World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[Pavel Buchnevich]

That is a good one.

Autocorrect is a big Bruins fan, what can I say?

 

[jj cale]

Autocorrect is a big Bruins fan, what can I say?

 

[Voight]

I think this is fair. If you look up and down the Canadian lineup you see players that have elevated their games at crunch time and are winners. The U.S. lacks that, which is why I think they may include a guy like Patrick Kane even though his best days are behind him. Talent-wise, the U.S. is right there though.

Kane's also still a good offensive player even at his age, plus I think they wanna give him the chance to captain Team USA before his careers over.

 

[Dominance]

Seeing names like Barzal, Marchand, Stamkos - much less Nurse, what the f*** is that? - is sickening. There will be zero chemistry or wind-down going into this tournament from regular games, so the brass had better not f*** this up by doing anything other than taking the hot hand.

Hagel-McDavid-Reinhart
Point-MacKinnon-Marner
Scheifele-Crosby-Stone
Bennett-Suzuki-Konecny
Thomas/Lafreniere/Bedard

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Pietrangelo
Theodore-Dobson
Power/Bouchard, Parayko/Weegar

Binnington
Hofer
Talbot

A ton of Americans are significantly underperforming to date this season - guys like Matthews, Hughes, Robertson. That helps too as the Swedes and Finns look weak.

 

[JackSlater]

Seeing names like Barzal, Marchand, Stamkos - much less Nurse, what the f*** is that? - is sickening. There will be zero chemistry or wind-down going into this tournament from regular games, so the brass had better not f*** this up by doing anything other than taking the hot hand.

Hagel-McDavid-Reinhart
Point-MacKinnon-Marner
Scheifele-Crosby-Stone
Bennett-Suzuki-Konecny
Thomas/Lafreniere/Bedard

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Pietrangelo
Theodore-Dobson
Power/Bouchard, Parayko/Weegar

Binnington
Hofer
Talbot

A ton of Americans are significantly underperforming to date this season - guys like Matthews, Hughes, Robertson. That helps too as the Swedes and Finns look weak.

Marchand is already on the team. Stamkos shouldn't have been a consideration for a long time.

 

[JackSlater]

Lebrun put out an article about a sit down he had with Sweeney, mainly focused on team Canada but also Boston.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5903390/2024/11/07/don-sweeney-bruins-canada-4-nations/

This must have been announce but I didn't realize that Sweeney is running this team while Armstrong takes the 2026 Olympic team. Each of them is involved with each team though. Sweeney brought up an interesting issue as well, namely that they name the team in early December and then need to wait two months. A lot can happen ad they will need reserve players in case of injury. You'd have to think that most players are going to have vacation plans lined up for that break, so you need some guys who are willing to potentially hold off until a few days before this event.

 

[Great99]

It's difficult not to look at the potential lineups of the teams and not think....." gee, the U.S team should win this" It's pretty much got no weakness across the board and filled with top end guys at all positions up and down the lineup and most importantly........pretty much every guy that will be there are in their primes. When you add it all up it's normally a recipe for success. Canada has a 1995 feel to it, caught in that space where some of it's key players are in their twilight years like Crosby/Marchand/Gretzky/Messier and with one section of the team massively wanting ( goaltending this year and defense in 95) Thankfully we won't be understaffed up front like in 95 with Kariya and Lemieux missing. Fingers crossed on Mcdavid though.........and every other key player, we simply can't afford any key injuries.

So much Depth Canada have , i would not worry

 

[jj cale]

So much Depth Canada have , i would not worry

it's not depth I worry about.....it;s the roster itself compared to the U.S. We are definitely ripe for plucking at this point in time, which actually may not be the worst thing, every time that has happened in the past Canada has responded strongly.

You often learn more in your defeats then in your victories.

 

[JackSlater]

I've become resigned to Marner being on this team. I don't think he would make it in strong, or even typical, times for Canada but these are lean times. I don't see him fitting with McDavid or Crosby. I could see him working with MacKinnon or Point, speedy centres who could give and go with him, don't need the pick all the time, and also strong goal scorers.

 

[JackSlater]

This is what I'd probably go with for Canada right now. My eye is toward preparing for the 2026 Olympics as best as possible, and with that in mind I wanted to go young but guys like Byfield, Johnston, and Fantilli made that difficult for me.

