Fans are calling for Connor Bedard to make Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics. But now, Paul Bissonnette is being brutally honest about Bedard’s chances of making the roster.
Bedard has had a flying start to the 2025–2026 campaign, tallying 26 points in 18 games so far. He’s been receiving widespread praise—not only from fans but also from insiders and coaches.
READ MORE: Wayne Gretzky gets brutally honest about Connor Bedard
Praised by Wayne Gretzky
Just last week, none other than Wayne Gretzky weighed in on the 20-year-old center.
“For him to work as hard as he did in the offseason and come in and play at the level he’s playing at now, he’s earning his way onto Team Canada. He worked all summer to get to that point, and people are going to say, ‘Hey, it’s really hard to keep him off the team,’”Gretzky said on an NHL on TNT broadcast.
Paul Bissonnette on Connor Bedard
However, Paul Bissonnette, also part of the NHL on TNT team, shared a more cautious view on Bedard’s chances of making Team Canada.
“He plays center, and if you look at the depth of Canadian centers… I mean, he ain’t better than Connor McDavid, he ain’t better than Nathan MacKinnon, he ain’t better than Crosby. I would even say he’s not better than Nick Suzuki. There are probably seven guys at center that I would have higher on the depth chart for Team Canada. When has he played against elite centers around the world in a checking or responsible role?” Bissonnette said on a podcast.
The Olympics start on February 11.
You can watch Bissonnette share his full thoughts below.
READ MORE: 2026 Olympic Hockey: Schedule, TV Times, and Rosters
