Outrage erupts after Avalanche Cup hero's fiery response to Olympic snub
Photo credit: AP Photo / Jack Dempsey
Outrage spreads across the hockey world after Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup hero Nazem Kadri delivers a heated and emotional response to being left off Team Canada's Olympic orientation roster on Friday.
On Friday, Hockey Canada unveiled its 42-player invitation list for the upcoming orientation camp, scheduled for later this month as preparations ramp up for the 2026 Olympics. Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was also not invited.
Nazem Kadri calls out team Canada after Olympic snub.
Charlie McAfee from Hockey Patrol writes that Team Canada has officially unveiled its invitation list for the 2026 Olympic orientation camp, and it's packed with elite talent at every position.
Headlining the roster are household names like Sidney Crosby, Connor MacDavid, Cale Makar, Shea Theodore, Adin Hill, and Mitch Marner, making it clear that Canada is preparing to send nothing short of a powerhouse roster to Milan.
"But one who was left off the list was Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri. Though he isn't the first person you think of when it comes to Olympic roster potential, he certainly played up to that potential last season with a 35-goal output and nearly helping the Flames make the playoffs." -McAfee
Taking to social media, Nazem Kadri didn't hold back his frustration, expressing clear disappointment and confusion over being left off Team Canada's Olympic orientation roster.
"A simple trio of question marks signify Kadri's confusion, and if you look at some of the invites you can see why. While you've got some fantastic names who deserve to be there, it can be argued that Kadri deserves a look over names like Bo Horvat, Robert Thomas and Quinton Byfield." -McAfee
However, this snub could serve as a major source of motivation for Kadri, and some fans are already connecting the dots, speculating that this added fire might even pave the way for a surprising reunion with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"Team Canada's GM is Kyle Dubas, who traded Kadri away unceremoniously while with the Maple Leafs and if he has a problem with Kadri still; this snub is a good indicator." -McAfee
For fans, the dream is simple: they want Kadri to come back to Toronto, stick it to Dubas, and prove all the doubters wrong. And with this Olympic snub fueling his fire, there's a real sense that Kadri could be even more impactful this season than he ever was.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 2 | 29 ANSWERS Outrage erupts after Avalanche Cup hero's fiery response to Olympic snub Do you think former Avalanche star Nazem Kadri deserves to be on the Team Canada Olympic roster? | ||
| yes | 17 | 58.6 % |
| no | 12 | 41.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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