2026 Team Canada Roster Talk

[JackSlater]

This is Pronman's early projection for Canada in 2026. Article goes into detail on standouts and disappointments from the 2025 tournament, and yes the collective team Canada is the primary disappointment.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6038616/2025/01/05/world-juniors-hockey-2025-standouts/

McKenna Catton Martone
Misa McQueen Sennecke
Iginla Luchanko Lindstrom
Desnoyers Beaudoin Bear
Roobroeck

Schaefer Parekh
Dickinson Brunicke
Aitcheson Elick
DuPont

Ivankovic
Ravensbergen
Beckman

The fool clearly just focused on mostly picking the best players. As we learned from failed GM Peter Anholt, "it doesn't work like that."

 

[josra33]

Misa and Martone could both be with their respective NHL teams.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

This is Pronman's early projection for Canada in 2026. Article goes into detail on standouts and disappointments from the 2025 tournament, and yes the collective team Canada is the primary disappointment.

2025 World Juniors standouts and disappointments: USA’s top talent shines, Canada’s falls short again

McKenna Catton Martone
Misa McQueen Sennecke
Iginla Luchanko Lindstrom
Desnoyers Beaudoin Bear
Roobroeck

Schaefer Parekh
Dickinson Brunicke
Aitcheson Elick
DuPont

Ivankovic
Ravensbergen
Beckman

The fool clearly just focused on mostly picking the best players. As we learned from failed GM Peter Anholt, "it doesn't work like that."

Half these players will be in the NHL and not released for the WJC lmao

 

[CapsFans]

I'd run something like this (excluding Celebrini)

Mckenna Catton Martone
M.Misa Lindstrom Sennecke
T.Iginla McQueen Hage
Bear Luchanko Greentree

Schaefer Brunicke
Dickinson Parekh
J.Smith Dupont

George
Ravensbergen
Ivankovic

13th F and 7th D: Walton, Reid

Health Scratches: Desnoyers, Verhoeff

I'd assume other players other than Celebrini won't be available so this might be a little optimistic.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Hopefully someone that is a proven winner at the CHL level or stalwarts like the Hunters are named and not some mediocre Hockey Canada lifer that’s never won anything as has been the case recently

 

[1Gold Standard]

View attachment 975861
Hopefully someone that is a proven winner at the CHL level or stalwarts like the Hunters are named and not some mediocre Hockey Canada lifer that’s never won anything as has been the case recently

It's a good move...depending on who they hire. word of advice to any prospective GM...when in the room discussing players and player selection with the coaching staff, lock Scott Salmond out of the room, please. That would be a step in the right direction.

 

[JackSlater]

View attachment 975861
Hopefully someone that is a proven winner at the CHL level or stalwarts like the Hunters are named and not some mediocre Hockey Canada lifer that’s never won anything as has been the case recently

That's good news depending on the right hire. A proven winner, not someone who just knows people who work at Hockey Canada.

It's a good move...depending on who they hire. word of advice to any prospective GM...when in the room discussing players and player selection with the coaching staff, lock Scott Salmond out of the room, please. That would be a step in the right direction.

That would be ideal, yes. At least this signals that the heat is on.

 

[JackSlater]

Let it happen NHL.

Misa Celebrini Martone
McKenna Catton Sennecke
Desnoyers Lindstrom Hage
Boisvert Luchanko Iginla
Beaudoin

Schaefer Brunicke
Smith Parekh
Dickinson DuPont
Aitcheson

Some combination of George, Ravensbergen, Ivankovic

 

[WarriorofTime]

Let it happen NHL.

Misa Celebrini Martone
McKenna Catton Sennecke
Desnoyers Lindstrom Hage
Boisvert Luchanko Iginla
Beaudoin

Schaefer Brunicke
Smith Parekh
Dickinson DuPont
Aitcheson

Some combination of George, Ravensbergen, Ivankovic

Can't imagine Celebrini going back for the WJC when he already missed it this year and his NHL spot is very safe. TBD on Schaefer and Misa. Some rumors on Misa maybe holding off on signing an ELC right away?

 

[JackSlater]

Can't imagine Celebrini going back for the WJC when he already missed it this year and his NHL spot is very safe. TBD on Schaefer and Misa. Some rumors on Misa maybe holding off on signing an ELC right away?

