Recently former NHLer turned analyst Jordan Schmaltz put out his projected 2026 Olympic Roster and created controversy involving several Western Canadian stars. The 2026 Olympic Games is approaching fast and for the first time in over 15 years <a href='https://www.nhl.com/news/olympics-nhl-player-participation-in-2026-gets-final-approval' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the Olympics will feature NHL players on the rosters</a> With NHL players back in the fold some of the top analysts and insiders have been trying to predict the rosters for each country ahead of the official announcement. Earlier this week, former NHLer Jordan Schmaltz took to X to reveal his Team Canada roster if he were in charge. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/j_swish24/status/1955110047660511494'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> The most notable players missing from the roster are Evan Bouchard, Nick Suzuki, and Zach Hyman. These omissions have created a ton of discussion and debate regarding who should be taken off the roster to make room for these three stars. <h3>NHL Analyst Under Fire For Leaving Several Key Western Canadian Players Off Team Canada Roster</h3> After posting his thoughts on X, Schmaltz faced a lot of backlash claiming that players like Bouchard, Hyman, and Suzuki were must haves on Team Canada. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/gedder75/status/1955293607520301483'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/habstrick/status/1955333187812405464'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/scottbiggsify/status/1955344647401902522'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Some fans even want to see newly acquired Winnipeg Jet Jonathan Toews on the roster. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/puckpresence/status/1955327103005528309'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> To make room for these players some fans believe Mark Scheifele's spot should be up for grabs. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/leafspassionlc/status/1955296857602576890'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> After seeing all of the backlash, particularly from Oilers fans, Schmaltz responded justifying his decisions. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/j_swish24/status/1955356614942396660'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> With the 2026 Olympic Games just a few months away in Milano Cortina, debate will continue to ramp up and only a select few in charge of Hockey Canada will have the final say on the roster.