The Chicago Blackhawks have some players who would fit perfectly in the 2026 Winter Olympics. While the deadline for the 12 teams to submit their rosters is Dec. 31, with the announcement of players coming soon after, there is one Blackhawks player who has made a case to be joining the roster. He may not be the first name you think of for a spot on the Olympic team, but he has shown the ability to dominate. There will be some tough decisions to make, so let’s take a look at one Chicago player who has made a case for himself to be a sleeper option for the Olympics.
NHL writers believe Tyler Bertuzzi is a sleeper pick for the 2026 Winter Olympics
Jan 3, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
In an article where NHL writers suggested sleeper picks for the 2026 Winter Olympic teams, editor-in-chief Bill Price decided Team Canada should add Tyler Bertuzzi to their squad. Below is the snippet he wrote about the Blackhawks’ left winger:
“Yes, [Connor] Bedard is the leader of the Blackhawks, and if he’s healthy, he should represent Canada. And while Bedard has gotten most of the attention, Bertuzzi has been just as effective for the Blackhawks, especially in the so-called dirty areas of the ice. Per NHL EDGE stats, Bertuzzi has scored 15 goals from high-danger areas, which is tied for the NHL lead with Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The high-danger area is the area within 29 feet of the center of the goal and bound on both sides by an imaginary line drawn from the face-off dot to two feet outside the goal post. In layman’s terms, not only is he unafraid to go into the tight areas around the net; he also has a knack for scoring greasy goals. Canada needs a guy like that.”
Each country has already submitted six names for the preliminary rosters back in June. Team Canada announced the following players at that time:
Sidney Crosby
Nathan MacKinnon
Cale Makar
Connor McDavid
Brayden Point
Sam Reinhart
Team Canada is expected to be loaded with talent and not have anyone on that preliminary list who is considered a winger in the NHL. However, with the immense talent, they will use centers and move them around the ice instead. It would be massive for the Blackhawks’ left winger as he has never played in the Olympics before, just won a silver medal in the 2019 IIHF World Championship. This season, Bertuzzi has 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) and has played well to improve his standing in the league. It will be interesting to see if his name is among the players selected for Team Canada this time around.
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