Olympics: 2026 Roster predictions

[Antiillafire]

Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Chromiak
K. Pospisil - Ruzicka - Mesar
Cehlarik - M. Pospisil - Studenic
Lantosi - Petrovsky - Liska
Cajkovic

Fehervary - Nemec
Cernak - Knazko
Jaros - Kmec
Strbak

Huska
Elias
Latkoczy

 

[IceHockeyDude]

Laine-Barkov(C)-Rantanen(A)
Teräväinen-Aho-Pulju
Kemell-Lundell-Kakko
Granlund(A)-Hintz-Aa.Räty

 

[alko]

Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Chromiak
K. Pospisil - Ruzicka - Mesar
Cehlarik - M. Pospisil - Studenic
Lantosi - Petrovsky - Liska
Cajkovic

Fehervary - Nemec
Cernak - Knazko
Jaros - Kmec
Strbak

Huska
Elias
Latkoczy

Hey, where is Chara?

 

[Svedu]

Laine-Barkov(C)-Rantanen
Teräväinen(A)-Aho-Pulju
Kemell-Lundell-Kakko
Kupari-Hintz(A)-Aa.Räty
Maccelli-Luostarinen-Kapanen
Kuokkanen-Kotkaniemi-Tolvanen
Heponiemi-Pärssinen-Ylönen
Ranta-Talvitie-Miettinen
Aleksi Saarela-Lambert-Vesalainen
Koivula-Somppi -Tuomaala
Nyman-Nikkanen-Järventie
Puustinen-Lammikko-Pajuniemi
Ruotsalainen-Julius Nättinen-Kiviranta

Heiskanen-Niemelä
Lindell-Heinola
Välimäki-Laaksonen
Salo-Jokiharju
Hatakka-Ristolainen
Vaakanainen-Kiviharju(young, but we can always wish for greatness)
Juolevi (I wish he could stay healthy, poor guy)-Tuomisto
Mikkola-Määttä
Niku-Heimosalmi
Viro-Rindell

Saros
Lankinen
Luukkonen
Lindberg
Blomqvist
Vinni
Mäkiniemi

Regarding the offense, I believe we will have bigger depth than we've ever had before. Actually, I´m quite certain about it (hopefully this is not a jinx). It's impossible to speculate how our talents will look like 2026, but when you recognize the depth? I also think it becomes clear that players like Lehkonen, Armia (and I´m a fan of his) and probably Granlund (then 34 years old) will get it tougher to earn their spot when the game is fast paced.

Regarding defense, im really high on both Heinola and especially Niemelä. Salo is a sleeper for many Finnish hockey fans, he will become good and I´m quite sure about it. Laaksonen is another one who gets passed by many other fellow finns. I do believe in him, even if that organization is not the best for talents.
Not the biggest depth, but let's hope that someone of our prospects can excel and become even better than we are hoping for.

We should be favorites together with Canada and Russia and probably the US. I do believe Sweden will be up there as well, but I just don't see that "it" factor in many of their great talents. Not like I do in Lundell and Niemelä for example. Biased? Who knows. Good comparison could be Raymond vs Lundell. Both are really great, but again, without hesitating I would pick Lundell for my tournament roster.
Both Czech Republic and Slovakia will be strong for 2026. Necas, Pastrnak, Vrana etc will still be good by then and if their young D´s like Jiricek and Svozil can become great with Dostals netminding? Could actually become a huge riser.
Slovakia will have their golden generation but I do have a feeling the Czechs will have a more balanced roster by 2026.
All in all, it's good for the sport to have more teams with great players.

