I think Marner locked in his spot tonight.
Olympics: Team Canada 2026
- Thread starter waitin425
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Personally I think this tournament did wonders for marner in that I’m sure he was told by other players don’t be afraid to go to areas where you might get hit. That pass to mcdavid marner was behind the goal line. Something he typically doesn’t do. I think his confidence in going to dirty areas or open ice areas where he might get an open ice hit on him he’s going to those areas now.
ORRFForever
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2018
- 20,782
- 11,949
I used to dislike you @centipede2233. I cannot remember why.
But I have REALLY enjoyed your posts of late.
1Gold Standard
Registered User
- Jun 13, 2012
- 7,980
- 312
Hamilton Bulldogs
Registered User
- Jan 11, 2022
- 4,609
- 6,538
I can't in good conscience take Pietrangelo over anyone who showed up at this tournament. Or really anyone who was willing to come.
His time should be done, imo.
Up front, Crosby, McD, Mac, Reinhart, Point, Marner, Bennett are all locks. I don't think Konecny or Jarvis, did anything to lose their jobs. Cirelli is probably out. Hagel on the bubble. Stone and Marchand are debatable.
Scheifele and Wilson should be in for 2026. I don't think Kyrou or Barzal are what Canada should be after.. not good enough for the top 6 too soft for the bottom 6. Suzuki and Thomas id add to the bubble.
Crosby-MacKinnon-Reinhart
Scheifele-McDavid-Marner
Hagel-Point-Stone
Konecny-Bennett-Wilson
Ex: Marchand-Jarvis
I really like that 4th line, because all 3 of them can easily play on one of the top 2 lines as well.
On D, the right side should be locked up with Makar, Petro, Doughty, with Parayko as the extra. The old dogs deserve the spot until they prove otherwise. The left side is trickier. Theodore and Morrissey should be locks. Weegar is better than both of them, Harley probably deserves another chance and idk about Toews.
Morrissey-Makar
Weegar-Doughty
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Ex: Toews-Parayko
In net it's Binnington's job. Hill will be there as long as he's still Vegas' starter, I'd have him penciled in as the #3 behind Blackwood. Binnington is the big game guy even if he's inconsistent. Blackwood is probably the best of the 3 but has no playoff experience. Hill might be the worst of the 3 but at least you know he can backstop a team to a championship.
Binnington
Blackwood
Ex: Hill
Scheifele and Wilson should be in for 2026. I don't think Kyrou or Barzal are what Canada should be after.. not good enough for the top 6 too soft for the bottom 6. Suzuki and Thomas id add to the bubble.
Crosby-MacKinnon-Reinhart
Scheifele-McDavid-Marner
Hagel-Point-Stone
Konecny-Bennett-Wilson
Ex: Marchand-Jarvis
I really like that 4th line, because all 3 of them can easily play on one of the top 2 lines as well.
On D, the right side should be locked up with Makar, Petro, Doughty, with Parayko as the extra. The old dogs deserve the spot until they prove otherwise. The left side is trickier. Theodore and Morrissey should be locks. Weegar is better than both of them, Harley probably deserves another chance and idk about Toews.
Morrissey-Makar
Weegar-Doughty
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Ex: Toews-Parayko
In net it's Binnington's job. Hill will be there as long as he's still Vegas' starter, I'd have him penciled in as the #3 behind Blackwood. Binnington is the big game guy even if he's inconsistent. Blackwood is probably the best of the 3 but has no playoff experience. Hill might be the worst of the 3 but at least you know he can backstop a team to a championship.
Binnington
Blackwood
Ex: Hill
26 games are setup as 3 round robin then the knockout round. So the players selected need to perform right away.
Canada has guys who can score who will play the PP. so the ones who don’t need to pk and do something else.
He’d need to show well at the worlds to put himself onto the radar.
ORRFForever
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2018
- 20,782
- 11,949
I REALLY like @Mathieukferland roster. It's bigger and better than this year's roster.