Lafreniere McDavid Reinhart
Hagel* MacKinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone*
Bedard/O'Reilly Thomas Point
O'Reilly/Bedard *Konecny/Bennett

Toews Makar
Morrissey Parayko/Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
*Dobson/Parayko *Power

Who the f*** knows about goalies.

There are a few thoughts here. Canada has to play to its strengths, namely McDavid/MacKinnon/Crosby plus Makar. The team should also go for versatility when possible, as good teams can win in a number of ways. I'd like to lean younger, as I said. McDavid is the best player Canada has and Reinhart is Canada's best winger, plus he should fit well with McDavid by providing defensive support and being able to contribute with a playmaker at centre. I went with Lafreniere because he is having a solid year, projects to be even better by the 2026 Olympics, and he's used to playing with a puck dominant linemate in Panarin. Canada can use his size as well, and it is a plus here that he is historically mainly a producer at even strength. MacKinnon is the focal point of the second line. I think his game could work with Marner as a wing playmaker who provides some of the defence that MacKinnon won't. Hagel knows how to play with elite players and contribute, and while I don't love the choice there aren't that many options. I strongly considered going with Bennett here.

I think that Crosby and Marchand are bound to play together. For as much complaining as there is around Marchand, if he is kept to a reasonably low amount of minutes and he goes all out (Boston may be going nowhere this year) then he could be a good contributor, plus he's a guy who knows how to contribute to his team and take away from the other team. Stone is having a strong year, Canada could use his size, his defensive presence would be an asset, and sadly no young right side option took this spot from him. I'd still pick Thomas regardless of his injury. This event isn't until February, so Thomas should have been back for over a month. He's also very likely Canada's fourth best centre, and I feel confident that he will be there in 2026 anyway with Armstrong picking the team. Point is a good C/RW option who can go anywhere throughout the lineup and is a good goal scorer who can fit with Thomas as a playmaker. I put Bedard on the LW for a few reasons - he needs the reps heading into the 2026 Olympic season as a young guy, he has Canada's best wrist shot, and the left side is weak. I'd take O'Reilly as the spare who would also get shifts on other lines at LW because Canada needs a penalty killing C option other than Thomas. Konecny and Bennett are spares who could sub in at RW or LW respectively and could take someone's spot over the next few weeks. Konecny is a good even strength scorer, brings grit, and kills penalties, and Bennett brings a physical side that could be useful while having a strong year this year.

Defence revolves around Makar and Morrissey, and Canada probably needs them to be as Bourque and Coffey were in the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups. I generally don't believe that NHL "chemistry" carries over to international tournaments outside of a very small number of exceptions (Getzlaf/Perry for one) but in this case it helps that Canada can bring over two pairings directly and that three of them would make the team even without their partner. Makar is the best defenceman in hockey and while I don't think that Toews is that good, you know what you are getting by putting Toews there and it's necessary that Toews can kill penalties. Morrissey is the anchor of the second pairing and I'd give him different partners depending on game situations. I've liked Dobson's game for years and I like him as a right side option with room to grow by the 2026 Olympics. He isn't having a tremendous year so far but I definitely prefer him to Bouchard. Parayko is another right sided option and honestly Canada needs someone like him to play significant penalty kill minutes and give the defence some size. Theodore and Pietrangelo is a strong pairing and Pietrangelo brings some experience to a youngish defensive core. I included Power as another option because his skillset/size is tempting, even though he is a frustrating player, and he could be a good investment for 2026. Power would likely replace Dobson.

Goaltending is a mess, the worst Canada has ever been. I'd take Binnington because you know he will at least be selected for the 2026 Olympic team and outside of that who knows. Wait as long as possible and see who is playing well. I'd give some boost to Kuemper because he's both been a Stanley Cup winning goaltender and won the iihf world championship in recent years.

Special teams will probably be key for Canada with the power play giving Canada's best chance use its primary advantage - by far the best top three players of any country. I'd look at something like this:

Reinhart
MacKinnon Point McDavid
Makar

And I would hope that that unit gets used heavily. I'd end power plays with Crosby's line to carry things over to even strength. Penalty kill would be built around Toews/Makar and Pietrangelo/Parayko, with Thomas and O'Reilly as the centres and plenty of winger options like Marchand, Marner, Stone etc.