 

[Czechboy]

Laine-Barkov(C)-Rantanen
Teräväinen(A)-Aho-Pulju
Kemell-Lundell-Kakko
Kupari-Hintz(A)-Aa.Räty
Maccelli-Luostarinen-Kapanen
Kuokkanen-Kotkaniemi-Tolvanen
Heponiemi-Pärssinen-Ylönen
Ranta-Talvitie-Miettinen
Aleksi Saarela-Lambert-Vesalainen
Koivula-Somppi -Tuomaala
Nyman-Nikkanen-Järventie
Puustinen-Lammikko-Pajuniemi
Ruotsalainen-Julius Nättinen-Kiviranta

Heiskanen-Niemelä
Lindell-Heinola
Välimäki-Laaksonen
Salo-Jokiharju
Hatakka-Ristolainen
Vaakanainen-Kiviharju(young, but we can always wish for greatness)
Juolevi (I wish he could stay healthy, poor guy)-Tuomisto
Mikkola-Määttä
Niku-Heimosalmi
Viro-Rindell

Saros
Lankinen
Luukkonen
Lindberg
Blomqvist
Vinni
Mäkiniemi

Regarding the offense, I believe we will have bigger depth than we've ever had before. Actually, I´m quite certain about it (hopefully this is not a jinx). It's impossible to speculate how our talents will look like 2026, but when you recognize the depth? I also think it becomes clear that players like Lehkonen, Armia (and I´m a fan of his) and probably Granlund (then 34 years old) will get it tougher to earn their spot when the game is fast paced.

Regarding defense, im really high on both Heinola and especially Niemelä. Salo is a sleeper for many Finnish hockey fans, he will become good and I´m quite sure about it. Laaksonen is another one who gets passed by many other fellow finns. I do believe in him, even if that organization is not the best for talents.
Not the biggest depth, but let's hope that someone of our prospects can excel and become even better than we are hoping for.

We should be favorites together with Canada and Russia and probably the US. I do believe Sweden will be up there as well, but I just don't see that "it" factor in many of their great talents. Not like I do in Lundell and Niemelä for example. Biased? Who knows. Good comparison could be Raymond vs Lundell. Both are really great, but again, without hesitating I would pick Lundell for my tournament roster.
Both Czech Republic and Slovakia will be strong for 2026. Necas, Pastrnak, Vrana etc will still be good by then and if their young D´s like Jiricek and Svozil can become great with Dostals netminding? Could actually become a huge riser.
Slovakia will have their golden generation but I do have a feeling the Czechs will have a more balanced roster by 2026.
All in all, it's good for the sport to have more teams with great players.

In theory.. we should be better in 2026... No major stars retiring. We are relatively young. We would probably lose guys like gudas, rutta and Kempny. But jiricek might be very good by then. Svozil, has or Kral might be regulars as well.

Forward wise... The pipeline is still pretty good.

Goalies will be interesting. We have a lot of guys knocking at the door right now... 4 years from now we might have a goalie dilemma ... Dostal, skarek, vladar, vanecek, korenar, Bednar, Parik, Pantera...

Maybe 3 if those guys are full time starters by then.

 

[Atas2000]

No Chara?

Not real without Chara.

 

[Atas2000]

Way too far off.

Yaah, that's why my Team Russia:

Michkov - Michkov - Michkov
Michkov - Michkov - Michkov
Michkov - Michkov - Michkov
Some buddy of Michkov - Some buddy of Michkov - Some buddy of Michkov

Michkov - Michkov
Michkov - Michkov
Michkov - Michkov

Of course Michkov and he does not need a backup.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Lafreniere-McDavid-Seguin
Huberdeau-MacKinnon-Marner
Monahan-Scheifele-Barzal
Dubois-Couturier-Point

Chabot-Makar
Rielly-Ekblad
Byram-Theodore

Hart-Binnington

Ummm

 

[Figgie]

2026

Gold: Team Canada

Huberdeau-McDavid-Bedard
Barzal-Mackinnon-Marner
Byfield-Point-Mercer
McTavish-Crosby-Stone
Wright, Dubois

Toews-Makar
Chabot-Pietrangelo
Power-Ekblad
Pelech-Clarke

Hart
Blackwood
Kuemper



Silver: Team USA

Connor-Matthews-DeBrincat
Hughes-Eichel-Caufield
Zegras-Beniers-Robertson
Tkachuk-Larkin-Tkachuk
Turcotte, Byfield

Slavin-Fox
Q.Hughes-McAvoy
Werenski-L.Hughes
Sanderson-Jones

Hellebuyck
Gibson
Knight


Bronze: Team Finland

Rantanen-Barkov-Kemell
Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi
Teräväinen-Lundell-Lambert
Granlund-Hintz-Kakko
Kotkaniemi, Kapanen

