Team Canada's Olympic roster reveal features surprise snubs in Blackhawks' Connor Bedard and two other names

On Wednesday, Hockey Canada revealed its 25-man roster for Milano Cortina 2026 and Bedard's name wasn't on it.

We just have to wonder how much Bedard's latest injury update affected this head-turning decision.

The Chicago Blackhawks' first overall pick in 2023 is officially watching from home.

Bedard isn't the only snub: Mark Scheifele and Sam Bennett are others that are gaining attention and backlash.

At the time of Connor Bedard's injury, he was ahead of Connor McDavid in the NHL's point race and second only to Nathan MacKinnon.

That's the part that stings, because Bedard isn't some «maybe later» prospect anymore.

Instead, Macklin Celebrini makes it, and the 19-year-old has earned the headline.

Celebrini is sitting at 60 points this season and now gets dropped into a tournament with NHLers, against the best in the world.

TRENDING: Announcement: Connor Bedard may be making Team Canada's Olympic roster after all

Canada's forward group features deep center depth of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon driving the bus, backed by Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart.

The depth bets are Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, Bo Horvat, Nick Suzuki, and Tom Wilson, with Brad Marchand still there to be annoying.

I get why fans are mad, because Bedard feels like the kind of talent you make room for, period.

Brandon Hagel? Bo Horvat? Mitch Marner? In my opinion, these are players that can't single-handedly carry a team.

Bedard on the other hand has showcased that in Chicago; just imagine him surrounded by the best talent of Canada.

But this roster also tells you exactly what Canada values in tight games. Cirelli and Hagel can hound pucks on the forecheck, Suzuki can play matchup minutes, and Wilson gives the bench a straight-line, net-front problem.

On the blue line, it's puck-moving class with Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Josh Morrissey, plus grown-man minutes from Drew Doughty and Colton Parayko.

Add Thomas Harley, Travis Sanheim, and Shea Theodore, and you're basically daring teams to dump it in.

In goal, Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper, and Logan Thompson is a real «pick your flavor» trio, and it will be watched harder than any other position. Canada can score, so the crease just has to hold.

Bedard missing doesn't make this roster weak; it just makes it loud, and that noise is only getting bigger when February hits.