Jeff Blashill may have all the respect in the world for Canada's Olympic hockey team selection, but he's having a hard time explaining the fact that Connor Bedard was ignored.
The Chicago Blackhawks head coach was scheduled to deliver the message Thursday. This squad was supposed to include a 20-year-old striker, who is currently injured.
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Bedard is coming off a personal best season with 44 points, including 19 goals, in just 31 games. Beyond his points, Blashill believes he had other arguments.
“The only thing I will say is I don’t think the rest of the league knows how much of a winner and responsible player Connor has become on both sides of the ice,” the pilot told the media.
According to Blashill, Bedard has one quality: he knows how to win. In fact, the Blackhawks are a completely different team without him.
“The metric I trust is impact on winning. The reason I know he's a winning player is because when he was on our roster, we were one point out of the playoffs, and we've been one point out of the playoffs ever since.” [son absence] We're 1-6-1. You don’t have that impact just by scoring points,” the head coach assured.
Is there still a chance?
Bedard shouldn't even be called first in the event of an injury. Seth Jarvis said Thursday that Team Canada has entrusted him with the role. The speedy forward for the Carolina Hurricanes shouldn't be overlooked, with 29 points in 34 games this season.
Jarvis also believes he deserves better and approaches the situation with humor.
“A few years ago I read a quote: “Sometimes you have to eat a crap sandwich. You chew a few pieces, the taste is not very pleasant, but you move on. Oddly enough, I was very interested in that,” Jarvis said, quoting former Canes Justin Williams.
Among defenders, it is Devon Toews' presence that may be compromised. The Colorado Avalanche athlete's wife is expected to give birth in February, and he will agree to sit out the Games if the baby is not born yet.
