A Florida Panthers player is heavily criticized during the Olympic final

Florida Panthers agitator Brad Marchand is currently facing massive waves of criticism for his highly ineffective play against Team USA this afternoon.

When general manager Doug Armstrong originally finalized the star-studded roster, he intentionally left off elite, dynamic playmakers like Connor Bedard and Mark Scheifele.

Choosing a 37-year-old veteran over those younger, highly productive offensive weapons was already a controversial decision that sent absolute shockwaves through the dedicated Canadian fanbase.

Now, that specific roster choice looks like an incredibly tough pill to swallow as Marchand visibly struggles to establish a reliable transition game on the global stage.

It is entirely clear that the rugged winger is still heavily dealing with a nagging injury that occurred before the prestigious international tournament even began.

He previously sat out two preliminary matchups strictly for maintenance, desperately trying to heal up for the brutal knockout stages.

But with legendary captain Sidney Crosby officially ruled out due to a devastating lower-body injury, Marchand is practically forced to play heavy, vital minutes.

Canada absolutely refuses to run the terrifying risk of playing short-handed against a suffocating American trap, meaning the injured veteran must strictly shoulder the physical burden.

Without his usual explosive speed and relentless forecheck in the dirty areas, he legitimately struggles to generate dangerous controlled entries against elite American defensemen.

You simply cannot afford to see your depth forwards mistakenly post a -3 rating when international supremacy is entirely on the line.

Watching him labor through shifts instantly makes the entire hockey universe wonder if Canada should have just selected a fully healthy Bedard or Scheifele instead.

Expect the demanding Canadian media to aggressively question this specific roster construction if they fail to secure ultimate glory by the final horn.