I might put 6'3" 22 year old Dylan Guenther in Reinhart's spot - although Reinhart did play well, I want some young legs on the 2nd line. I'm also not sold on Celebrini at 19 - too young!
The D looks solid / steady with Harley stepping up. 3 solid pairs - 2 with chemistry.
It also provides some big boys for the Tkachuks to fight - Brady had 3 inches on Bennett.
Anyway, a million things can happen in a year.
I agree but posters who like him, like him a LOT.
I'd prefer someone in his 20's. Maybe I'm wrong.
Last edited:
HockeyWooot
Registered User
- Jan 28, 2020
- 2,686
- 2,385
Wilson McDavid Reinhart
Bennett Mackinnon Point
Celebrini Crosby Marner
Hagel Thomas Johnston
Toews Makar
Morrisey Weegar
Harley Parayko
Tanev
Binnington
Thompson
Hill
Bennett Mackinnon Point
Celebrini Crosby Marner
Hagel Thomas Johnston
Toews Makar
Morrisey Weegar
Harley Parayko
Tanev
Binnington
Thompson
Hill
It’ll
if healthy, Theodore will be on the team, same with Piet. If team Canada didn’t add tanev or weegar this time, they won’t next year unless injuries to key d men before the Olympics start
Wilson and Bennett are unlikely to play top 6 minutes (similar to 4 Nations) and I doubt Team Canada brings both.
If I had to pick one it would be Bennett because he can play center, is left-handed (Canada lacks lefties) and he raised his stock with his play at 4-Nations
Half Clapper
Registered User
- Dec 1, 2017
- 1,378
- 1,530
Hard to predict this team so soon, but I think Guenther will make it.
Last edited:
Would love to see him on there. He needs to improve in other facets of his game though.
Wyatt Johnston for example is similar to Guenther, but is much better defensively and can play both C and W
Half Clapper
Registered User
- Dec 1, 2017
- 1,378
- 1,530
He may have the best release on team Canada. This guy might be top 3 in goals by this time next year, he is that good. That alone will get him a look on this team.
Szechwan
Registered User
- Sep 13, 2006
- 6,528
- 7,189
Tom Wilson made a ton of sense in this tourny. Under IIHF rules, I don't think he'd last very long and would likely handicap the team with penalties for hitting too hard.
- Nov 12, 2021
- 10,346
- 9,336
Agreed, but I think Hagel should to stay, so kindly asking you to remove him from the bubble and just make him a lock as well
Or if you don’t want to, how come?
Folignos Helmet
Registered User
- Sep 4, 2020
- 971
- 1,066
I think based on what Slavin’s impact was for US that Tanev chatter will pick back up for Canada.
Plays a similar game with a similar impact. He was in Conn Smythe discussions with Dallas last year.
Plays a similar game with a similar impact. He was in Conn Smythe discussions with Dallas last year.
Do you think he skates well enough though? Idk, I'd definitely take Weegar over him.
Folignos Helmet
Registered User
- Sep 4, 2020
- 971
- 1,066
i think he skates ok, olympics i thought are now played on NHL sized ice but looking online seems that was only for 2010, i dont know? If bigger then definitely more a challenge for a player like him
anyway, at least legitimises the conversation around a pure D dman like him, probably on par with Sanheim and Paryko but more D focused.
To a lesser extent, Crosby's limited role in the 2004 WJCs was also questionable. He was literally creating something every time he was on the ice but the "it's a 19 year olds tournament" mentality kept him from doing more.
Post 4 Nations.....I want more scoring options for Canada. Add the two young elite snipers. Both are near PPG on dogshit teams. Put them with these studs and watch them shine.
