McDavid Alone: Oilers Stars Overlooked for Canadian Team
Connor McDavid will be the lone representative for the Edmonton Oilers at this year’s 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament after a surprising omission of both Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard.
Canada unveiled its roster Tuesday, and the absence of the Oilers’ dynamic duo fueled debate and surprise amongst several hockey commentators and analysts.
“I’m shocked, to be honest,” a surprised David Staples stated in his Edmonton Journal piece. “I thought both Hyman and Bouchard had earned consideration with their performances for the Oilers this season.”
While many fans expected McDavid to lead the charge for Team Canada, some experts felt Hyman was deserving of a spot as well.
“Hyman’s two-way game resembles a Type-A-Personality…Always buzzing, making smart decisions, and winning puck battles,” commented Michael Berger in Daily Faceoff.
That same article called the omission of both Hyman and Bouchard, “an egregious snub.”
The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament faces immediate pressure to prove its worth. Rising hockey stars, like young Rasmus Dahlin for Sweden, will step onto the ice looking to prove themselves
Despite the confirmed roster, several prominent hockey personalities still express reservations about leaving out key players like Hyman.
“Should Oilers’ Hyman, Bouchard or Skinner feel snubbed?” pondered TSN’s article. It remains a hotly debated topic online and amongst fans.
“He plays a strong two-way game,” commented one commentator, reflecting the surprise at Hyman’s omission. “He deserves consideration.”
While excited to watch McDavid dazzle alongside other Canadian stars, many fans remain curious as to the reasoning behind leaving two key contributors from adrift.
Could the exclusion of Hyman and Bouchard from the Canadian team be attributed to personal challenges that the NHLPA Player Assistance Program is equipped to address? [[1](https://www.espn.ph/nhl/story/_/id/39415843/what-nhl-player-assistance-program)]
Is the snub of Hyman and Bouchard a sign that Canada is overlooking valuable two-way players in favor of flashier offensive talent?
