In Henderson, Nevada, Connor Bedard, the Chicago Blackhawks` rising star, stated he didn`t take it personally when Canada`s 4 Nations Face-Off roster excluded him.
He admitted, “I anticipated it. My performance last year had a slow beginning. Canada boasts an abundance of exceptional players, so even if I had excelled and still missed the team, I wouldn`t have been overly disappointed.”
Conversely, Tage Thompson, a player for the Buffalo Sabres, reacted with more personal disappointment after being omitted from Team USA`s 4 Nations Face-Off squad.
Thompson explained, “Entering the latter half of the season, it served as added motivation to demonstrate my capabilities and prove I deserved a spot. I channeled that feeling to enhance my performance and steer my game positively.”
Evidently, the ambition to represent one`s nation in a premier hockey tournament is a powerful incentive. Following the 4 Nations break, Thompson recorded an impressive 24 points (including 18 goals) in 27 games for the Sabres.
As the 2025-26 season approaches, numerous NHL players are harboring Olympic aspirations. The NHL is set to rejoin the Winter Games for the first time since 2014, pausing its season to allow players to compete for gold in Italy next February.
Although many players from the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters (representing Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Finland) are expected to transition to their Olympic teams, executives like Team USA General Manager Bill Guerin have indicated that the 4 Nations squad “will likely not be the identical lineup for the Olympics.”
This offers a glimmer of hope for players such as Clayton Keller, the Utah Mammoth forward who, similar to Thompson, was not pleased about being excluded from the 4 Nations roster.
Keller remarked, “Naturally, I was disappointed, but I transformed that into motivation. I believe I played my best hockey of the year afterward, and we made a strong push towards the playoffs.”
Motivation from Omission
Tage Thompson`s omission was arguably the most notable from Team USA`s 4 Nations roster. His subsequent addition as an injury replacement for the championship game against Canada highlighted how narrowly he missed the initial selection.
Thompson observed the game in Boston, witnessing Team USA`s 3-2 overtime loss. They struggled to overcome goalie Jordan Binnington until Connor McDavid scored, securing Canada the gold medal.
He expressed, “Undoubtedly, I would have loved to be on the ice, contributing to their victory. However, I don`t select the team; I simply play and fulfill my role.”
In forming Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off, General Manager Guerin and his staff prioritized experienced two-way forwards like Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider, and Brock Nelson over younger, more offensively-oriented players.
Their versatility was a key factor, with players like Nelson and Trocheck demonstrating success in various NHL roles. Guerin noted that star players must adapt when joining an elite international team, as their typical ice time and offensive opportunities may diminish.
“You must set aside your ego. This is essential for any championship-caliber team. I recall this mindset being prevalent in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey team,” Guerin explained. “Players need to undertake unfamiliar tasks, embrace new roles, and accept reduced ice time. It`s about adaptation.”
A further factor contributing to the omission of players like Keller and Thompson was their limited championship tournament experience. Thompson, after eight NHL seasons (seven with Buffalo), has yet to play in a Stanley Cup playoff game. Keller`s sole postseason appearance came in 2020, playing nine games for Arizona during the COVID-19 “bubble” playoffs.
To strengthen their credentials, both players participated in the 2025 IIHF World Championships with the U.S. team last spring, where the Americans secured their first title since 1960. Guerin emphasized the importance of Olympic bubble players competing in the World Championships.
Beyond Thompson and Keller, other Olympic hopefuls like defensemen Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins), who were also on the 4 Nations roster, participated. Younger talents such as Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic leveraged their World Championship experience into invitations for Team USA`s Olympic orientation camp in August.
Despite both Thompson and Keller asserting their primary focus remains on their NHL seasons, the allure of the Olympics, an enticing prospect, is undeniable.
Keller, who topped Utah with 90 points in 81 games last season, commented, “I view it as something incredibly exciting and a significant goal to strive for. My approach is to play my best game and allow everything else to unfold naturally; I`m not stressing over it.”