Crosby - MacKinnon - Bedard
Celebrini - McDavid - Marner
Bennett - Point - Reinhart
Hagel - Schiefele - Wilson
Marchand
Out is Cirelli, Konecny, Jarvis and Stone
In is Bedard, Celebrini, Schiefele and Wilson
Marchand is a legacy choice. Missed his prime chances to play for Canada in 2018 and 2022. Bedard and Celebrini would be lethal in the top 6. Crosby and Mac are a pair and McDavid and Marner are a pair. Bringing those two allows Point and Reinhart to team up for a 3rd line scoring threat. Bennett played his way onto the Olympic team. Heart and soul guy.
Hagel I really liked. Nice mix of size and speed and he answered the call when he dropped the gloves. I like Schiefele's two-way play and his intelligence. He can also be a jerk when needed. Wilson is the asshole to counter the Tkachuks.
Toews - Makar
Theodore - Pietro
Morrissey - Doughty
Parayko
Parayko is a big body. I had no idea he was such a big man. He gets the call for me. Doughty with his poise and confidence on the back end is a must for me. He proved once again he is a big game player and needs to be there.
Harley and Sanheim. Thank you. Harley's time is coming in future tournaments. No doubt about it.
Binnington
Thompson
Hill
Monty gets dropped. Binnington has earned the starting job. Thompson is first man up with Binner falters.
Crosby - MacKinnon - Bedard
Celebrini - McDavid - Marner
Bennett - Point - Reinhart
Hagel - Schiefele - Wilson
Marchand
Out is Cirelli, Konecny, Jarvis and Stone
In is Bedard, Celebrini, Schiefele and Wilson
Marchand is a legacy choice. Missed his prime chances to play for Canada in 2018 and 2022. Bedard and Celebrini would be lethal in the top 6. Crosby and Mac are a pair and McDavid and Marner are a pair. Bringing those two allows Point and Reinhart to team up for a 3rd line scoring threat. Bennett played his way onto the Olympic team. Heart and soul guy.
Hagel I really liked. Nice mix of size and speed and he answered the call when he dropped the gloves. I like Schiefele's two-way play and his intelligence. He can also be a jerk when needed. Wilson is the asshole to counter the Tkachuks.
Toews - Makar
Theodore - Pietro
Morrissey - Doughty
Parayko
Parayko is a big body. I had no idea he was such a big man. He gets the call for me. Doughty with his poise and confidence on the back end is a must for me. He proved once again he is a big game player and needs to be there.
Harley and Sanheim. Thank you. Harley's time is coming in future tournaments. No doubt about it.
Binnington
Thompson
Hill
Monty gets dropped. Binnington has earned the starting job. Thompson is first man up with Binner falters.
Last edited:
syz
[1, 5, 6, 14]
- Jul 13, 2007
- 31,144
- 17,206
The refs will counter the Tkachuks honestly. If Brady goes around punching dudes in the face after the whistle at the Olympics he's getting 2 for it. Schiefele has a better chance than Bedard, Celebrini, Suzuki, and Wilson.
JackSlater
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2010
- 19,758
- 15,381
I will think a bit longer after the four nations but I have some initial thoughts heading into the countdown to the 2026 season.
I think that most of the players on the four nations team helped their chances, especially guys who showed a clear role. Bennett was very good in his role and I like his Olympic chances much, much more than I did a month ago. Marner as a strong defensive player who can function as a playmaker on the lower lines is very good, just keep him in that role and throw him out once in a while with the top lines to shake things up if necessary. They found his role. Doughty showed better than pretty much anyone expected and while he shouldn't be a lock for this team, you can now at least picture how he may play.
The two skaters who I think clearly indicated they should not be there are Cirelli and Marchand. Marchand physically can't get where he needs to be anymore and Cirelli just isn't good enough to be one of Canada's centres at this level.
Canada taking two defensive lines was a mistake. Yes the team won, but it was in spite of that tactical choice. To me it is clear that Bennet should centre the fourth line. Someone like Thomas should centre the other line to provide another scoring threat with competent defence. Cirelli's line was not a threat and was not strong enough defensively to make up for that.