Lindell-Heiskanen
Välimäki-Heinola
Kiviharju- Thomsson
Nutivaara-Jokiharju

Saros
Kähkönen
Annunen

 

[Czechboy]

2026

Gold: Team Canada

Huberdeau-McDavid-Bedard
Barzal-Mackinnon-Marner
Byfield-Point-Mercer
McTavish-Crosby-Stone
Wright, Dubois

Toews-Makar
Chabot-Pietrangelo
Power-Ekblad
Pelech-Clarke

Hart
Blackwood
Kuemper



Silver: Team USA

Connor-Matthews-DeBrincat
Hughes-Eichel-Caufield
Zegras-Beniers-Robertson
Tkachuk-Larkin-Tkachuk
Turcotte, Byfield

Slavin-Fox
Q.Hughes-McAvoy
Werenski-L.Hughes
Sanderson-Jones

Hellebuyck
Gibson
Knight


Bronze: Team Finland

Rantanen-Barkov-Kemell
Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi
Teräväinen-Lundell-Lambert
Granlund-Hintz-Kakko
Kotkaniemi, Kapanen

Lindell-Heiskanen
Välimäki-Heinola
Kiviharju- Thomsson
Nutivaara-Jokiharju

Saros
Kähkönen
Annunen

Byram?

 

[CapsFans]

2026 Canada

Huberdeau McDavid Mackinnon
A. Fantilli Bedard M. Savoie
Mangiapane Point Marner
Byfield Barzal Kyrou

D.Toews Makar
Byram Drysdale
Weegar Ekblad

Hart
Cossa
Levi

Extras: Thomas, Wright, Chabot, Power

 

[AB13]

What could the swedish olympic team look like in 2026?

Raymond - Pettersson - Nylander
Landeskog - Zibanejad - Holtz
Eklund - Elias Lindholm - Forsberg
Burakovsky - Eriksson Ek - Bratt
Kempe - Höglander

Dahlin - Andersson
Hedman - Brodin
Edvinsson - Boqvist
H.Lindholm - Kylington/Lundqvist/Söderström/Sandin/Björnfot/Broberg/Forsling

Wallstedt
Markström
Gustavsson

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

2026 Olympic gold medalist Team Finland
Patrik Laine Sasha Barkov Mikko Rantanen
Miro Heiskanen Aleksi Heimosalmi

Brad Lambert Anton Lundell Joakim Kemell
Esa Lindell Henri Jokiharju

Sebastian Aho Teuvo Teräväinen Jesse Puljujärvi
Emil Viro Topi Niemelä

Samu Salminen Samuel Helenius Janne Kuokkanen
Juuso Välimäki Antti Tuomisto

Extra forwards
Kaapo Kakko Aatu Räty

Goalies
Ukko Pekka Luukkonen
Justus Annunen
Juuse Saros ( sorry Juuse )

Other Possible names
Axel Rindell
Kim Nousiainen
Ville Heinola
Urho Vaakanainen
Robin Salo
Roby Järventie
Emil Järventie
Samu Tuomaala
Ville Koivunen
Aron Kiviharju
Veeti Miettinen
Eeli Tolvanen
Mikael Granlund
Jere Innala
Kasper Kotkansalo
Ville Husso
Rasmus Ristolainen
Kaapo Kähkönen
Aarne Talvitie
Mikko Kokkonen
Roni Hirvonen
Kasperi Kapanen
Oliver Kapanen
Jesse Ylönen
Leevi Meriläinen
Juho Markkanen
Topias Leinonen

 

[Dominance]

Huberdeau-McDavid-Bedard
Lafreniere-Wright-MacKinnon
Savoie-Byfield-Marner
Dubois-Point-Guenther

Dach, Batherson, Stone, Tavares, Stamkos, Kyrou, Thomas, Scheifele, Barzal, Suzuki, Newhook, O’Rielly, Mercer, Couturier, Krebs, Cozens, Jarvis, Sillinger, Frost, McTavish, Tomasino, Konecny, Holloway, Beckman, Bourque, Pelletier, Zary, Lapierre, McMichael, Quinn, Perfetti, Hayton, Johnson, Othmann, Bourgault, Stankoven, Geekie, Benson, Fantilli, Yager, Ritchie, etc.

