The week is a quiet one on the ice but a loud one in the media for the Chicago Blackhawks. The team is officially on hiatus for the 2026 Winter Olympic break, meaning there are no NHL games scheduled for this week.
The biggest topic of conversation in Chicago (and across Canada) is Connor Bedard being left off Team Canada’s final Olympic roster. Despite a strong sophomore season where he is scoring at a nearly point-per-game pace, Bedard was not selected.
When an injury opened a roster spot (replacing Brayden Point), reports confirm that Team Canada opted for the Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis instead of Bedard, citing a preference for Jarvis’s defensive/two-way upside over Bedard’s offensive profile.
This has caused a significant “outcry” among the fanbase, who viewed the 2026 games as Bedard’s potential breakout on the international senior stage.
With Bedard staying home, forward Teuvo Teravainen is the only active Blackhawk participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics, representing Team Finland. He will be reunited with former linemate Sebastian Aho of the Hurricanes.
With the NHL trade deadline approaching on March 6, 2026, the front office is using this break to finalize their strategy.
With the Blackhawks lingering on the fringe of the wild card race (trailing teams like the San Jose Sharks), management is weighing whether to sell pending free agents (like Connor Murphy or Nick Foligno) to stockpile assets or to pivot and “buy” players with term to support Bedard immediately. Rumors suggest they are looking for long-term linemates rather than pure rentals.
Even without a Blackhawks game, you can watch Teuvo Teravainen and Team Finland.
Team Finland Preliminary round games this week:
Related – Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
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