It's no secret that a large group of NHL players are discouraged by the fact that they won't have the opportunity to represent their countries at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and you can count Connor McDavid among them.

McDavid previously played for Canada internationally at the World Junior Championship in 2015 and the World Championship in 2016, earning gold in both tournaments, so not being able to suit up in South Korea is a reality that irks the game's highest-paid player.

"I'm really upset about it," McDavid said Wednesday, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

"You want to be able to represent your country on the highest stage, and the Olympics is obviously the highest stage possible. To know that you might not be able to represent your country at the Olympics for another four years for sure ... Even if you’re able to in four years, it's disappointing."

The Edmonton Oilers captain also realizes that without access to the NHL's elite talent, Team Canada won't be able to assemble its usual all-world roster.

"I don't think Team Canada will be able to put together a team like they'd be able to put together this year (if NHLers were permitted)," said McDavid. "It would've been a special group, and you're just hoping to be a part of it."

Despite being arguably the best player on the planet, McDavid won't have any influence over the Oilers' front office decisions regarding the availability of their players for the games.

"No, I’m not too involved in all that stuff. There's a lot of guys who've been in the league a lot longer than I have and have a lot more pull than I do," McDavid said. "You don't want to leave your team for a month.

"It's disappointing, but that's the way it is."

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