At 34 years old, veteran forward Nazem Kadri was baffled by his snub from Team Canada’s 92-player orientation camp for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The exclusion of the Stanley Cup champion, who has garnered 710 points in 985 NHL games over 16 seasons, has provoked spirited commentary, especially since the list includes several younger players.
Nazem Kadri reacts to being erased from Hockey Canada’s Olympic invite list
Nazem Kadri’s recent career challenges extend beyond his professional disappointment. The veteran hockey center, a Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, now faces the twin hurdles of being overlooked for a national team opportunity and combating his team’s struggles.The announcement of Canada’s massive 92-player roster for the Olympic camp was an event to celebrate for many, including Sidney Crosby, who was among the first six players named to the team. “I know how much pride comes with wearing the Maple Leaf on the international stage,” he uttered, expressing his excitement.The decision by Hockey Canada to leave Kadri off the list for their August camp has sensibly left him stunned. The news was disclosed to the public through an Instagram post from TSN, which shared that “Hockey Canada has invited 92 players from its men’s, women’s and para hockey teams to attend its National Teams Orientation Camp, set for Aug. 26-28 in Calgary.”Kadri’s visible confusion was made clear when he commented “???” on the post. His bafflement is justified, as he has a Stanley Cup victory and several high-scoring seasons to his name. His dismissal is particularly complicating given that the list includes multiple players who have yet to win the trophy.This snub adds to the existing pressures on the Calgary Flames star, who is also currently the subject of several trade rumors, with potential moves to teams like the Montreal Canadiens or New Jersey Devils being speculated.Also Read: Connor McDavid to the Maple Leafs? Rumors swirl as NHL insider insists it’s Toronto or nowhereThis latest snub could either ignite a fire in Kadri’s game, driving him to silence his critics, or it could simply compound the difficulties of what has already been a challenging year.