By the time the 2026 Olympics come around, it will have been a 12 year gap in which NHL players weren’t allowed to go to the Olympics. The very best players in the league can usually play at a high level for long enough that they wouldn’t have missed out entirely. But which slightly lower level players had their primes aligned with this 12 year period that could lead them to have missed out? A couple of names that come to mind: Dougie Hamilton, Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Taylor Hall, and Matt Barzal (although I think he might make it in 2026).
2014 roster attached for reference.
by Conscious-Quit8207
16 Comments
I don’t think we have really missed a player, but we missed a line of mcdavid, Crosby, and mackinnon with a much younger crosby.
That’s the real crime.
It’s a travesty that Giroux never had the opportunity to play in the Olympics.
Some of the players left off team Canada roster would be on any other countries roster. That’s how deep Canada is. Picking team Canada has to be so hard.
> Jamie Benn,
Jamie Benn has a gold medal from 2014.
Jonathan Toews did play in the Olympics
What does this post even mean?
Jason Spezza. Kinda get it with the depth, and know he was a taxi squad guy, but that 06 squad in Torino was missing something. No clue if Spezza would have made any significant impact, but always felt he got an unfair shake not making that team outright.
Jason Spezza is one that comes to mind. I see someone else already said Giroux which is the most egregious one. Luc Robitaille is another
I missed out on playing at the Olympics.
Bo Horvat a few years ago usually came up in those mock lineups, I’d also suggest Point
Stamkos
2010 Mike Green. Mike was a force to be reckoned with and was the QB of the Caps lethal Power Play. Coming off the season where he broke the record for most consecutive goals by a defenseman, which was no easy task. The fact that he didn’t get picked is something that will always be puzzling to me. Oh wait, it was Mike Babcock. That’s why.
Letang is on the shortlist for best defensemen of his era and he’s never played for Canada after WJC-20 lol I’ve never quite understood that one
Stamkos
I know the bandwagon hate for the man on here but…. Messier.
Only opportunity was Nagano in 98. Honestly I was a kid then so I don’t fully know if he was a good fit but he was over a ppg in 97. I remember being 9 years old and upset he wasn’t on the team.
Edit: I looked at the roster. As always the team was stacked. The only players he would have replaced would have been Primeau or Zamuner. I still side with 9yo me and think he should have made it
Paul Kariya