Olympics: Team Canada 2026

[Nucks2001]

Here is my prediction at this time:

Cirelli - McDavid (A) - Bedard
Strome - MacKinnon (A)- Marner
Hagel - Point - Reinhart
Suzuki - Crosby (C) - Celebrini
Schiefele
McMichael

Toews - Makar (A)
Morrissey - Pietrangelo
Theodore - Bouchard
Chychrun - Power

Hill
Binnington
Montembault

Wyatt Johnston was seriously being considered for 4-Nations according to management, I would definitely think he gets a look. Skilled player that can play bottom 6 minutes, PK and play C/W

Robert Thomas was another name that was on management's mocks until his injury in the fall.

I also think Crosby is too valueable to play a 4th line role for Canada. He's top 15 in scoring right now. Just amazes me.

 

[north21]

We are a year and a bit out from this tournament, and we will know who is on this team, this time next year.

There are various spots where I have seen predictions for Team Canada 2026 -- but there doesn't appear to be a dedicated thread.

4 Nations should be a good testing ground for some of the bubble players that they selected. I for one am hoping that Bedard and Celebrini play their way onto the Olympic squad.

Here is my prediction/hope at this time.

Crosby (C) - McDavid (A) - Bedard -- Pass the torch line. We deserve to see this.
Celebrini - MacKinnon (A)- Marner -- Disgusting amount of speed and skill.
Barzal - Point - Reinhart -- Again....Speed can kill and Reinhart can finish. Three killer lines.
Suzuki - Schiefele - Stone -- Defensive unit with a little bit of scoring prowess.
Konecny

Toews - Makar -- Keep the Avs two together.
Morrissey - Pietrangelo (A) -- Solid shut down pair with offensive capabilities and great breakout pass.
Theodore - Parayko -- another solid pair.
Bouchard -- Can be brought into lineup for booming shot and PP speciality.

Binnington
Hill
Montembault

This is a winning team and a team I can get behind. Much better than the dogs breakfast 4 Nation tournament

As an American this is the lineup I fear the most, except the goalies, I just kind of feel bad but it will be a short tournament so you just never know.

 

[Regal]

Wyatt Johnston was seriously being considered for 4-Nations according to management, I would definitely think he gets a look. Skilled player that can play bottom 6 minutes, PK and play C/W

Robert Thomas was another name that was on management's mocks until his injury in the fall.

I also think Crosby is too valueable to play a 4th line role for Canada. He's top 15 in scoring right now. Just amazes me.

And Johnston has gotten back on track after a slow start too. Has 25 in his last 27 with a point today. I imagine a strong finish to this year/start to next year will have him back in the mix

 

[Crosby2010]

I don’t think anyone is making as much noise about the 4-Nations roster for a couple reasons:

1. The 2006 Team did not have a McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby or Makar.

2. 4-Nations is being played on smaller NHL ice and I believe the 2026 Olympics is also being played on NHL ice from my understanding unlike the 2006 games.

3. Canada is not as deep as it once was and other countries (especially the USA) have gotten deeper. Still a lot of Canadian snubs, but not as many or the quality of past Canadian rosters. People know this and probably won’t criticize HC as much if Canada loses.


Now, if the 4-Nations team loses, people will definitely question the roster selections as it’s not the most skilled team that Canada could have iced, but also not the most grinder-esque team. An aging Marchand and Sam Bennett probably weren’t the best choices. Scheifele probably should have been on the team. The ‘06 snubs were much worse with Spezza, Staal, Kariya, and Savard. Crosby wasn’t that much of a snub, but he clearly should of been on the team looking back at it now. You would have liked to see Bedard or another young gun on the team, but overall it’s not the worst team forward-wise. Depending on goaltending, Logan Thompson will the loudest cry from fans if we botch it. Defensively, the ‘06 team’s main criticism was a lack of puck-moving D. We have Makar, Morrisey, Theodore, Pietrangelo instead of Bouwmeester, Foote, Regher, and McCabe (safe to say that won’t be an issue).

Unlike the 2006 team and I don’t want to jinx it, so I won’t say it. Our *Ahem* PlAYER AVAILABILITY is looking pretty good, fingers crossed. The 2006 team was missing a lot of players that were selected or would have otherwise made the team had they been available.

So you might be right about all of that. In years past there was a lot of top talent left off the team, like in the 1980s for example. Every Canada Cup had a lot of the "what?" picks on there. And there were scores of players left off the team who were good. If we were to name these players I think it has declined in recent years too. Let's do an example:

1996 - Mario, Bourque, Roy, Francis, Kariya, MacInnis, Pronger
2006 - Crosby, Staal, Spezza, Boyle, Niedermayer
2014 - Giroux, Letang, St. Louis (not initially picked)
2025 - Scheifele, Bouchard, Bedard, Dobson

I think if we look at it the 2025 team definitely has the least amount of omitted talent. Either we are picking our teams better, less guys are injured, or the talent pool is smaller than ever before.

 

[Regal]

It’ll be interesting to see how Doughty plays given his age and a pretty serious injury this year. He would have almost certainly been on the 4Nations team if he was playing this season like he did last year, and I think if he’s reasonably close to that level again he’ll get one last kick at the can next year