Team Canada would be wise to name NY Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Scahefer to the 2026 Olympic team

Adding to the excitement surrounding NY Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer, today we learned that he has entered the Olympic drug testing protocol, making him eligible among the pool of players to be selected to represent Canada in February’s Olympic Games.

It’s hard to fathom an 18-year-old representing the strongest pool of players among any country in the world, but Schaefer’s play to start his career is deserving of the opportunity. 

But what are his chances of actually making the team?

Canada and Schaefer could both benfit by naming him to the Olympics roster

In the Olympics, teams are allowed to carry up to 25 players, and can dress up to 20 skaters for each game, as opposed to 18 for an NHL game. 

Looking back to the 2014 games in Sochi, the last time NHL players participated in the games, Canada named eight defensemen to their roster.

More recently, specifically, last year's 4 Nations Face-Off, which was played under NHL rules, Canada carried seven defensemen, but was able to add Thomas Harley after Shea Theodore’s injury. 

The defensemen named to that team were the aforementioned Harley and Theodore, along with Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Morrissey, Travis Sanheim, Drew Doughty, and Colton Parayko. 

Makar has already been named to Team Canada, among the first six players selected, potentially leaving seven spots available. 

Of those seven players named to the 4 Nations roster, only Makar, Harley, and Sanheim will be younger than 30 years old, with Sanheim turning 30 a month after the Gold Medal game.

Canada may want to inject some youth into their blue line, giving them a better veteran/youth balance, along with giving young players valuable experience, as they could become crucial cogs in the 2030 French Alps squad.

Even if Schaefer isn’t an everyday player for Canada, he could still play significant ice time against weaker opponents, or dress as the seventh defenseman, earning time on the power play or as a situational player. 

Schaefer, along with Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, could easily become three of the top players for the Great White North in 2030, and are still capable of contributing in 2026.

It may still be a long shot for Schaefer to be selected to this version of the Canadian Olympic team, but both the nation and the player could benefit greatly from his addition.