This is far from the most talented edition of team Canada at this level. At the very least the team is stocked with a lot of players who have won and contributed to winning at the highest level. By my count 12 of those skaters (not the spares) have won a Stanley Cup, 11 have won the WJC, 8 have won the iihf WC, and 3 have won a best on best (type) tournament. Toews is the only one without real international experience at a major tournament. I at least would not expect this team to be intimidated by a big moment or talented team.

 

[centipede2233]

I wonder if hyman and Tom Wilson will make it. Washington is off to a good start wilson being really good, perfect 4th line guy or even top 6

 

[jigglysquishy]

I really like a Reinhart McDavid pairing. Reinhart has arguably the best nose to the net goalscoring ability for Canada. And a tremendous shot

 

[Caroline Says ll]

Forward wise there are no worries, the forward group is stacked.

The goaltending is very concerning as this is not the same defence corp which will hold the opposition to less that 25 shots on goal in every game but one like in the Olympics.

 

[Nucks2001]

I really like a Reinhart McDavid pairing. Reinhart has arguably the best nose to the net goalscoring ability for Canada. And a tremendous shot

Agreed. I think the most logical 1st line for Canada is Crosby instead of Hyman on the first line for a line of Crosby-McDavid-Reinhart

 

[Nucks2001]

This is what I'd probably go with for Canada right now. My eye is toward preparing for the 2026 Olympics as best as possible, and with that in mind I wanted to go young but guys like Byfield, Johnston, and Fantilli made that difficult for me.

Lafreniere McDavid Reinhart
Hagel* MacKinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone*
Bedard/O'Reilly Thomas Point
O'Reilly/Bedard *Konecny/Bennett

Toews Makar
Morrissey Parayko/Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
*Dobson/Parayko *Power

Who the f*** knows about goalies.

There are a few thoughts here. Canada has to play to its strengths, namely McDavid/MacKinnon/Crosby plus Makar. The team should also go for versatility when possible, as good teams can win in a number of ways. I'd like to lean younger, as I said. McDavid is the best player Canada has and Reinhart is Canada's best winger, plus he should fit well with McDavid by providing defensive support and being able to contribute with a playmaker at centre. I went with Lafreniere because he is having a solid year, projects to be even better by the 2026 Olympics, and he's used to playing with a puck dominant linemate in Panarin. Canada can use his size as well, and it is a plus here that he is historically mainly a producer at even strength. MacKinnon is the focal point of the second line. I think his game could work with Marner as a wing playmaker who provides some of the defence that MacKinnon won't. Hagel knows how to play with elite players and contribute, and while I don't love the choice there aren't that many options. I strongly considered going with Bennett here.

I think that Crosby and Marchand are bound to play together. For as much complaining as there is around Marchand, if he is kept to a reasonably low amount of minutes and he goes all out (Boston may be going nowhere this year) then he could be a good contributor, plus he's a guy who knows how to contribute to his team and take away from the other team. Stone is having a strong year, Canada could use his size, his defensive presence would be an asset, and sadly no young right side option took this spot from him. I'd still pick Thomas regardless of his injury. This event isn't until February, so Thomas should have been back for over a month. He's also very likely Canada's fourth best centre, and I feel confident that he will be there in 2026 anyway with Armstrong picking the team. Point is a good C/RW option who can go anywhere throughout the lineup and is a good goal scorer who can fit with Thomas as a playmaker. I put Bedard on the LW for a few reasons - he needs the reps heading into the 2026 Olympic season as a young guy, he has Canada's best wrist shot, and the left side is weak. I'd take O'Reilly as the spare who would also get shifts on other lines at LW because Canada needs a penalty killing C option other than Thomas. Konecny and Bennett are spares who could sub in at RW or LW respectively and could take someone's spot over the next few weeks. Konecny is a good even strength scorer, brings grit, and kills penalties, and Bennett brings a physical side that could be useful while having a strong year this year.