I don't actually expect that team to show up by any stretch. Celebrini won't be there and inevitably a few other drafted players won't be there. Players have a wider array of development options now, hopefully good choices are made. I'm hoping to see fewer Bensons and Drysdales in the NHL when they shouldn't be.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[DJB]

Don’t screw it up this year Hockey Canada

 

[kyle44]

Some news from Stephane Leroux for the 2026 tournament. Some information we already knew, some entirely new.

1. Hockey Canada wants to appoint a full-time vice-president of hockey and a full-time GM to oversee the U-18 and U-20 programs. To quote Salmond, these two appointments should be former or current junior team managers and preferably these two positions would be filled by bilingual individuals.

2. Hockey Canada is looking an organize an event involving the best players from the three CHL leagues to compare the different candidates, preferably in November.

3. Looking to hold the selection camp in November instead of December to allow players to return to play games with their respective junior teams between camp and the start of the tournament's pre-tournament games. That way, the team could get together around December 19 or 20, rather than the 8th or 9th.

Article is here in French: Chronique de Stéphane Leroux : Ça va bouger chez Hockey Canada | RDS

 

[JackSlater]

Some news from Stephane Leroux for the 2026 tournament. Some information we already knew, some entirely new.

1. Hockey Canada wants to appoint a full-time vice-president of hockey and a full-time GM to oversee the U-18 and U-20 programs. To quote Salmond, these two appointments should be former or current junior team managers and preferably these two positions would be filled by bilingual individuals.

2. Hockey Canada is looking an organize an event involving the best players from the three CHL leagues to compare the different candidates, preferably in November.

3. Looking to hold the selection camp in November instead of December to allow players to return to play games with their respective junior teams between camp and the start of the tournament's pre-tournament games. That way, the team could get together around December 19 or 20, rather than the 8th or 9th.

Article is here in French: Chronique de Stéphane Leroux : Ça va bouger chez Hockey Canada | RDS

Interesting, Leroux has become a very strong WJC source.

1. We heard this before and it is a good idea... if they hire well. Someone who has won before, not a career loser like Anholt. I'd also be wary of tendencies Hockey Canada showed this past year where they clearly fixated on U18 performance and ignored development in the year or two since when it came to picking the team. No one should care whether the GM is bilingual.

2. Good. They have not adequately replaced the super series and should have done so by now. They should find a way to incorporate NCAA players into the teams where necessary, as there are legitimate WJC candidates from Canada in the NCAA every year.

3. I don't see the point. Just move the camp back a few days if it is an issue. More significant would be having a legitimate camp.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Some news from Stephane Leroux for the 2026 tournament. Some information we already knew, some entirely new.

1. Hockey Canada wants to appoint a full-time vice-president of hockey and a full-time GM to oversee the U-18 and U-20 programs. To quote Salmond, these two appointments should be former or current junior team managers and preferably these two positions would be filled by bilingual individuals.

2. Hockey Canada is looking an organize an event involving the best players from the three CHL leagues to compare the different candidates, preferably in November.

3. Looking to hold the selection camp in November instead of December to allow players to return to play games with their respective junior teams between camp and the start of the tournament's pre-tournament games. That way, the team could get together around December 19 or 20, rather than the 8th or 9th.

Article is here in French: Chronique de Stéphane Leroux : Ça va bouger chez Hockey Canada | RDS

It’s a good idea to hire a full time GM. I’m not particularly bothered by which language they speak, just that they’ve had a history of winning league or memorial cup championships. Next year will be the deepest pool of players to pick from that I can remember, so hopefully they get this right

 

[Mathieukferland]

This and the fact Dave Cameron couldn’t get his own team into an 8 team playoff in a 10 team conference highlights the absurdity of what happened in the winter. I’m keen to see who the full time GM ends up being, the emphasis needs to be placed on winners and recent winners for that matter

 

[TheBeastCoast]

This and the fact Dave Cameron couldn’t get his own team into an 8 team playoff in a 10 team conference highlights the absurdity of what happened in the winter. I’m keen to see who the full time GM ends up being, the emphasis needs to be placed on winners and recent winners for that matter

I am banging down the door for them to name MacDougall the head coach of this team. The guy literally just wins everywhere he goes lol

 

[JackSlater]

This and the fact Dave Cameron couldn’t get his own team into an 8 team playoff in a 10 team conference highlights the absurdity of what happened in the winter. I’m keen to see who the full time GM ends up being, the emphasis needs to be placed on winners and recent winners for that matter

If there is one thing that Canada 2025 did not need, it was goals. If there was another thing that Canada 2025 didn't need, it was practice.

