Was Connor Bedard's absence from Team Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off roster a snub in the selection process?

Connor Bedard was left off Team Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off mainly due to his performance in his second NHL season. After an impressive rookie year, where he won the Calder Trophy, his production dipped slightly, and he’s been adjusting to increased defensive pressure from opponents.

Team Canada’s GM, Don Sweeney, explained that the selection focused on players best suited for immediate success in the tournament. However, he emphasized that Bedard remains a key part of Canada’s future, including possible participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“The experiences he’s going to go through (are important)," Sweeney said before the tournament. "The world championships he went through last year. Going through the second time around the league now, so to speak — in your second year, there’s some challenges associated with that. He’s working through that in a situation where he gets all the attention possible from the best players that he’s playing against each and every night.”

"I think he’s living and breathing it right now, and it’s only going to help him to continue to build his resume, and we’re excited about that,”Sweeney added.
Head Coach Jon Cooper echoed this, saying Bedard is part of the next generation of top Canadian players. While he wasn’t chosen this time, he’s expected to be a major contributor in international competitions down the road.
Bedard started his professional career with a strong performance, playing 68 games and scoring 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points. He earned the 2023-2024 Calder Memorial Trophy for the best rookie in the league. However, he is currently experiencing a sophomore slump, playing in 55 games with 16 goals, 33 assists, and 49 points. It is unclear if this is due to a down year or defenses minimizing Bedard's impact, but his momentum is still built.
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Bedard, a highly talented draft pick, has a chance to prove his readiness for the 2026 Olympics in Italy if he can improve his performance and make the Olympic roster by the time the Olympic roster is due.