Elliotte Friedman pours cold water on Islanders' rookie making Olympic squad

New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer’s performance this season has vaulted him into consideration for Team Canada’s Olympic roster.

The 18-year-old has exceeded expectations this year. It’s not that anyone expected him to flop. It’s that few really expected him to be THIS good. That situation has prompted speculation about Schaefer elbowing his way into a spot on Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster.

However, insider Elliotte Friedman believes 2026 is not Schaefer’s time. During the Monday edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman discussed the possibility of Schaefer, along with rising stars Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, pushing their way into Team Canada’s roster.

But as far as Friedman is concerned, Team Canada management will value experience and Stanley Cup rings over youth and talent.

Friedman stated:

“I don’t think Schaefer’s going, right? I just don’t think he’s going. If you look at the defense from the 4 Nations, I think Team Canada is really happy with a lot of those guys that went.”

In particular, Friedman expounded on the main reason why Team Canada likes the blue line from last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off:

“Here’s the thing I’ve heard. What did Team Canada prioritize last year? Guys who’ve won… and I think they’re going to prioritize that again. They’re going to be high-pressure games. Can you command your emotions and control yourself in big games? And you look at the D, a lot of those guys have played a lot of big games.”

Check out Friedman’s comments from the 38:47 mark onwards.

Ultimately, leaving Schaefer off the roster is not a disservice to the Islanders’ star rookie. While he may continue to garner consideration, this iteration of Team Canada will focus predominantly on players who’ve proven they can perform in big-stakes games.

Another Islanders player could land on Team Canada

Another Islanders player who could make a serious case for Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster is Bo Horvat. Horvat was on the list of players invited to the orientation camp in August. While he was considered somewhat of a long shot then, he’s made significant strides this season to warrant serious consideration.

Horvat is on pace for career-highs this season. He’s got 12 goals and 23 points in 19 games this season. He’s been a huge reason for the Islanders’ resurgence after a tough year last season.

Beyond the raw scoring numbers, he’s the type of player who’s been in the trenches for a long time. He can play in just about any situation. That’s why Horvat would make a fantastic fit in Team Canada’s middle six.

The Islanders veteran could play well with other longtime NHL vets like Brad Marchand on Canada’s third line. But he could also move up if need be. For instance, Horvat could be a fabulous option on Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid’s wing.

Ultimately, Horvat’s inclusion in Team Canada’s roster will come down to riding the hot hand. If Horvat can keep things up, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see him make Jon Cooper’s list in December.