I am banging down the door for them to name MacDougall the head coach of this team. The guy literally just wins everywhere he goes lol

In his first season as a CHL coach, MacDougall's team destroyed its league and easily won the regular season championship. In their careers, Cameron and Anholt have never coached or managed a league champion in the CHL.

 

[macbowes]

McKenna-Catton-Martone
Iginla-Misa-Sennecke
Bear-Lindstrom-O'Brien
Lakovic-Martin-McQueen
Reschny, Desnoyers

Schaefer-Brunicke
Dickinson-Parekh
Smith-Verhoeff
Aicheson-Danford

George
Ravensbergen
Ivankovic

I'm assuming that Luchanko is in the NHL, but that's basically just based off of vibes, and nothing else. The lines and pairings are mostly random. Up front, I expect McKenna, Catton, Martone, and Misa to get the most minutes, but this mix of players is versatile, and I think you could build this lineup many different ways. Lots of strong two-way players that can play both C, and W. On defense, I expect Schaefer and Dickinson to play the most minutes, but apart from that, it's hard to say. Goaltenders seem pretty set, although Ivankovic's spot is perhaps the most precarious.

Early on I think the team looks pretty strong, assuming health. McKenna and Catton were arguably the two most dynamic forwards on the team last year, and I assume that will continue to be the case this year. McKenna is going to need to score a lot more than 1 point if Canada wants to win gold. This roster could do what the previous two have failed to do.

 

[JackSlater]

McKenna-Catton-Martone
Iginla-Misa-Sennecke
Bear-Lindstrom-O'Brien
Lakovic-Martin-McQueen
Reschny, Desnoyers

Schaefer-Brunicke
Dickinson-Parekh
Smith-Verhoeff
Aicheson-Danford

George
Ravensbergen
Ivankovic

I'm assuming that Luchanko is in the NHL, but that's basically just based off of vibes, and nothing else. The lines and pairings are mostly random. Up front, I expect McKenna, Catton, Martone, and Misa to get the most minutes, but this mix of players is versatile, and I think you could build this lineup many different ways. Lots of strong two-way players that can play both C, and W. On defense, I expect Schaefer and Dickinson to play the most minutes, but apart from that, it's hard to say. Goaltenders seem pretty set, although Ivankovic's spot is perhaps the most precarious.

Early on I think the team looks pretty strong, assuming health. McKenna and Catton were arguably the two most dynamic forwards on the team last year, and I assume that will continue to be the case this year. McKenna is going to need to score a lot more than 1 point if Canada wants to win gold. This roster could do what the previous two have failed to do.

That would be a great team, the big question for now is which players will be unavailable due to the NHL. Celebrini will obviously be gone, and while he should not be in the NHL I agree that Luchanko may end up there. There is always pressure to put the first overall pick in the NHL, but if it end up being Schaefer I really think that would be a mistake given size and missed time this year. I'd guess that Misa has solid odds to make the NHL next year since he is a winger (less of a liability concern) and has good size, plus he has already completed three years in the OHL. Martone has NHL size but could probably use more time at a lower level to develop his offence. I also wonder whether Calgary or San Jose will be tempted to keep Parekh and Dickinson with the NHL teams given their scoring (and Dickinson's size). Even Catton wouldn't be a shocking choice to make the NHL, but at his size I think it would be a mistake.

I'm also hoping that Hockey Canada takes a legitimate look at the quality NCAA players that are available. Hage and Boisvert, but also apparently Lindstrom and perhaps more. The goal is to win, not to focus on any league.

The good thing for Canada is that this year, even if say Celebrini, Luchanko, Schaefer, Misa, Martone, and another 2024 draft player (Catton, Parekh, Dickinson etc.) are unavailable it should still be a very strong team. Good goaltending and good depth are a recipe for success at this tournament. Hockey Canada has to avoid atrocious coaching and roster decisions, which needs to be explicitly stated after 2025, but other than that it should be a very good team.