Colorado Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood’s strong play, coupled with other goalies’ struggles this season, has forced Team Canada to consider the veteran goalie as a “late addition” to the squad.
Given the way things are going, there’s a pretty good chance Wedgewood will get his name called to represent Canada at the 2026 Olympics. As insider Elliotte Friedman noted in the latest edition of his 32 Thoughts blog, Wedgewood could be competing with the LA Kings’ Darcy Kuemper and the Washington Capitals’ Logan Thompson for the crease in Milano-Cortina.
While St. Louis Blues’ starter Jordan Binnington could still make the team, you would have to wonder if including Scott Wedgewood is a good idea. Of course, I’m all for Wedgewood making Team Canada. It would be fantastic to see Wedgewood join Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews.
But then again, I have been adamant about all three skipping the Olympics altogether. That will never happen. There’s a greater chance the Avalanche fired Jared Bednar and hired me as their next coach than having any of the aforementioned names voluntarily skip the Olympics.
When you think about travel, time difference, practice, actual games, and the potential for injury, it’s enough to send anyone in the Avalanche front office rushing to get their emotional support pets.
The fact is that an awkward hit, an unlucky shot, or anything, could leave any one of the Avalanche’s stars out long-term. But beyond a possible injury, just the overall wear and tear could wreak havoc on what’s been a dynamite season for the Avalanche.
That’s why Wedgewood not making the team wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. He and MacKenzie Blackwood could get some much-needed time off. December, and especially January, will be absolute madness.
Think about it. The three days or so off for the Christmas break will cram the schedule even further in late December, all of January, and heading into the first couple of days of February.
Teams will need to deploy both of their goalies, if not three, depending on how things go. So, you would have to think that keeping Blackwood and Wedgewood on the sidelines would help alleviate some of the mileage accrued this season.
While the 2026 Olympics will certainly be a spectacle to behold, the fact is that rest is much more valuable to a certain extent. We’ll still have to wait a couple of weeks before every team announces its final rosters. So, there’s still time for Wedgewood to knock the socks off Canada GM Doug Armstrong and get his name into the roster.
Meanwhile, Avalanche fans would do well to invoke a higher power to keep all stars safe from injury over at the Olympics.