Are we in Canada paranoid about 2026 or should we not be worried?

[Imgoingtowork]

I know posters worry about the lack of superstar flash on Team Canada but it was Canadians, not Tkachuk or Barkov, who came thru with Florida's scoring in Game 7. Of course, Edmonton was 75% Canadian.

The team we send in 2026 will be a nice mix of young and old - although, I wish we had more players in the sweet spot of 25 - 29. Once we get past 2026's Best on Best, we have a TON of talent on the horizon so NO worries there.

Anything can happen in a "one game and out" but if you had to bet on one team to win (Best on Best), would you really bet against our group?

My final team...

Hyman-McDavid*-Johnston
LAF-MacKinnon-Thomas*
Reinhart-Crosby*-Point
Verhaeghe-Stamkos*-Marner
Horvat*

* Take Faceoffs

Options : Barzal/Jarvis/Stone/Scheifele/RNH/Byfield/Bedard/Bennett/Tavares/Suzuki/Sillinger

Toews-Makar
Morrisey-Dobson
Theodore-Montour
Harley-Tanev
Doughty/Bouchard

Skinner
Hill
Binnington.

Captain : McDavid
A's : MacKinnon, Crosby, Makar

**

According to Bob MacKenzie's final Draft list, 18 of his Top 32 1st round draft picks in 2024 are Canadian. Not too shabby.

Stamkos has played far too long in the national team, all know top four centers McDavid, MacKinnon, Bedard and Crosby, a Crosby in the checking line as a defensive center sounds excellent.

 

[ORRFForever]

Stamkos has played far too long in the national team, all know top four centers McDavid, MacKinnon, Bedard and Crosby, a Crosby in the checking line as a defensive center sounds excellent.

It's Stamkos' faceoff prowess that convinced me to include him.

 

[Imgoingtowork]

It's Stamkos' faceoff prowess that convinced me to include him.

Bedard had scoring success in debut season last season.

 

[Imgoingtowork]

Last mock for the summer. Skinner in line to start, Lafrenière draws in for Verhaeghe. Stacked team and more solid picture around goaltending with Skinner’s good finish to the playoffs

Marchand-Crosby-MacKinnon
Hyman-McDavid-Bédard
Johnston-Point-Lafrenière
Stone-Thomas-Reinhart

(Horvat, Byfield, Stamkos, Suzuki, Jarvis, Konecny, Marner, Barzal, Hagel, Verhaeghe, Scheifele)

McDavid, MacKinnon, Bedard and Crosby easy top 4 centers.

 

[ORRFForever]

Bedard had scoring success in debut season last season.

Fair enough. It's just Stamkos is amazing in the dot and I think Bedard is a few years away.

 

[Nucks2001]

Fair enough. It's just Stamkos is amazing in the dot and I think Bedard is a few years away.

I ageee that Bedard will take a few years to get better in the circle. With that being said, I would rather have Robert Thomas or Point Centring the 4th line and move Bedard to the wing somewhere in the top 6. I don’t think Stamkos belongs on the team, but he wouldn’t be a bad option for the 2nd PP unit.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I ageee that Bedard will take a few years to get better in the circle. With that being said, I would rather have Robert Thomas or Point Centring the 4th line and move Bedard to the wing somewhere in the top 6. I don’t think Stamkos belongs on the team, but he wouldn’t be a bad option for the 2nd PP unit.

I would be surprised if Bedard doesn't make the 4 Nations Cup team, even if its as a 13th/14th forward that only dresses for a few games. If Armstrong approaches the 4 Nations Cup as a proof of concept for the main event (the 2026 Olympics), which I hope he does, he'll find a spot for Bedard in order to get him exposure to best-on-best play as I can envision him being a fairly key piece in 2026.

