It's the tough part of having to pick Team Canada's Olympic hockey roster: There are too many star players to choose from.
Every other country would love to have the 2025 NHL Draft's No. 1 overall pick on their Olympic roster after he's hit the ice in full stride to start his rookie season.
But for Canada? Matthew Schaefer stays home.
It's not the only tough call the selection committee had to make. And it's not just about him being young, because they kept 2024 top pick Macklin Celebrini on board for his Olympics debut.
It just wasn't yet Schaefer's time.
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Why didn't Matthew Schaefer make Team Canada's Olympic hockey roster?
Schaefer didn't make it because Canada kept its defense intact from the 4 Nations Faceoff.
They had eight defensemen at that tournament, and all eight are back for this one.
The Team Canada GM, Doug Armstrong, spoke with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun about all the tough choices and acknowledged that Schaefer was one of them.
“We had very difficult decisions to make, and he was certainly one of them,’’ said Armstrong. “He wasn’t the only one on the back end. But we’re excited about the group we have.”
The one piece of good news, as far as the Islanders are concerned, is that Schaefer will get to rest up during the Olympics and be fresh for the second half of the season.
He'll surely be a bit bummed he didn't make the team, but he'll have plenty more chances, too.
MORE: Other snubs include Morgan Geekie, Connor Bedard