Canada needs better offence from the point. The defencemen generally defended well, but when Makar wasn't out there the team was much less threatening once settled in the zone. Morrissey is excellent and clearly Canada's number two defenceman but Theodore would be huge because of how he plays. I am not a Bouchard fan but they will need to pay attention to how he is playing early next year.
Stylistically Canada could use more physicality and size. The problem is that Canada rarely produces these players anymore. I don't know what the solution is. There will inevitably be a line with IIHF discipline, even with NHL referees there, so I'm wary of Wilson.
Things were so tight at the four nations event that elite talent ended up being massive in terms of generating offence and capitalizing on chances. So much of Canada's offence came directly from MacKinnon and McDavid. I really think that Canada needs to give every chance to guys like Bedard and Celebrini to make the team next year. You can't force them if they aren't ready, but if they take a leap next year Canada needs to be in position to take advantage in February.
Credit to Binnington for his championship game performance but Canada still has lots of questions in net. How the rest of this season plays out and how goaltenders are playing at the beginning of next year should be the main focus.
That's it for now. I am very hopeful that Canada has a big summer camp with plenty of players invited.
I think that most of the players on the four nations team helped their chances, especially guys who showed a clear role. Bennett was very good in his role and I like his Olympic chances much, much more than I did a month ago. Marner as a strong defensive player who can function as a playmaker on the lower lines is very good, just keep him in that role and throw him out once in a while with the top lines to shake things up if necessary. They found his role. Doughty showed better than pretty much anyone expected and while he shouldn't be a lock for this team, you can now at least picture how he may play.
The two skaters who I think clearly indicated they should not be there are Cirelli and Marchand. Marchand physically can't get where he needs to be anymore and Cirelli just isn't good enough to be one of Canada's centres at this level.
Canada taking two defensive lines was a mistake. Yes the team won, but it was in spite of that tactical choice. To me it is clear that Bennet should centre the fourth line. Someone like Thomas should centre the other line to provide another scoring threat with competent defence. Cirelli's line was not a threat and was not strong enough defensively to make up for that.
Canada needs better offence from the point. The defencemen generally defended well, but when Makar wasn't out there the team was much less threatening once settled in the zone. Morrissey is excellent and clearly Canada's number two defenceman but Theodore would be huge because of how he plays. I am not a Bouchard fan but they will need to pay attention to how he is playing early next year.
Stylistically Canada could use more physicality and size. The problem is that Canada rarely produces these players anymore. I don't know what the solution is. There will inevitably be a line with IIHF discipline, even with NHL referees there, so I'm wary of Wilson.
Things were so tight at the four nations event that elite talent ended up being massive in terms of generating offence and capitalizing on chances. So much of Canada's offence came directly from MacKinnon and McDavid. I really think that Canada needs to give every chance to guys like Bedard and Celebrini to make the team next year. You can't force them if they aren't ready, but if they take a leap next year Canada needs to be in position to take advantage in February.
Credit to Binnington for his championship game performance but Canada still has lots of questions in net. How the rest of this season plays out and how goaltenders are playing at the beginning of next year should be the main focus.
That's it for now. I am very hopeful that Canada has a big summer camp with plenty of players invited.
My 2026 Forwards Take:
At times both McDavid & Marner looked a little out of sync. Its funny they came together to score the winner. Having said that and I know its not populat but Zach Hyman has chemistry with both. He also scored 54 goals and is likely to end with 30-40 this year. I think he is a security blanket for both those players. Keep in mind Christ Kunitz played for Team Canada. Hyman for me is a stabilizer for 2 superstars that clearly need chemistry quicker.
Line 1
Hyman McDavid Marner
Something else I noticed this tournament with Canada was that it was clearly over for both Stone and Marchand. Way too slow. On big ice they will get exposed and neither has the surefire finishing abilities they use to have. Scheifele is a lock after seeing the well run dry on offence this tournament at times. Reinhart scored zero goals -> he did find some chemsitry alongside Sid & MacK but I think Scheifele offers more proven, higher end scoring for the top 6.
