Who is the 13th best Canadian forward though, and is he good enough to force his way onto this team? This version of Canada isn't deep enough to cut Yzerman or Savard or Oates or Giroux or Stamkos and St. Louis or whoever else Canada has cut in the past, those guys just aren't there for depth roles. Bedard isn't blowing people away but he is on a putrid team and remains Canada's best young forward. Canada can benefit in 2026 from getting him some reps here and at the 2025 iihf world championship to. It's important to have an eye toward 2026 and not just this event.
I would be surprised as well, but I think there are probably like 30 Canadian forwards who will help you win hockey games ahead of Bedard (at this point in his career).