Byram-Makar
Chabot-Ekblad
Power-Drysdale

Chychrun, Clarke, Nurse, Pietrangelo, Pelech, Doughty, Toews, Rielly, Hamilton, Weegar, Bouchard, Dobson, Theodore, Bean, Morrissey, Smith, Fabbro, Guhle, Schneider, Hague, Myers, Harley, Girard, Lambos, Zellweger, Luneau, Nelson, etc.

Hart
Cossa
Jarry

Blackwood, Binnington, Gaudreau, Daws, Levi, Skinner, Garand, etc.

 

[Dominance]

2026 Olympic gold medalist Team Finland
Patrik Laine Sasha Barkov Mikko Rantanen
Miro Heiskanen Aleksi Heimosalmi

Brad Lambert Anton Lundell Joakim Kemell
Esa Lindell Henri Jokiharju

Sebastian Aho Teuvo Teräväinen Jesse Puljujärvi
Emil Viro Topi Niemelä

Samu Salminen Samuel Helenius Janne Kuokkanen
Juuso Välimäki Antti Tuomisto

Extra forwards
Kaapo Kakko Aatu Räty

Goalies
Ukko Pekka Luukkonen
Justus Annunen
Juuse Saros ( sorry Juuse )

Other Possible names
Axel Rindell
Kim Nousiainen
Ville Heinola
Urho Vaakanainen
Robin Salo
Roby Järventie
Emil Järventie
Samu Tuomaala
Ville Koivunen
Aron Kiviharju
Veeti Miettinen
Eeli Tolvanen
Mikael Granlund
Jere Innala
Kasper Kotkansalo
Ville Husso
Rasmus Ristolainen
Kaapo Kähkönen
Aarne Talvitie
Mikko Kokkonen
Roni Hirvonen
Kasperi Kapanen
Oliver Kapanen
Jesse Ylönen
Leevi Meriläinen
Juho Markkanen
Topias Leinonen

Bronze can look gold in the right lighting.

 

[Erikfromfin]

I've given up hope for NHLers at 22 olympics so here's best bets for 2026. A lot of guys even outside these left out.


Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Mikko Rantanen
Joakim Kemell - Sebastian Aho - Kaapo Kakko
Roope Hintz - Anton Lundell - Jesse Puljujärvi
Aatu Räty - Mikael Granlund - Kristian Vesalainen
Teuvo Teräväinen
Brad Lambert

Jani Nyman - Rasmus Kupari - Kasper Halttunen
Emil Kuusla - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Eeli Tolvanen
Matias Maccelli - Juuso Pärssinen - Samu Tuomaala
Kasperi Kapanen - Samuel Helenius - Jesse Ylönen
Samu Salminen
Ville Koivunen

Juuso Välimäki - Miro Heiskanen
Aron Kiviharju - Topi Niemelä
Olli Juolevi - Otto Salin
Esa Lindell - Jani Hakanpää

Ville Heinola - Lassi Thomson
Emil Pieniniemi - Henri Jokiharju
Robin Salo - Aleksi Heimosalmi
Urho Vaakanainen - Rasmus Ristolainen

Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Joel Blomqvist
Topias Leinonen
Ville Husso

 

[KimiPalo7]

I've been looking at the top 9 countries at the moment (Assuming Italy gets a automatic spot being the host) who, by their world ranking, would automatically qualify for the olympics (obviously the world ranking will be different in '26 but after all, we're talking predictions here right?). I've build these rosters assuming NHLers will play, hopefully... (P.S. the line combinations are just my projection of who's gonna be good at that time at their position, not necessarily the most realistic ones probably but yeah I'm Dutch, mfs rather play field hockey for a laugh round here

 

[Eye of Ra]

I've been looking at the top 9 countries at the moment (Assuming Italy gets a automatic spot being the host) who, by their world ranking, would automatically qualify for the olympics (obviously the world ranking will be different in '26 but after all, we're talking predictions here right?). I've build these rosters assuming NHLers will play, hopefully... (P.S. the line combinations are just my projection of who's gonna be good at that time at their position, not necessarily the most realistic ones probably but yeah I'm Dutch, mfs rather play field hockey for a laugh round here
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what are you thinking when you have erik gustafsson and klingberg on team sweden? we have much better players

