Nazem Kadri Makes His True Feelings Known on Team Canada Decision Ahead of New Season
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri was not an invite to the Team Canada Orientation Camp for the Olympics and was brutally candid on how he feels about it according to an interview with The Athletic.
It was quite a surprise when Nazem Kadri was left off of Team Canada's 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp roster, given he is just coming off a career high in goals and has found himself firmly set as one of the league's most reliable and consistent producers.
He's won a Stanley Cup, he's been in the league for 16 years, and yet still wasn't able to get a look though if you take a glance at Canada's roster; it's definitely a tough decision for the team to make.
Nazem Kadri None Too Pleased With Olympic Snub
For Kadri though he wasn't going to let things slide, and in an exclusive interview with The Athletic, he explained how hurt he was that he wasn't even given a potential look for the 2026 games:
I feel like I deserve a chance. I think over the last few seasons I've certainly proven that with my statistics and the winning pedigree. I think it speaks for itself.
Honestly, man, it would be an absolute dream come true to somehow crack that team. I've been a long shot before. I'm looking forward to giving myself an opportunity. But I understand I'm going to have to play well.
Honestly, man, it would be an absolute dream come true to somehow crack that team. I've been a long shot before. I'm looking forward to giving myself an opportunity. But I understand I'm going to have to play well.
Kadri always seemed to be a "long-shot" to make the team, although there are some names who could feasibly be swapped out for Kadri such as Connor Bedard or Robert Thomas.
Not to say that either are terrible, but Bedard is still incredibly young and the Olympics needs some savvy veterans who have been under that pressure before, and Thomas is basically on the same level of Kadri, though and it might be that his age gives him the boost.
Team Canada Decision Not Going To Sway Kadri's Work Ethic
It must also be noted that Team Canada's GM is Kyle Dubas, who unceremoniously shipped Kadri out of Toronto and clearly had some type of issue with how the forward conducted himself; so there also might be some bias.
But he's still confident in his ability, and with the uber-competitive nature of the Olympics, it's surprising a player with the grittiness of Kadri wasn't at least considered.
Kadri did have a bit of criticism for the announcement of the roster on social media, with a flurry of question marks in a comment; a comment that Kadri thinks is a non-issue and he wanted to create a little conversation:
Who cares?
It could help, or hurt, I'm not quite sure. It's not as serious as most people thought it was. I just thought I'd create a little stir. Like I mentioned, I would absolutely love to be on that team. I think I should be in consideration.
It could help, or hurt, I'm not quite sure. It's not as serious as most people thought it was. I just thought I'd create a little stir. Like I mentioned, I would absolutely love to be on that team. I think I should be in consideration.
Kadri's name has been in the news a lot recently as he's been linked to the Maple Leafs in a potential reunion however that seems more fantasy than reality.
The main focus for Kadri is to keep up his momentum from last season and give Calgary an even better shot at making the playoffs, and if he can come out of the gates hot, it might be inevitable that he gets a consideration for February.
Last season, Kadri had 67 points in 82 games (35 goals, 32 assists) with the Flames, and has 710 points in 985 career games with Toronto, Colorado and Calgary.
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