With some members of the 2026 Olympic teams being announced, it is hard to miss that Russia has been shunned from the historic event. That being said, there are a ton of fantastic NHLers that hail from Russia who will not be able to represent their country.
The St. Louis Blues have one player who will not be making it to Milano Cortina, Italy, and it is a shame. He has been a huge part of this franchise, and he would have been a great addition to a highly competitive Russian team. That player is Pavel Buchnevich.
No chance to shine
Buchnevich's career has been a wild ride. From being a heavily relied on right winger with the New York Rangers, his inability to shine in the bright lights of Broadway led to his departure. But when he landed in the 'Lou, his career was revived thanks to the faithful of the Blue Note.
With the Olympics around the corner, it is a real shame that he cannot show off his skills on a grand stage. Many have believed that he did not make it in New York due to the pressure, but he has taken a liking to it as a cornerstone of the Blues franchise. Unfortunately, the chances of him taking his game to Italy will very likely not happen.
Maybe one day
At 30-years-old, there is still time for him to represent his home country in a big-time tournament. With the Olympics alternating with the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, there is time for things to iron out with Russia and the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Until then, the focus for Buchnevich should be on keeping the Blues as playoff contenders. He had a fantastic season in 2024-25, and with another postseason on the horizon, he will have to be perfect once again in 2025-26. This decision not to play alongside his fellow NHL competitors cannot derail him from focusing on gaining the greatest prize in this sport, the Stanley Cup.