Stamkos surely won't hurt Canada's chances at winning the 4 Nations Cup, but I don't think he necessarily puts us over the top either. He's still a very good player that can play on the wing on any of our 4 lines. My preference is that Armstrong goes with some youth at the depth positions for the 4 Nations Cup, in lieu of guys like Stamkos, Stone, Scheifele, and a few other veterans that wouldn't really move the needle in terms of terms of Canada winning the tournament and would take away roster spots from younger players who could use the experience.

 

[ORRFForever]

I would be surprised if Bedard doesn't make the 4 Nations Cup team, even if its as a 13th/14th forward that only dresses for a few games. If Armstrong approaches the 4 Nations Cup as a proof of concept for the main event (the 2026 Olympics), which I hope he does, he'll find a spot for Bedard in order to get him exposure to best-on-best play as I can envision him being a fairly key piece in 2026.

Stamkos surely won't hurt Canada's chances at winning the 4 Nations Cup, but I don't think he necessarily puts us over the top either. He's still a very good player that can play on the wing on any of our 4 lines. My preference is that Armstrong goes with some youth at the depth positions for the 4 Nations Cup, in lieu of guys like Stamkos, Stone, Scheifele, and a few other veterans that wouldn't really move the needle in terms of terms of Canada winning the tournament and would take away roster spots from younger players who could use the experience.

It's a tough call. Players from the Golden Generation are still great!

 

[ORRFForever]

Congrats on winning Gold, boys...

 

[waitin425]

Hyman - McDavid - Bedard
Crosby - Mackinnon - Marner
Stamkos - Point - Reinhart
Lafreniere - Suzuki - Stone

 

[ORRFForever]

Hyman - McDavid - Bedard
Crosby - Mackinnon - Marner
Stamkos - Point - Reinhart
Lafreniere - Suzuki - Stone

Good lineup.

Amazing how LAF has jumped past Byfield in the last 6 months on so many people's teams.

 

[ORRFForever]

(* Mods, PLEASE do not remove. Hockey is over and this is amazing.)

Canada won a 3rd straight IFAF U20 World Championship
3-Peat for Canada !!!! (* Football's version of the WJR's. *)

Who knew? Canada : Not just hockey any more !!!

https://3downnation.com/2024/06/30/canada-beats-japan-to-claim-third-consecutive-ifaf-world-junior-championship-gold-medal/

Canada wins U20 football championship | CityNews Edmonton

Canada has claimed top honours for the third consecutive time at the IFAF U20 World Junior Football Championships.

edmonton.citynews.ca

Tournament Champions​

• 2009 — USA over Canada in Canton, Ohio
• 2012 — Canada over USA in Austin, Texas
• 2014 — USA over Canada in Kuwait
• 2016 — Canada over USA in Harbin, China
• 2018 — Canada over Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico
• 2020 — In Vancouver cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
• 2024 — Canada over Japan in Edmonton, Canada

"With the NFL’s Lombardi Trophy in the house, Canada and Japan battled to one of the lowest-scoring games of the tournament, with the Canadian’s ending up victorious, taking the game 20-9."

I do remember when we won in 2012 in Texas...

Canada wins gold at IFAF U19 World Championship, defeating US 23-17 in finals - Football Canada

Football Canada’s Junior National Team jumped out to a 10-0 first half lead it would never relinquish and went on

footballcanada.com

People at the game were shocked. No one thought Canada would come close in 2012. Since then, I guess we've been doing REALLY well ! Nice!

 

[ORRFForever]

Nice...

 

[ORRFForever]

I miss hockey.

 

[MeHateHe]

I miss hockey.

Australian Ice Hockey League - Powered By esportsdesk.com

www.theaihl.com

 

[Mathieukferland]

This is a good draw; seeing as everyone qualifies for the next round, it’s good to get a test early in the tournament.

 

[WayTooCold]

If Canada cares even 10% we will win gold 100 out of 100. We let a Euros to win a few so they don't look so sad in like in 2006. Look at McDavid, MacKinnon, Bedard and Crosby ... That's 100% sure gold!

Maybe you could spread Russian talent in euro teams but it would still not be even close.

