Olympics: 2026 Roster predictions

[WarriorofTime]

If Russia is allowed to go, they could have a pretty formidable roster this go around. The emergence of Mintyukov would give them a much stronger blue line compared to the last few Olympics. All 14 Defensemen that have played in the NHL this year are under 33 years and about a week (Kulikov) so it'd be in pretty good shape for 2026.

All the Forwards except Malkin and Kuznetsov, play Wing though, so I dunno who would take faceoffs, lol.

 

[Czechboy]

If Russia is allowed to go, they could have a pretty formidable roster this go around. The emergence of Mintyukov would give them a much stronger blue line compared to the last few Olympics. All 14 Defensemen that have played in the NHL this year are under 33 years and about a week (Kulikov) so it'd be in pretty good shape for 2026.

All the Forwards except Malkin and Kuznetsov, play Wing though, so I dunno who would take faceoffs, lol.

And at least three Vezina calibre goalies in net

 

[Gold Standard]

And at least three Vezina calibre goalies in net

Hilarious! You two are still peddling that nonsense. too rich.

 

[krutais23]

Hey Czechs! What are your best on best D pairings right now?

 

[Goodman68]

Hey Czechs! What are your best on best D pairings right now?

No specific pairing
Hronek
Jiříček, Rutta, Gudas
And then, at this moment some Euro D like Král, Galvas, Kempný. And we all hope that soon players like Svozil or Špaček will enter the conversation.

 

[Czechboy]

Hey Czechs! What are your best on best D pairings right now?

Bad

BUT

Hronek is killing it
Radko is solid
Jiricek looks to be first pair in a few years

So there is some good ... Rest is terrifying for at least 3 years...

Dvorak, svozil, Spacek, jiricek number 2 all seem promising.

In Europe.. Kral, galvas, galvas number 2, tichacek, klok, svozil 2,

We even have the leading d scorer in the Q right now.

Ike I say... Bad

 

[Erikfromfin]

Finland right now for me

Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Mikko Rantanen
Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teräväinen
Artturi Lehkonen - Roope Hintz - Matias Maccelli
Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Erik Haula
Juuso Pärssinen
Eeli Tolvanen

Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Juuso Välimäki - Henri Jokiharju
Niko Mikkola - Urho Vaakanainen
Jani Hakanpää
Olli Määttä

Juuse Saros
Joonas Korpisalo
Ville Husso


Would have liked to add Waltteri Merelä for physicality and stuff and not positive on who should be 2nd and 3rd stringer goalies between Husso/Korpisalo/Raanta

 

[Svedu]

Finland right now for me

Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Mikko Rantanen
Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teräväinen
Artturi Lehkonen - Roope Hintz - Matias Maccelli
Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Erik Haula
Juuso Pärssinen
Eeli Tolvanen

Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Juuso Välimäki - Henri Jokiharju
Niko Mikkola - Urho Vaakanainen
Jani Hakanpää
Olli Määttä

Juuse Saros
Joonas Korpisalo
Ville Husso


Would have liked to add Waltteri Merelä for physicality and stuff and not positive on who should be 2nd and 3rd stringer goalies between Husso/Korpisalo/Raanta

What about Lankinen?

UPL can be a riser in next coming 2 years. He's a bit slow but if he gets quicker and focuses on staying centered in the net? Could be really good. Seen some games with the Sabres and he's been pretty good in those three games.

So sad Heinola got injured, it was finally his time to shine.
Niemelä and Lambert could be risers in 1-2 years as well.
I wonder why Lundell has been so anonymous this year? Bad numbers for sure. Kotkaniemi the other way around and when when I've seen Canes play he actually looks like a leader on ice. Really enjoyable to witness.
I hope Vaakanainen can stay healthy. He was always promising when it came to defending. As a prospect he impressed me with his ability to follow his attacker closely with good IQ and good agility- and skating.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Has Quinn Hughes replaced Adam Fox as the (hypothetical) QB of the USA PP1?

 

[Nucks2001]

Has Quinn Hughes replaced Adam Fox as the (hypothetical) QB of the USA PP1?

