‘Big dream of mine’: NHL players on Olympic bubble know early-season success is key

By Canadian Press on October 3, 2025.

Robert Thomas already knew his chances were pretty much finished. Nick Suzuki held out at least some hope until the end.

Canada named its full roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off — a table-setting showcase ahead of the NHL’s Olympic return in 2026 — last December after plenty of internal and external debate.

Media members dissected choices. Fans drooled over potential line combinations and trumpeted the opportunity to finally see Sidney Crosby skate with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon on a big international stage.

Players on the bubble omitted from the exclusive list, meanwhile, were left bitterly disappointed.

Thomas, a centre for the St. Louis Blues, broke his ankle in October and didn’t make the cut when Canada made its announcement alongside the United States, Sweden and Finland some 10 months ago.

“It was hard,” he said. “Really sucked.”

Suzuki, meanwhile, had a solid start to his 2024-25 campaign as Montreal’s captain, but it wasn’t enough to earn a spot.

“Watching the 4 Nations motivated me a lot,” said the Canadiens’ No. 1 centre. “I wanted to be there.”

That door slamming shut pushed both players in the second half of last season’s NHL schedule. And with the 2026 Games in Italy just 18 weeks away, they again sit in a group hoping to break through and snag an opportunity to compete under the sporting world’s brightest spotlight.

“You don’t have to wait for two years for another crack,” said Thomas, whose general manager in St. Louis, Doug Armstrong, is once again part of the management group picking Canada’s team. “Really excited.”

All 12 countries, which will have 25 players compared to the 23 available at 4 Nations, competing at the men’s Olympic hockey tournament each filled six roster spots in June.

The biggest names are already off the board, but there’s still lots up for grabs with the curtain set to drop on the NHL season.

“A team that you want to be a part of,” said Utah Mammoth winger and captain Clayton Keller, who was on the outside looking in for the Americans last February.

Thomas led the NHL in points (40) and assists (32) after the 4 Nations. Suzuki sat fourth in points with 37, while Keller tied for 11th with 30 before captaining the U.S. to gold at the men’s world hockey championship for the first time since 1933 in May.

“Came back from that break wanting to prove what I could do,” Suzuki said of his approach after Canada took the 4 Nations final over the U.S. “There’s probably a lot of guys in my shoes.”

Simply having made the 4 Nations doesn’t, of course, guarantee a spot at the Olympics. A lot of the players who felt the pressure 12 months ago are back in the same spot.

“Italy would be incredible,” said Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis, part of Canada’s 4 Nations setup. “Massive accomplishment, a big dream of mine.”

“You’re so hungry to get back,” added New Jersey Devils centre Jack Hughes of the U.S. “You want to be in the Olympics so bad, just because the level of hockey was so high.”

Philadelphia Flyers and Canadian defenceman Travis Sanheim said earning a 4 Nations spot was a massive boost to his craft.

“It’s gonna be a challenge,” he said of again making the cut. “It’s something that motivates me, excites me, and something I’m striving towards.”

And then there are players whose Olympic thoughts are taking a back seat in the short term to focus on health.

“An honour and something every guy wants,” said Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, an American already with a long list of injuries in his career. “I truly believe that if I can play up to my standard, that I will be on that team.”

The NHL’s decision to skip the 2018 Olympics and then scuttle 2022 plans because of COVID-19 meant a number of players in their primes missed out. Some, however, still hang onto hope.

“I’ve got a chance,” said Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri, who wasn’t invited to Canada’s August orientation camp and will be 35 when his country’s tournament opens Feb. 12 against Czechia. “You just want to be considered and give yourself an opportunity.”

At the other end of the spectrum, youngsters not really on the radar last October are looking to break through.

San Jose Sharks centre Macklin Celebrini also had a strong second half post-4 Nations before answering Canada’s call at the men’s worlds alongside Crosby and MacKinnon.

“Something I’ve dreamt of ever since I was a kid,” Celebrini said of competing at the Games. “It’s bigger than yourself.”

And a tough squad to crack — especially for the red Maple Leaf.

“There’s a lot of us that had that experience,” Suzuki said. “Who knows what the Olympic roster is going to look like? But it was definitely on my mind a lot this summer.

“It’s a goal.”

-With files from Gemma Karstens-Smith in Vancouver and Donna Spencer in Calgary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2025.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press