockey and should gel well in his first return to international play since 2019.

Speaking of 2019 – USA Hockey will finally see the fruits of the historic 2019 USNTDP class with this tournament. Jack Hughes and Boldy were stars on that lineup and have only emerged further since breaking into the NHL. Both players offer unwavering offensive impact – but the question will be whether the States feel cheeky enough to play the two together. Their chemistry in junior hockey was unrivaled in the few games they played alongside each other, though Hughes would end up taking on Cole Caufield as his de facto linemate. Still, Hughes and Boldy were the keys to the NTDP offense that season, and have now earned the right to wear the crest at the top level.

The rest of the roster is, generally, rounded out by USA mainstays like the hard-nosed McAvoy, top-end goaltenders Oettinger and Swayman, and – surely to some fans’ dismay – the winning veteran presence of Nelson. All four players were a part of the USA’s 4 Nations squad and will return to their depth roles in this tournament.

There are some new faces in the mix, though. Rather than bring Chris Kreider, the USA has opted to bring high-scoring Sabres forward Tage Thompson and reliable front-man in Utah, Clayton Keller. The two undoubtedly earned their stay during the USA’s 2025 World Championship Gold Medal run that saw Keller score 10 points and Thompson score nine in 10 games. They were two heartbeats of the lineup and should continue to offer versatile impact without the need for top minutes.

With this lineup in place, Team USA will take its stand as a true medal favorite for the 2026 Olympic Games. Their toughest test will come at the hands of Canadian and Swedish offenses capable of pouring on the scoring. Team USA found as much out at the 4 Nations, where Canada emerged with the tourney win. But with a robust goaltending room and multiple additions to fortify their scoring, the American side should bring an explosive boost to the Winter Games.

26 comments NHL Newsstand Olympics Players Team USA

International Notes: Schaefer, Jarvis, Vaakanainen, Hutson

By | at January 1, 2026 8:00 pm

Although he was ultimately left off Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer will have an opportunity to play if needed. Earlier today, Andrew Gross of Newsday reported that Schaefer is on Team Canada’s standby list and will play if the team runs into injury trouble.

Even being on the standby list is a testament to how the recent first overall pick has played for the New York Islanders this season. He’s leading the team in defensive scoring by a significant margin, recording nine goals and 25 points in 40 games while averaging nearly 24 minutes of action per game. Furthermore, his defensive metrics are notably mature for his age, with a 50.7% CorsiFor at even strength and 90.1% on-ice save percentage at even strength.

Still, it’s curious that Hockey Canada has opted for Schaefer being the next man up rather than Washington Capitals blueliner Jakob Chychrun. The former 16th overall pick has been one of the most underrated defensemen in the league this season, scoring 15 goals and 30 points in 40 games while managing a 23:16 ATOI. Additionally, Chychrun’s underlying metrics are better than Schaefer’s, with a 56.0% CF% and 91.8% oiSV% at even strength.

Other international notes:

  • Schaefer isn’t the only skater from the Metropolitan Division to find himself on Team Canada’s standby list. Seth Jarvis, who skated for Team Canada in last year’s Four Nations Face-Off, is also on Team Canada’s standby list, according to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels. Although arguments could be made for other forwards, it’s difficult to say Jarvis hasn’t earned it with 19 goals and 29 points in 34 games this season for the Carolina Hurricanes.
  • Moving to Group B of the upcoming international tournament, the New York Rangers will have a defenseman on the standby list — this time for Team Finland. According to Mollie Walker of the New York Post, Urho Vaakanainen will be available for Team Finland if they run into injury trouble. Vaakanainen played in three games for Finland last season at the Four Nations Face-Off, going scoreless with a -5 rating.
  • In the World Juniors Championship, the United States is expected to return an important defenseman for their upcoming quarterfinal matchup against Finland. This afternoon, Mike G. Morreale of the NHL wrote that Cole Hutson, who hasn’t played since being hit in the head with a puck in the round robin matchup against Team Switzerland, is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow. The Capitals prospect has already registered two assists in two games with a +5 rating.
4 comments Carolina Hurricanes New York Islanders New York Rangers Olympics Washington Capitals

Pacific Notes: Jarry, Hyman, Vatrano, Chiarot

By | at January 1, 2026 6:00 pm

It appears the Oilers won’t have to wait too much longer to get their new starting goalie back.  Head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters following last night’s game (video link) that they’re hoping to have Tristan Jarry back around mid-January.  That would mean he’ll miss another couple of weeks but ideally not much more than that.  Diagnosed as out week-to-week just before the holiday break due to a lower-body injury, Jarry was injured in just his third game following last month’s swap.  Connor Ingram has played well in three of his four games in Jarry’s absence and will now have a couple more weeks to make the case that he should take over as Edmonton’s backup moving forward over Calvin Pickard.