I already had Quinn on PP1. I would still take Fox on the first D-pairing though with Slavin. He’s just a more complete player than Quinn and I’m a Canucks fan. USA powerplay looking scary though.

1st Unit:
Robertson-Matthews-M.Tkachuk
Q. Hughes-Thompson

2nd Unit:
B.Tkachuk-J.Hughes-Eichel
Fox-K. Connor

Weird leaving off guys like Keller, Debrincat, and Larkin. Cooley could work his way onto the PP too.

 

[jaro]

1	Tatar​	Ružička​	M.Pospíšil​
2	Cehlarik​	Hrivík​	Slafkovsky​
3	Studenič​	Hudáček​	Regenda​
4	Kelemen​	Demek​	Chromiak​

Extra: Mešár, Sýkora, Okuliar, K.Pospíšil, Dvorský, Honzek

1	Cernák​	Nemec​
2	Feherváry​	Čerešňák​
3	Koch​	Kňažko​
4	Gernát​	Marinčin ​

Rybár​

Húska​

Gajan​

If tournament start tonight

 

[Nucks2001]

1	Tatar​	Ružička​	M.Pospíšil​
2	Cehlarik​	Hrivík​	Slafkovsky​
3	Studenič​	Hudáček​	Regenda​
4	Kelemen​	Demek​	Chromiak​

Extra: Mešár, Sýkora, Okuliar, K.Pospíšil, Dvorský, Honzek

1	Cernák​	Nemec​
2	Feherváry​	Čerešňák​
3	Koch​	Kňažko​
4	Gernát​	Marinčin ​

Rybár​

Húska​

Gajan​

If tournament start tonight

Wow. Did not think Slovakia would be that weak. Long fall from grace. No Gaborik, Hossa, Chara.

 

[Boonk]

Wow. Did not think Slovakia would be that weak. Long fall from grace. No Gaborik, Hossa, Chara.

Way better than a few years ago and they’re younger. They’ll have some potential if their younger players pan out

 

[WarriorofTime]

Way better than a few years ago and they’re younger. They’ll have some potential if their younger players pan out

One line and a bunch of grinders that play well together can do some damage if they can figure it out. They have to get that one line though.

 

[Nucks2001]

Way better than a few years ago and they’re younger. They’ll have some potential if their younger players pan out

Has potential for sure. Slaf is a big X-Factor. Cernak is a solid defender as well. I do think that Switzerland and Germany have surpassed Slovakia in terms of being a “real threat” to the Big 6.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Has Quinn Hughes replaced Adam Fox as the (hypothetical) QB of the USA PP1?

I think replaced is the wrong word. If he's the PP1QB, it's because you already had him in that spot. It's not as if Fox is playing bad. He's injured. He'd be putting up points, if he wasn't.

 

[ChuckFanForever]

I already had Quinn on PP1. I would still take Fox on the first D-pairing though with Slavin. He’s just a more complete player than Quinn and I’m a Canucks fan. USA powerplay looking scary though.

1st Unit:
Robertson-Matthews-M.Tkachuk
Q. Hughes-Thompson

2nd Unit:
B.Tkachuk-J.Hughes-Eichel
Fox-K. Connor

Weird leaving off guys like Keller, Debrincat, and Larkin. Cooley could work his way onto the PP too.

A Nucks fan, and JT Miller & Brock Boeser don't even get an honourable mention on Team USA PP?

 

[krutais23]

1	Tatar​	Ružička​	M.Pospíšil​
2	Cehlarik​	Hrivík​	Slafkovsky​
3	Studenič​	Hudáček​	Regenda​
4	Kelemen​	Demek​	Chromiak​

Extra: Mešár, Sýkora, Okuliar, K.Pospíšil, Dvorský, Honzek

1	Cernák​	Nemec​
2	Feherváry​	Čerešňák​
3	Koch​	Kňažko​
4	Gernát​	Marinčin ​

Rybár​

Húska​

Gajan​

If tournament start tonight

Can't have Gernat, Rybar and Huska because the federation don't allow KHL players to play