Defence revolves around Makar and Morrissey, and Canada probably needs them to be as Bourque and Coffey were in the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups. I generally don't believe that NHL "chemistry" carries over to international tournaments outside of a very small number of exceptions (Getzlaf/Perry for one) but in this case it helps that Canada can bring over two pairings directly and that three of them would make the team even without their partner. Makar is the best defenceman in hockey and while I don't think that Toews is that good, you know what you are getting by putting Toews there and it's necessary that Toews can kill penalties. Morrissey is the anchor of the second pairing and I'd give him different partners depending on game situations. I've liked Dobson's game for years and I like him as a right side option with room to grow by the 2026 Olympics. He isn't having a tremendous year so far but I definitely prefer him to Bouchard. Parayko is another right sided option and honestly Canada needs someone like him to play significant penalty kill minutes and give the defence some size. Theodore and Pietrangelo is a strong pairing and Pietrangelo brings some experience to a youngish defensive core. I included Power as another option because his skillset/size is tempting, even though he is a frustrating player, and he could be a good investment for 2026. Power would likely replace Dobson.

Goaltending is a mess, the worst Canada has ever been. I'd take Binnington because you know he will at least be selected for the 2026 Olympic team and outside of that who knows. Wait as long as possible and see who is playing well. I'd give some boost to Kuemper because he's both been a Stanley Cup winning goaltender and won the iihf world championship in recent years.

Special teams will probably be key for Canada with the power play giving Canada's best chance use its primary advantage - by far the best top three players of any country. I'd look at something like this:

Reinhart
MacKinnon Point McDavid
Makar

And I would hope that that unit gets used heavily. I'd end power plays with Crosby's line to carry things over to even strength. Penalty kill would be built around Toews/Makar and Pietrangelo/Parayko, with Thomas and O'Reilly as the centres and plenty of winger options like Marchand, Marner, Stone etc.

This is far from the most talented edition of team Canada at this level. At the very least the team is stocked with a lot of players who have won and contributed to winning at the highest level. By my count 12 of those skaters (not the spares) have won a Stanley Cup, 11 have won the WJC, 8 have won the iihf WC, and 3 have won a best on best (type) tournament. Toews is the only one without real international experience at a major tournament. I at least would not expect this team to be intimidated by a big moment or talented team.

By far the best roster and rationale I’ve seen on here. Only problem I have is with Sam Bennett and Colton Parayko, but I understand the reasons as to why you have them listed. You’re right in that this Canada’s weakest roster, which is funny considering that we have 3 of the best players in the tournament (McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar). In some ways, I hope we lose so Hockey Canada does a double take.
Everyone talks about goaltending, but I would like to see some of the other positions develop. There is a lack of wingers and defensive defencemen. Yes, rich Canadian families will always produce generational talents. However, I’d like kids who play at local minor hockey associations to receive the resources and funding that they deserve. Growing the game at a grassroots level is so important at keeping interest in this Country. It seems nowindays the only way to make it to Major Junior, let alone the NHL, is by going to some of the fanciest prep academies in the country and investing thousands into power skating and private training. It might be impossible given today’s economic circumstances, but some efforts should be made.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Absolutely stacked upfront, elite but not best in tournament on d and relatively weak in goal.

Will be interesting to see the end-selections. I’d probably have the following today.


Hyman McDavid Reinhart
Point Mackinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone
Bedard Scheifele Konecny
Suzuki

Toews Makar
Morrisey Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
Weegar

Skinner
Binnington
Hill


Bubble: Lafreniere, Thomas, Johnston, Horvat, Doughty, Bouchard

 

[Nucks2001]

Absolutely stacked upfront, elite but not best in tournament on d and relatively weak in goal.

Will be interesting to see the end-selections. I’d probably have the following today.


Hyman McDavid Reinhart
Point Mackinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone
Bedard Scheifele Konecny
Suzuki

Toews Makar
Morrisey Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
Weegar

Skinner
Binnington
Hill


Bubble: Lafreniere, Thomas, Johnston, Horvat, Doughty, Bouchard

Rather have Thomas, ROR, Suzuki or Johnston as the 4th line center. Don’t really trust Scheifele.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

This is what I'd probably go with for Canada right now. My eye is toward preparing for the 2026 Olympics as best as possible, and with that in mind I wanted to go young but guys like Byfield, Johnston, and Fantilli made that difficult for me.

Lafreniere McDavid Reinhart
Hagel* MacKinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone*
Bedard/O'Reilly Thomas Point
O'Reilly/Bedard *Konecny/Bennett

Toews Makar
Morrissey Parayko/Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
*Dobson/Parayko *Power

Who the f*** knows about goalies.

