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'A shame if he's not on that list' Blackhawks teammates praises Bedard's Olympic hopes

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Sam Walker
December 18, 2025 (9:48)

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Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard has been electric this season with 19 goals and 44 points in 31 games, and teammate Frank Nazar says it would be «a shame» if Bedard doesn't make Canada's Olympic roster. Bedard, 20, has been one of the NHL's most dynamic forces, and his injury timing complicates his Olympic hopes.

"I mean, this one's easy for him. I think just the tremendous start of the year. I mean, what is it, 19 goals? That's what you need, right?" Nazar said.

Nazar laid out his case clearly for Bedard on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, pointing to his linemate's elite production and two-way game. He emphasized Bedard isn't just a scorer but a complete forward who impacts play everywhere.

"I think he's really found his game up and down the ice, defensive zone, offensive zone," he said. "He's really just been a dog all around and making plays. He really sees the ice like no one else does."

The context here matters because Bedard's recent injury thrust his status into uncertainty. He went down with an upper-body injury in a loss to the St. Louis Blues, and the Blackhawks put him on injured reserve. That move means he won't play until after the New Year at the earliest.

Frank Nazar backs Connor Bedard's Olympic case

Chicago fans have watched Bedard grow into a franchise centerpiece, and Nazar's words echo what many Blackhawks supporters are thinking: if Bedard's body of work isn't enough for an Olympic nod, something's off.

"Honestly, the way he's been playing and how he's been going and how he's been putting the puck in the net, I think it's a shame if he's not on that list."

Bedard's point pace this season ranks among the NHL's best despite Chicago's middling 13-14-6 record, and he's shown flashes of elite playmaking and finishing that put him on All-Star radars.

From a broader perspective, making an Olympic team is about impact and fit. Bedard's skill set checks both boxes, and his pre-injury numbers placed real weight behind that argument. But Canada must finalize its roster by the end of December, and Bedard won't log any more games before then.

Nazar's defense of Bedard didn't come off as blind loyalty, it came from a place of respect for what Bedard's done on ice and in the locker room. It's one thing for fans to argue a player belongs, but quite another when a rising teammate and friend makes that case publicly.

Whether Hockey Canada takes that exactly into account remains to be seen, but for Blackhawks fans the message is loud and clear: Bedard's resume deserves Olympic consideration no matter the injury timing.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Ex-Blackhawk plots revenge as Chicago visits the Canadiens Friday: 'A revenge game for me'

Trade of veteran Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy underway and 3 teams are named

Connor Bedard believes his Blackhawks teammate belongs at the 2026 Olympics

POLL
DECEMBRE 18 \| 59 ANSWERS 'A shame if he's not on that list' Blackhawks teammates praises Bedard's Olympic hopes Do you think Connor Bedard should make Canada's Olympic team?
Yes	40	67.8 %
No	12	20.3 %
Wait to see	7	11.9 %
List of polls

'A shame if he's not on that list' Blackhawks teammates praises Bedard's Olympic hopes

Frank Nazar backs Connor Bedard's Olympic case

Do you think Connor Bedard should make Canada's Olympic team?