Line 2
Crosby MacKinnon Scheifele
I think when it comes to Jarvis Konecny Hagel & Cirreli they are all interchangeable players. None had any production. I like Jarvis a ton given his age and such but he looked a step behind. Hagel has passion and plays well up and down tampas line up. For me Hagel sticks. Reinhart scores too much to keep off the team so he is either an extra F or slots in here on a quality line that plays both ends.
Line 3
Hagel Point Reinhart
Its tough to think of where to put the fourth line. For me Cirelli has proven to cement himself well on Tampa and in a shut down role but again, foot speed and lack of hands were glaring in the best on best. I think 4C can go a number of ways and its Cirelli's to lose. Personally I think he does lose it to a quicker, grittier and more offensive upside in Robert Thomas when he is healthy. Bennett is a lock as he has proven he can play up and down the line up and for me Tom Wilson is too fast, big, tough & has great finishing ability.
Line 4
Wilson Thomas Bennett
Extra forward options:
Wings: Jarvis Konecny Johnston Johnson Kyrou Guenther Vilardi Batherson
Centre: Cellebrini Cirelli Bedard Suzuki Horvat Barzal
Personally I think Konecny played himself off and there isn't a good fit. I like Jarvis and I think Hockey Canada does as well... Its probably its Jarvis + 1.
I am going to go with Canada taking 2 younger guys with higher end talent for experience + big ice skill potential.
Extra F's
Bedard, Cellebrini
At times both McDavid & Marner looked a little out of sync. Its funny they came together to score the winner. Having said that and I know its not populat but Zach Hyman has chemistry with both. He also scored 54 goals and is likely to end with 30-40 this year. I think he is a security blanket for both those players. Keep in mind Christ Kunitz played for Team Canada. Hyman for me is a stabilizer for 2 superstars that clearly need chemistry quicker.
Line 1
Hyman McDavid Marner
Something else I noticed this tournament with Canada was that it was clearly over for both Stone and Marchand. Way too slow. On big ice they will get exposed and neither has the surefire finishing abilities they use to have. Scheifele is a lock after seeing the well run dry on offence this tournament at times. Reinhart scored zero goals -> he did find some chemsitry alongside Sid & MacK but I think Scheifele offers more proven, higher end scoring for the top 6.
Line 2
Crosby MacKinnon Scheifele
I think when it comes to Jarvis Konecny Hagel & Cirreli they are all interchangeable players. None had any production. I like Jarvis a ton given his age and such but he looked a step behind. Hagel has passion and plays well up and down tampas line up. For me Hagel sticks. Reinhart scores too much to keep off the team so he is either an extra F or slots in here on a quality line that plays both ends.
Line 3
Hagel Point Reinhart
Its tough to think of where to put the fourth line. For me Cirelli has proven to cement himself well on Tampa and in a shut down role but again, foot speed and lack of hands were glaring in the best on best. I think 4C can go a number of ways and its Cirelli's to lose. Personally I think he does lose it to a quicker, grittier and more offensive upside in Robert Thomas when he is healthy. Bennett is a lock as he has proven he can play up and down the line up and for me Tom Wilson is too fast, big, tough & has great finishing ability.
Line 4
Wilson Thomas Bennett
Extra forward options:
Wings: Jarvis Konecny Johnston Johnson Kyrou Guenther Vilardi Batherson
Centre: Cellebrini Cirelli Bedard Suzuki Horvat Barzal
Personally I think Konecny played himself off and there isn't a good fit. I like Jarvis and I think Hockey Canada does as well... Its probably its Jarvis + 1.
I am going to go with Canada taking 2 younger guys with higher end talent for experience + big ice skill potential.
Extra F's
Bedard, Cellebrini