There are a few thoughts here. Canada has to play to its strengths, namely McDavid/MacKinnon/Crosby plus Makar. The team should also go for versatility when possible, as good teams can win in a number of ways. I'd like to lean younger, as I said. McDavid is the best player Canada has and Reinhart is Canada's best winger, plus he should fit well with McDavid by providing defensive support and being able to contribute with a playmaker at centre. I went with Lafreniere because he is having a solid year, projects to be even better by the 2026 Olympics, and he's used to playing with a puck dominant linemate in Panarin. Canada can use his size as well, and it is a plus here that he is historically mainly a producer at even strength. MacKinnon is the focal point of the second line. I think his game could work with Marner as a wing playmaker who provides some of the defence that MacKinnon won't. Hagel knows how to play with elite players and contribute, and while I don't love the choice there aren't that many options. I strongly considered going with Bennett here.

I think that Crosby and Marchand are bound to play together. For as much complaining as there is around Marchand, if he is kept to a reasonably low amount of minutes and he goes all out (Boston may be going nowhere this year) then he could be a good contributor, plus he's a guy who knows how to contribute to his team and take away from the other team. Stone is having a strong year, Canada could use his size, his defensive presence would be an asset, and sadly no young right side option took this spot from him. I'd still pick Thomas regardless of his injury. This event isn't until February, so Thomas should have been back for over a month. He's also very likely Canada's fourth best centre, and I feel confident that he will be there in 2026 anyway with Armstrong picking the team. Point is a good C/RW option who can go anywhere throughout the lineup and is a good goal scorer who can fit with Thomas as a playmaker. I put Bedard on the LW for a few reasons - he needs the reps heading into the 2026 Olympic season as a young guy, he has Canada's best wrist shot, and the left side is weak. I'd take O'Reilly as the spare who would also get shifts on other lines at LW because Canada needs a penalty killing C option other than Thomas. Konecny and Bennett are spares who could sub in at RW or LW respectively and could take someone's spot over the next few weeks. Konecny is a good even strength scorer, brings grit, and kills penalties, and Bennett brings a physical side that could be useful while having a strong year this year.

Defence revolves around Makar and Morrissey, and Canada probably needs them to be as Bourque and Coffey were in the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups. I generally don't believe that NHL "chemistry" carries over to international tournaments outside of a very small number of exceptions (Getzlaf/Perry for one) but in this case it helps that Canada can bring over two pairings directly and that three of them would make the team even without their partner. Makar is the best defenceman in hockey and while I don't think that Toews is that good, you know what you are getting by putting Toews there and it's necessary that Toews can kill penalties. Morrissey is the anchor of the second pairing and I'd give him different partners depending on game situations. I've liked Dobson's game for years and I like him as a right side option with room to grow by the 2026 Olympics. He isn't having a tremendous year so far but I definitely prefer him to Bouchard. Parayko is another right sided option and honestly Canada needs someone like him to play significant penalty kill minutes and give the defence some size. Theodore and Pietrangelo is a strong pairing and Pietrangelo brings some experience to a youngish defensive core. I included Power as another option because his skillset/size is tempting, even though he is a frustrating player, and he could be a good investment for 2026. Power would likely replace Dobson.

Goaltending is a mess, the worst Canada has ever been. I'd take Binnington because you know he will at least be selected for the 2026 Olympic team and outside of that who knows. Wait as long as possible and see who is playing well. I'd give some boost to Kuemper because he's both been a Stanley Cup winning goaltender and won the iihf world championship in recent years.

Special teams will probably be key for Canada with the power play giving Canada's best chance use its primary advantage - by far the best top three players of any country. I'd look at something like this:

Reinhart
MacKinnon Point McDavid
Makar

And I would hope that that unit gets used heavily. I'd end power plays with Crosby's line to carry things over to even strength. Penalty kill would be built around Toews/Makar and Pietrangelo/Parayko, with Thomas and O'Reilly as the centres and plenty of winger options like Marchand, Marner, Stone etc.

This is far from the most talented edition of team Canada at this level. At the very least the team is stocked with a lot of players who have won and contributed to winning at the highest level. By my count 12 of those skaters (not the spares) have won a Stanley Cup, 11 have won the WJC, 8 have won the iihf WC, and 3 have won a best on best (type) tournament. Toews is the only one without real international experience at a major tournament. I at least would not expect this team to be intimidated by a big moment or talented team.

I like this team. I'm not sold on Bennett, but reading the tea leaves I can easily imagine either him or Wilson being selected. Both have the potential to be high-impact players for us in a short tournament, or present significant issues with penalties/discipline. I trust that the coaching staff will know how to deploy them appropriately.

