Thompson, Bedard, Keller, others using 4 Nations snubs as Olympic motivation

HENDERSON, NV -- Connor Bedard didn't instrumentality it personally erstwhile Canada near the Chicago Blackhawks sensation disconnected its 4 Nations Face-Off roster.

"I mean, I benignant of knew. I had a dilatory commencement past year," helium told ESPN past week. "There are truthful galore large players successful Canada. Even if I went retired and played large and didn't marque the team, it's not similar I was going to beryllium butt-hurt."

Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres took it a small much personally erstwhile Team USA passed him implicit for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

"Going into the 2nd fractional of the season, it was other information to amusement them that I could play," helium said. "That possibly I did beryllium retired there. I utilized it to substance my crippled and propulsion it successful the close direction."

Apparently, trying to gain the accidental to correspond one's state successful a best-on-best tourney is simply a heck of a motivator. Thompson had 24 points successful 27 games for the Sabres pursuing the 4 Nations break, with 18 goals.

Dozens of NHL players participate the 2025-26 play with Olympic aspirations. The NHL is returning to the Winter Games for the archetypal clip since 2014, taking a interruption successful its play truthful players tin pursuit golden successful Italy adjacent February.

While galore players from the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters for Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland volition transportation implicit to their respective Olympic rosters, executives specified arsenic Team USA GM Bill Guerin person said that the 4 Nations radical was "probably not gonna beryllium the nonstop lineup that we instrumentality to the Olympics."

That's bully quality for players specified arsenic Clayton Keller, the Utah Mammoth guardant who was near disconnected the 4 Nations roster and, similar Thompson, wasn't precisely thrilled astir it.

"Obviously I was upset, but I utilized it arsenic motivation," Keller said. "I deliberation I played my champion hockey of the twelvemonth aft that. We truly came retired beardown and made a propulsion for the playoffs"

THOMPSON WAS PERHAPS the astir important snub from the Team USA 4 Nations roster. That helium was added arsenic an wounded replacement reserve for the title crippled against Canada underscored however adjacent helium was to making the cut.

Thompson watched that crippled successful Boston. Watched arsenic the U.S. mislaid successful overtime, 3-2, incapable to interruption done against goalie Jordan Binnington earlier Connor McDavid ended the crippled and secured the golden medal for Canada.

"Obviously, I would've loved to beryllium retired determination and beryllium a feline to assistance them win," helium said. "But I don't prime the team. I'm conscionable playing and doing my occupation connected the ice."

When Team USA was constructed for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Guerin and his absorption squad opted for seasoned extent forwards with imaginable arsenic two-way players -- specified arsenic Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson -- alternatively than bringing connected younger players amended known for their offense.

One crushed was their versatility, arsenic players specified arsenic Nelson and Trocheck person thrived successful antithetic roles successful the NHL. Guerin said it's an accommodation for prima players erstwhile they articulation a best-on-best squad and are nary longer getting their accustomed crystal clip and violative looks.

"You person to cheque your ego astatine the d...