More from the Pacific:

  • While Hockey Canada didn’t reveal any of its players on their standby list for next month’s Olympics when they announced their roster yesterday, Oilers winger Zach Hyman is on that list, according to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. Hyman missed the start of the season while recovering from wrist surgery but has been productive in his limited action, collecting 12 goals and 10 assists in 22 games, 16 of which have come in his last 11 outings.  That made him a candidate for the team given his chemistry with linemate Connor McDavid but he’ll now need someone to miss due to injury to have a chance to make it.
  • Unsurprisingly, following Wednesday’s announcement that Frank Vatrano will miss six weeks due to a fractured shoulder, the Ducks have moved him to injured reserve, notes Derek Lee of The Hockey News (Twitter link). Anaheim had been carrying a full 23-player roster so they now have an opening to recall someone from AHL San Diego, a move that could be made relatively soon.
  • Earlier this week, Canucks prospect Gabriel Chiarot was traded in the OHL with Kitchener announcing that they acquired him from Brampton in exchange for eight draft picks. The 19-year-old was a sixth-round pick by Vancouver back in June, going 175th overall.  He has 15 goals and 10 assists in 33 games so far this season.  Chiarot turns 20 in mid-September, meaning he is eligible to play full-time in the minors in 2026-27 so this could be a particularly expensive rental if the Canucks decide that moving to the next level is better than an overage season in junior.
0 comments Anaheim Ducks Edmonton Oilers Injury OHL Olympics Vancouver Canucks

Team Canada Announces 2026 Olympic Roster

By | at December 31, 2025 11:09 am

Hockey Canada has formally announced its 25-man roster for the NHL’s return to Olympic action. They’re the first major power to announce its roster for the event in Milan, Italy, trimming it down and altering it from a preliminary list of 42 players they released back in August.

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The tournament’s most star-studded roster includes the vast majority of the players who took home Canada’s first true best-on-best championship since their gold medal at the 2014 Olympics at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. That includes all eight defensemen – there are no changes on the Canadian blue line from one year ago.

The biggest changes are in the crease. Binnington, who was Canada’s starter at the 4 Nations, may not hold the same path to the No. 1 job as he did 12 months ago but has done enough internationally to maintain his spot on the roster. His .870 SV% and 3.44 GAA with -9.7 goals saved above expected (MoneyPuck) in 23 games have him positioned as one of the NHL’s worst starters in 2025-26, but after posting a .907 SV% at the 4 Nations and a .944 SV% at the 2025 World Championship, he’d made himself an effective lock on the roster.

Joining Binnington between the pipes are Kuemper and Thompson, both of whom finished in the top four in Vezina Trophy voting last year and have both kept up their momentum into 2025-26. Thompson’s 22.9 GSAx leads the league heading into the New Year, while Kuemper has logged a pristine .917 SV% and 2.19 GAA in 23 starts for Los Angeles. They replace Adin Hill (Golden Knights), who’s spent most of the season on injured reserve, and Sam Montembeault, who’s lost his grip on the Canadiens’ starting job to Jakub Dobes.

There’s also some significant turnover among Canada’s forward group. Out from the 4 Nations roster are Sam Bennett, Travis Konecny, and the injured Seth Jarvis. Inserted into the group – as Canada can carry another forward to the Olympics – are Celebrini, Horvat, Suzuki, and Wilson.

Once again, it will be Canada’s forward group that will form its identity. They boast the league’s three leading scorers in MacKinnon, McDavid, and the 19-year-old Celebrini – arguably the front-runner for the Hart Trophy at the halfway point of the season. But beyond that, general manager Doug Armstrong opted to leave a good portion of the country’s top scorers this season at home, at least initially. Three players who are currently top 20 in the league in points – Wyatt Johnston, Mark Scheifele, and Connor Bedard – did not make the team.

It will be Canada’s reluctance to completely lean into its young talent, including Bedard and Calder Trophy frontrunner Matthew Schaefer on defense, that dominates the discourse in the coming days. Of course, injuries over the next month could pave the way for both to join their country in Milan. For some, it will be reminiscent of the 2006 Olympics, the last time Canada failed to medal with NHLers on its roster, when it opted to leave young offensive firepower in Sidney Crosby, Jason Spezza, and Eric Staal and was shut out by Russia in the quarterfinals.

37 comments Newsstand Olympics Team Canada
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