Matthew Schaefer’s Team Canada case couldn’t be any clearer

The decision Doug Armstrong’s management group needs to make before the Canadian Olympic roster is announced on New Year’s Eve cannot be about letting Matthew Schaefer be around the group before he takes a leading role in the 2028 World Cup or 2030 Olympics.

It cannot be about the irresistible story of Schaefer getting a chance to represent his country at 18.

It can be about one question and one question only: Who gives Team Canada the best chance of winning gold in Milan on Feb. 22?

It is for that reason, and that reason only, that Schaefer must be on the roster for these Olympic Games. He is one of the best eight Canadian defensemen in the world right now and eight defensemen will be brought to Italy. Failing to acknowledge this by failing to name Schaefer would make Canada a worse team and would hurt their chances of winning gold. It’s that simple.