'Canadian mutants': Ex-NHLer rips Oilers star player and fans, gets ripped back

Edmonton Journal

2 days ago

This in, the controversy already erupting over which players will and will not be selected for Team Canada at the coming Olympic Games, with former American NHLer Jordan Schmaltz provocatively picking a squad absent both Edmonton Oilers Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard.
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For those who don't recall Schmaltz, after a strong college career at North Dakota, he played 42 NHL games from 2016-19, before heading to Europe and retiring in 2022-23.
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Team Canada 2026 Olympic roster 🏒
Reinhart- McJesus- Marner
Marchand-Sid-The Dogg
Cirelli- Point-Hagel
Bennett-Schiefle-Wilson
Extras: Bob Thomas, Fellabrini
(14)
Toews-Makar
Harley-Paryako
Morrissey- Doughty
Theodore
Extra: Dobson
(8)
Binner
Hill
Monty
(3)
— Jordan Schmaltz (@J_Swish24) August 12, 2025
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Schmaltz hit a sore spot with Oilers fan, as both Hyman and Bouchard were left off the Four Nations Cup roster last winter, despite having outstanding 2023-24 seasons and playoffs. The concern now is that both players will be left off the Olympic team as well, despite both Hyman and Bouchard again playing brilliant hockey in the 2025 playoffs.
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Oilers Nation writer Zach Laing @zjlaing
has anyone actually watched the oilers play playoff hockey in the last two years?
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Oilers fan Skinner over .900? (Knows Puck) @CampbellOver900
For a team that's played the very last game of the last 2 seasons, they are severely underwatched by the rest of the hockey world
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Dobson… Bouchard is better offensively at 5 on 5, better defensively, better on the PP and now is proving to be good on the PK. Not to mention upping his game (to historic production levels and all around best d-man in the playoff levels). Oh ya, outscores away from 92 and 29. … I think they (Team Canada) could use another material driver of outscoring at 5 on 5 – that's what Bouchard is…. Bouchard is 43-39 goals over the course of the last three years without BOTH McDavid and Drai…. One could also show the numbers for how much worse both McDavid and Drai do away from Bouchard – its substantial, their production rates go down and their goal share goes way down.
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In response, Schmaltz fired back on his critics.
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Jordan Schmaltz@J_Swish24
The thing you Canadian mutants don't realize (for the record that's a compliment) is the reason you go with Doughty over Bouchard is fairly simple but the average fan wouldn't understand.. when the game is on the line and into the medal rounds Makar is going to play sub 30 minutes. Paryako will give you 18-20. The other guy on the right side is going to play 10-15 minutes. They don't need Bouchard for PP1 and he's not exactly a penalty kill wizard. Helluva hockey player with the puck you can't question that but who gives team Canada a better option in that role of PK / 10-15 a night on the right side? Doughty is way better suited for that assignment. Weegar / Dobson would be as well. As much as it's an all star team you still need definitive roles and guys who understand how to play in certain scenarios. Doughty has won cups, Olympics, four nations, world juniors. And still can BALL.