I'd like to see Point in a more important ES role than #4RW. Personally I'd swap him for Stone to bring a little more speed to the Crosby line, but its a relatively minor point. I'm a big fan of Point and I think he can play top-6 minutes on Team Canada, but if Cooper decides to use Crosby as the matchup centre then it makes sense to have Stone and Marchand on his wings.

Reinhart on McDavid's wing also provides a RHS faceoff option for that top line, which is somewhat important.

 

[JackSlater]

I like this team. I'm not sold on Bennett, but reading the tea leaves I can easily imagine either him or Wilson being selected. Both have the potential to be high-impact players for us in a short tournament, or present significant issues with penalties/discipline. I trust that the coaching staff will know how to deploy them appropriately.

I'd like to see Point in a more important ES role than #4RW. Personally I'd swap him for Stone to bring a little more speed to the Crosby line, but its a relatively minor point. I'm a big fan of Point and I think he can play top-6 minutes on Team Canada, but if Cooper decides to use Crosby as the matchup centre then it makes sense to have Stone and Marchand on his wings.

Reinhart on McDavid's wing also provides a RHS faceoff option for that top line, which is somewhat important.

Point could move up, it wouldn't really matter. He'd be good with Crosby. In an ideal situation you'd have a right and left handed centre on each line, but that isn't always an option. If O'Reilly was with Thomas you'd have one of each, and having them available as PK centres also gives Canada a left and a right option depending on where the faceoff is.

Bennett is a spare right now for me but I do not love Canada's left side options and he would bring a unique element, which is good. I agree that Canada seems likely to have one forward there who will shake things up physically. I would like it if Bennett had played internationally since he was 18 but we don't have that. He is off to a strong start though and is not reliant on the power play for his offence.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Mac Mcd Marner
Laf Crosby Bedard
Marchand Point Reinhart
Byfield Thomas/Suzuki Barzal
Jonhston/Suzuki

Toews Makar
Morrissey Pietrangelo
Rielly Weeger/Doughty
Weeger/Theodore

Binnington
Hill

 

[weems]

LAF will be interesting to see if he gets selected or not.
I see him being listed in many mock lineups and it makes sense but then Fanduel actually has odds on who will make each team and LAF is curently +1100 to make the team. Now this is just a betting markets projection on things but still surprised me to see him with such long odds.

 

[TopCheese]

Bedard - Mcdavid - Reinhart
Marner - Crosby - Mackinnon
Koneckny - Point - Stone
Schiefele - Thomas - Lafreniere
Hyman / Verhaghe

Toews - Makar
Morrisey - Pietrangelo
Doughty - Dobson
Pelech / Bouchard

Binnington
Hill ?
Someone?

I think Canada brass will look at this as a 2026 Olympic rehearsal, with an eye toward the future. I think that lineup would beat anybody. The first 3 lines all have insane scoring, transition/ puck control and leadership. The 4th line is a bit of an x factor - probably the strongest 4th line in the tournament. We need guys like Konecky and Doughty to counteract the Tkachuk bullsheet that im sure we will have to deal with.

The defence is solidly 2nd best in the world. USA has better top 3 D but our depth is crazy good. Who the H3ll knows how the goaltending will shape out.

 

[DearDiary]

Crosby/McDavid vs Mackinnon/Marchand are their offseason teams. I would think it likely that chemistry goes to the tournament as well.

Crosby-McDavid-Stone
Marchand-Mackinnon-Reinhart
Lafreniere-Point-Marner
Bennett-Thomas-Konecny

 

[HFpapi]

Am I the only one who isn't convinced that the Team Canada brass will take Bedard?

For the record, I would have him on my team 100% but TC is historically very conservative and vet-heavy (even at the WJC level). They famously left Crosby, Staal, and Spezza off in '06.

I could easily see them taking a Stamkos, Scheifele, or Stone over Bedard.

Again, Bedard should be there if it were up to me but it's not like his play this season demands it either. 3 goals in 16 games for a guy who would be brought for his goal scoring from the wing, he hasn't exactly forced TC's hand.

 

[jigglysquishy]

He'll be on the team if they're treating it as a tryout for 2026. But they might just bring him to the World Championships again for experience.

Bedard hasn't played himself onto the team.