 

[ORRFForever]

If Canada cares even 10% we will win gold 100 out of 100. We let a Euros to win a few so they don't look so sad in like in 2006. Look at McDavid, MacKinnon, Bedard and Crosby ... That's 100% sure gold!

Maybe you could spread Russian talent in euro teams but it would still not be even close.

I hope you're right.

 

[ORRFForever]

Looking at the 1st round in 2025 and 2026, as a Canadian, it's hard not to feel... well... GREAT!

After 2019, Canada turned the corner and became the Canada of the past cranking off strong draft after strong draft. We've averaged 15 first round picks between 2020 and 2024 and in 2025 we're likely to exceed that number - we could be in the 20 range. 1st round picks in 2026 look great as well.

As I've said many times, reports of Hockey Canada's death are greatly exaggerated.

 

[Nucks2001]

Wondering if Canada should just absolutely stack their Top-6 and play the crap out of them. Roll with skilled guys that can play shut-down roles in their bottom 6 for them to have a serious chance of winning 4-Nations. Something like this might be the best line-up:

Crosby-McDavid-MacKinnon
Bedard-Point-Marner
Marchand-Thomas-Reinhart
Danault-Suzuki-Barzal (inject some speed for this line)

OR

Crosby-McDavid-Bedard
Point-MacKinnon-Marner
Marchand-Thomas-Reinhart
Danault-Suzuki-Barzal



Wyatt Johnston or Byfield as your 13th and hoping for one of them to be an X-Factor. You have one of the best shut-down centres in Danault. Skilled match-up guys in Point, Thomas and Suzuki. No Zach Hyman may be the biggest “?” But if you’re stacking your top 6 like this, there’s just no role for him, especially if you already have Marchand and Reinhart as your PK wingers.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Crosby-McDavid-MacKinnon

lol good luck everybody else

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

lol good luck everybody else

McDavid knows something about being let down by Stuart “the sieve” Skinner.

 

[JackSlater]

McDavid knows something about being let down by Stuart “the sieve” Skinner.

And a defence that doesn't match up to the forwards.

 

[JianYang]

Re : "The 2023 draft was Canadian-laden, the 2024 draft especially in the 1st round is at least half Canadians, and the 2020-'23 drafts have been loaded with talent that will be on these teams. Players we aren't thinking about yet too."

From the 2020 draft on, we are more than fine. In fact, we are doing GREAT. And yes, the 2024 draft will be outstanding for Canada.

Remember, everything goes in cycles and other countries will have bad drafts - maybe 4 bad drafts in a row. When that time comes, expect Canada to jump ahead.

P.S. When Canada was <bleeping> the bed from 2016 - 2019, the U.S. was having some of their best drafts. 2016 is obscene with U.S. high end talent.

P.S.S. When Nick Suzuki (oy) is the best offensive players Canada produced from 2016 to 2019, we needed to hang our collective heads in shame.

I think Canada is great hockey nation and will continue to be that for the long run, but one note of significance is that the Americans have passed Canada in terms of registered youth players.

When you look at the kind of roster that the Americans can roll out, combined with the highest participation rates of any nation, we have to at least question how much longer Canada will be THE undisputed hockey power, but Canada remaining a powerful hockey nation is still not a question.

 

[Nucks2001]

I think Canada is great hockey nation and will continue to be that for the long run, but one note of significance is that the Americans have passed Canada in terms of registered youth players.

When you look at the kind of roster that the Americans can roll out, combined with the highest participation rates of any nation, we have to at least question how much longer Canada will be THE undisputed hockey power, but Canada remaining a powerful hockey nation is still not a question.

exactly my point. Canada will always be a strong hockey nation, but I think we are final reaching a hockey equilibrium with the United States. It was bound to happen as the USA has a larger population, more money to go around, the success and NHL attrition of the NDTP, the NHL marketing the game extensively to the States,Hockey Canada has lagging the in development (goaltending) and failed to diversify the game to the growing immigrant population, which is expected to account for 50% of Canada’s growth in the next 15 years.