Team Canada officially unveiled its 25-man men’s hockey roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics on Wednesday, and one omission immediately stood out. New York Islanders rising star Matthew Schaefer was not among the names selected, sparking plenty of discussion across the hockey world.
Now, a Hall of Fame defenseman has weighed in on the decision and offered some perspective on why the young Islanders standout didn’t make the cut.
Hall of Famer Weighs In on Matthew Schaefer’s Snub
Schaefer’s exclusion largely came down to continuity on the blue line. Team Canada opted to keep its defensive group intact from the 4 Nations Face-Off, where eight defensemen were used. And all eight were brought back for the Olympics. As a result, there was little room for newcomers, despite strong cases from several players.
However, Schaefer was placed on Canada’s injury-replacement list, meaning he could still be called upon if needed.
Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger, inducted in 2015, shared his thoughts on the situation and acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. “I understand some of the changes and selections,” Pronger said. “I love Matthew Schaefer, but I think he is going to need the rest and break to recover. A lot of hockey for him in a short period of time.”
At just 18 years old, Schaefer leads all rookie blueliners in scoring with 26 points, including 10 goals and 16 assists, through 41 games.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on the Olympic roster, Schaefer made it clear he’s keeping a positive mindset. “I’m ready if I ever get the call…” Schaefer said on Thursday. “It’s an honour when your name is in the running for the Olympics and for Team Canada, your country.”
Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong admitted leaving Schaefer off the roster was not easy and praised how quickly the young defenseman forced his way into discussions.
Armstrong said Schaefer wasn’t on his radar at the beginning of the season, but his play has been outstanding. “As I said, I don’t want to spend a lot of time talking about players who didn’t make the team, but to me, this is a special occasion because he’s an 18-year-old man we’re talking about playing in the Olympics,” Armstrong said.
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With Canada’s first Olympic game scheduled for Feb. 12 against Czechia, Schaefer will instead use the Olympic break to rest and recover, a move that could benefit both him and the Islanders down the stretch.
