Connor Bedard is among a group of young Canadians off to a strong start as they look to make their cases to earn a spot 2026 Olympic team.
Bedard has six goals and 12 points in 10 games after boosting his stats significantly on Tuesday with a hat trick and an assist in a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
His production dropped off slightly last season from his promising rookie year as he finished with 23 goals and 67 points in 82 games. The 20-year-old admitted after Tuesday’s outburst that his goal to be a part of Team Canada in February.
“Of course, if that’s something that I get to do, that would be unbelievable, and I would do anything to be on that team,” he said. “But I’m trying to take things day by day and have fun playing in the NHL and trying to grow as a team and win hockey games and do everything I can to play my best hockey. In the end, that’ll be what puts me in a spot to make it.”
There will be no shortage of competition to make the team which will be comprised of NHL players for the first time since Sochi 2014. Veterans like Brad Marchand, Mark Stone, Tom Wilson and Drew Doughty are all fighting for spots, with the last three first overall picks – starting with Bedard – making compelling arguments early.
Macklin Celebrini, selected first overall in 2024, and Matthew Schaefer, the reigning No. 1 overall pick, have also come out of the gate strong this year in hopes of drawing the attention of Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong.
Celebrini, 19, has six goals and 16 points in 10 games this season, but his impact hasn’t helped the San Jose Sharks avoid another slow start. San Jose is 2-6-2 and once again in the basement of the Western Conference. Celebrini fell just shy of reaching the point-per-game milestone last year, when had 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games.
At just 18, Schaefer has two goals and five points through his first nine NHL games and has quickly earned the trust of Patrick Roy and the New York Islanders coaching staff. Schaefer is averaging 23:14 of ice time per night, the highest mark on the team. The Islanders are 4-4-1 to start the season, clearly booster by Schaefer, who is plus-3.
The Talking Point: Should Team Canada select both Celebrini and Schaefer? Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer were the first overall picks in the last two NHL Entry Draft’s and have had great starts to their year. Should Team Canada be selecting both of them for the upcoming Olympics? Frankie Corrado weighs in during Monday’s Talking Point.
Bedard has lifted the Blackhawks to a better-than-expected 5-3-2 start after two trying years well outside of the playoff race. He leads the team’s forwards with an average of 21:19 ice time per game and is plus-4 on the season.
There’s still plenty of time for Armstrong to make decisions with Olympic rosters not due until Jan. 1 and Bedard is well aware that making the cut for any other will be feat.
“I mean, it’s Canada, there’s so many amazing players, you never know,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m focused on the Hawks. That stuff comes later down the line.”