Thompson, Buffalo`s leading scorer with 44 goals in 76 games, noted, “It`s best not to dwell on it excessively. My main priority is contributing to our team`s success in Buffalo. If I achieve that, everything else will naturally align. The Olympics are a major aspiration, something I`ve long desired, and making the team would be extraordinary. However, it`s crucial not to overthink it.”
Bedard, entering his third NHL season after being the first overall pick by Chicago in 2023, chose not to represent Team Canada at this year`s IIHF World Championships. Instead, he concentrated on enhancing his skating and other developmental aspects during the offseason. Despite Canada`s extensive forward depth, Bedard remains an Olympic hopeful, having participated in the August orientation camp.
Bedard, who led Chicago last season with 67 points in 82 games, stated, “It would be remarkable. I`m not dwelling on it excessively right now. My goal is to enter camp, achieve a strong start both individually and as a team, and then observe the outcome.”
Olympic Dream: A Powerful Driver
Following the spirited play and confrontations, particularly involving the Tkachuk brothers, at the 4 Nations tournament, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson`s name began circulating among fans. Notably, Wilson engaged in a fight with Brady Tkachuk during a game against the Ottawa Senators weeks after the tournament concluded.
Although Olympic regulations probably preclude a repeat of such altercations between Canada and the U.S., Wilson, despite his exclusion from the 4 Nations roster, secured an invitation to Team Canada`s Olympic orientation camp this summer.
Wilson reflected, “It was a fantastic experience. The group of players was, to say the least, impressive. It truly motivates you to dedicate yourself and work diligently to contend for a spot on the Olympic team. As a child, winning the Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal represents everything – your grandest dreams. However, observing that camp room, you realize every player shares that intense desire, and they are all among the league`s elite.”
Wilson anticipates that players aspiring to the Winter Games will exert extra effort during the initial months of the 2025-26 season to leave a lasting impression.
He elaborated, “For Olympic hopefuls, there isn`t much room for a slow start to the year. The window before roster announcements is short. Rest assured, everyone discussed this summer was working exceptionally hard to ensure a strong beginning.”
Securing an Olympic roster spot inherently means displacing a player who participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim played three games for Team Canada in the 4 Nations and also represented Canada at the IIHF World Championships, where they suffered a surprising quarterfinal defeat to Denmark.
Sanheim stated, “Participating in the 4 Nations was undoubtedly a privilege. A few years ago, I likely wasn`t considering such an opportunity, but my performance over the past couple of seasons has brought me to this point.”
His inclusion on the 4 Nations roster does not signify the end of his efforts. Sanheim was among 14 defensemen at Team Canada`s Olympic orientation camp, placing him firmly on the bubble for the 2026 Winter Games.
Sanheim acknowledged, “Canada boasts incredible depth, and the competition for roster spots is intense – you could pick from around 20 players for only eight available positions. It will certainly be a challenge. The Olympics are a goal I`m passionately pursuing and deeply desire to be a part of. It`s thrilling to have this chance.”
Patrick Kane has previously experienced the Olympics twice, securing a silver medal in 2010 and placing fourth in 2014 with Team USA. The 36-year-old winger`s exclusion from the 4 Nations roster was expected, as Kane himself conceded his performance last season didn`t justify selection. Nonetheless, his attendance at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in August surprised some, though not Kane himself.
He revealed, “They informed my agent that there was potential for me to make the team, and that I was being considered. So, upon hearing that, my presence there wasn`t particularly surprising.”
Kane expressed genuine surprise that his Detroit Red Wings teammate, Alex DeBrincat, did not receive a camp invitation, having also missed the 4 Nations roster.
He concluded, “I believe both of us are motivated to achieve strong starts this year.”
Kane recalled his experience in 2010 as a 21-year-old star on the U.S. Olympic team, playing alongside seasoned national team veterans like Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Brian Rafalski. For the 2026 Games, he would assume the role of an elder statesman if selected. However, like all other NHL players not yet formally named to an Olympic roster, Kane understands he must earn his spot.
“My aim is to reach a level where my current performance alone warrants consideration for the team, rather than relying on my reputation or past achievements,” Kane asserted. “That is my objective for the upcoming year.”
