TORONTO – If there is no player from Quebec at the NHL All-Star Game this Saturday in Toronto, there is reason to question whether the Canadian men's hockey team will bet on an athlete from La Belle Province at the next Winter Olympics in 2026.
The presence of NHL players at the 2026 and 2030 Games was confirmed Friday by Commissioner Gary Bettman and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President Luc Tardif.
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Since then, hockey fans have already had fun imagining the composition of the Canadian team. Observation: There may be few, if any, Quebecers.
During the NHL's last participation at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, four Quebecers were selected, namely forwards Martin St-Louis and Patrice Bergeron, defenseman Marc-Édouard Vlasic and goalkeeper Roberto Luongo. They also helped Canada win the gold medal.
Patrice Bergeron and Marc-Édouard Vlasic, gold medalists of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games. Photo John MacDougall / AFP
Of them all, Vlasic remains the only active player, but at 36 years old it would be surprising to see the veteran San Jose Sharks defender at the Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Speaking of St-Louis, the Canadiens head coach now has a future behind the bench.
Chabot and Montembeault among the candidates
Currently 27-year-old Thomas Chabot of the Ottawa Senators is perhaps the best potential candidate for Quebec's blue line for the 2026 Games.
In front of the net, Samuel Montembeault of the Canadiens and young Devon Levi of the Buffalo Sabers were able to battle with Stuart Skinner (Edmonton Oilers), Adin Hill (Vegas Golden Knights) and Tristan Jarry (Pittsburgh Penguins). The debate remains open!
Samuel Montembeault in the Montreal Canadiens jersey. Photo Martin Chevalier
Positions are filling up quickly on offense, including Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor Bedard, Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and undoubtedly Sidney Crosby. Jonathan Huberdeau, Jonathan Marchessault, Alexis Lafrenière and Pierre-Luc Dubois will have a lot to do to secure a spot on the third or fourth line of the Canadian team.
Keep in mind that for the second year in a row, no player from Quebec will be in the NHL All-Star Game, which is not without cause for concern. The Quebecer's absence from the Canadian team at the 2026 Games would certainly add insult to injury.