For Nazem Kadri, pulling on a Team Canada sweater has always been a dream, and he isn’t letting that hope dim despite not being on Hockey Canada’s radar.

Heading into the off-season, the Calgary Flames forward hoped that he would be among the many hopefuls to get an invite to the team’s Olympic orientation camp.

“I feel like I deserve a chance,” Kadri told The Athletic on Thursday. “I think, over the last few seasons, I’ve certainly proven that with my statistics and the winning pedigree. I think it speaks for itself.”

The 34-year-old scored a career-high of 35 goals last season while putting up 67 points in 82 games with the Flames. He also has a Stanley Cup title to his name, as he played a big part in the Colorado Avalanche’s run in 2022.

However, cracking Team Canada’s roster has been a challenge over the years, and some players got a taste of what that was like ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off, with a few top names forced to watch from home.

Now, with the Olympics in Milan-Cortina just six months away, Kadri knows it’ll be a tough path to get any consideration, but he isn’t shutting the door just yet.

“Honestly, man, it would be an absolute dream come true to somehow crack that team,” Kadri said. “I’ve been a long shot before. I’m looking forward to giving myself an opportunity. But I understand I’m going to have to play well.”