1.I think it is fair to say it was somewhat of a happy surprise when the Edmonton Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was invited to the Team Canada Orientation camp for the 2026 Olympics in Italy. His one 100-point season aside, Nuge is perhaps what I would describe as ‘an elite complimentary NHL player’ as opposed to “elite, period”. But the longer I thought, the more I not only started to see the logic in the invitation. I started to think that Nugent-Hopkins could very well make this team. And perhaps should. I am not so sure that is a commonly held thought. But I am adopting it and here is why