 

[BigBadBoar]

G - Dostal and Skarek
D - Hajek, Zboril, Hronek, Masin, Kral, Kempny, Simek, Has, Svozil
F - Pastrnak, Vrana, Chytil, Necas, Zadina, Kaut, Zacha, Kase, Kase, Hertl, Spacek, Teply, Lauko, Jenik

Škarek - Not good enough
Hájek - Not good enough and probably never will be.
Mašín - The same like Hájek.
Kempný - No, if somebody this old, then Gudas or Rutta
Haš - Definitely not good enough.
Ondřej Kaše's career is likely over due to injuries.
David Kaše - Isn't on this level.
Teplý - Probably won't reach this level.
Jeník -The same like Teplý.
Zadina - His career seems to be stagnating.
Kaut - I don't see him reaching this level

Missing those essential players: Vaněček, Jiříček (!), Kulich (probably will be a very solid NHL player in 25/26) Kubalík, Kämpf.

 

[EK47]

what are you thinking when you have erik gustafsson and klingberg on team sweden? we have much better players

Yes Folin should play atleast 30 minutes per game.

 

[BigBadBoar]

My Czech roster projection (it is obviously extremely tricky to project a 2026 roster in 2023):

Vaněček, Dostál, Vejmelka

Hronek, Zbořil, Jiříček, Gudas, Svozil, Král, Galvas, D. Špaček

Pastrňák, Hertl, Kulich, Nečas, Zacha, Kubalík, Vrána, Chytil, Rousek, Lauko, Kämpf, Faksa, Blümel, Smejkal

 

[Czechboy]

Škarek - Not good enough
Hájek - Not good enough and probably never will be.
Mašín - The same like Hájek.
Kempný - No, if somebody this old, then Gudas or Rutta
Haš - Definitely not good enough.
Ondřej Kaše's career is likely over due to injuries.
David Kaše - Isn't on this level.
Teplý - Probably won't reach this level.
Jeník -The same like Teplý.
Zadina - His career seems to be stagnating.
Kaut - I don't see him reaching this level

Missing those essential players: Vaněček, Jiříček (!), Kulich (probably will be a very solid NHL player in 25/26) Kubalík, Kämpf.

You quoted a prediction from 2021 looking ahead to 2026.. it was 5 years out!lol.

Ftr... I will defend kaut, zadina and jenik until they retire from the ECHL.lol.

 

[BigBadBoar]

You quoted a prediction from 2021 looking ahead to 2026.. it was 5 years out!lol.

Ftr... I will defend kaut, zadina and jenik until they retire from the ECHL.lol.

Oh, sorry, I didn't notice it was from 2021! Makes sense then.

 

[Boonk]

I've been looking at the top 9 countries at the moment (Assuming Italy gets a automatic spot being the host) who, by their world ranking, would automatically qualify for the olympics (obviously the world ranking will be different in '26 but after all, we're talking predictions here right?). I've build these rosters assuming NHLers will play, hopefully... (P.S. the line combinations are just my projection of who's gonna be good at that time at their position, not necessarily the most realistic ones probably but yeah I'm Dutch, mfs rather play field hockey for a laugh round here
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Landeskogs career is pretty much done now after the surgery for his knees he just had.

 

[ORRFForever]

I've been looking at the top 9 countries at the moment (Assuming Italy gets a automatic spot being the host) who, by their world ranking, would automatically qualify for the olympics (obviously the world ranking will be different in '26 but after all, we're talking predictions here right?). I've build these rosters assuming NHLers will play, hopefully... (P.S. the line combinations are just my projection of who's gonna be good at that time at their position, not necessarily the most realistic ones probably but yeah I'm Dutch, mfs rather play field hockey for a laugh round here
View attachment 705783View attachment 705771View attachment 705772View attachment 705773View attachment 705774View attachment 705775View attachment 705776View attachment 705777View attachment 705778

Nice job and wonderful graphics, but I REALLY don't like Team Canada.