For at least two islanders, the season is not over yet.
Bo Horvat and Noah Dobson were selected on Team Canada's World Championship roster on Thursday. There is a strong possibility that Simon Holmstrom will also take part in Team Sweden's competition.
For the two officially named, this was a logical step towards moving forward with the possibility of participating in the Milan Cortina Olympics in February after leaving the Team Canada team at the 4 Nations faceoff.
It should not be surprising that many of the first 15 players selected for Team Canada on Thursday are somewhere in the bubble of the 25 Olympic team, along with the islanders pair.
“I don't know exactly what it is, but the idea behind it is for me, I only played 70 games this year, my body feels pretty good. And with the Olympics coming, it's an opportunity to represent your country and reach the radar that will enter next season.” “I'm going to feel good in the summer and hopefully win a gold medal.”
For the 25-year-old Dobson, this is also a chance to get his game back on track after a season up and down that represents a step back from his breakout campaign two years ago. Dobson was the worst in a nonexistent season with just 39 points, struggling all year round in power plays and making many high-profile errors in his own zone.
He is expected to receive a big bump in salary this offseason and a long-term deal as a potentially restricted free agent, but his performance this season could spark hesitancy as the islanders hesitate to hand out contracts like Dobson asks.
It appears that Horvat will also sound interesting notes about the World Championships on Breakup Day and will likely get Team Canada's top line minutes.
“That's definitely something to consider,” he said on the day of his parting. “Next year, it's a pretty big year Olympics. I think it's a good stepping stone to prove myself and represent my country. If I get that opportunity, I'll take it.”
Horvat previously played in World and finished fourth with Team Canada in 2017-18.
The Canadian also finished fourth in the tournament won by Host Nation Cechia last year.
Sweden, one of the hosts alongside Denmark this year, has yet to release its roster, but Holmstrom is a logical addition after scoring 20 goals with 25 assists for the islanders this season.
Like Horvat and Dobson, Holmstrom is also a player with shots to make Olympic teams, and there is something to prove by representing his country this spring.
“I didn't think much about it,” Holmstrom said on Islander Breakup Day. “I have a contract that I have to sign and I'm focused this season.”
