Olympics: Team Canada 2026

[HighLifeManIsHigh]

Makar is better with elite players like a best on best where his linemates can take advantage of his skating up ice to create room. In the regular NHL these linemates can't take advantage of Makar making space and often give the puck away while Makar is caught up ice.

5 games of best on best? I'll take Makar.

To win 16 games after April? Bouchard every day and twice on Sundays.

Cale Makar has a Conn Smythe…

 

[TheBeastCoast]

How hard is it to play on your opposite side as a D-Man?

The kid is big, young and talented.

Thankfully the U.S.'s D is full on the Left side (Quinn, Werenski, Slavin) or I could see them snatching him up - it's been over 5 years since he played for Canada so it might be worth seeing if he'll play at the World Championships.

Pretty sure Chychrun playing for Canada at the U18's locked him in for Canada internationally.

 

[JackSlater]

Pretty sure Chychrun playing for Canada at the U18's locked him in for Canada internationally.

Yes, Chychrun is locked in due to that tournament because it was an IIHF event. He could switch, like anyone could, but it is a process and presumably someone would have reported on it at some point.

 

[kevsh]

This isn't my take on the actual lines/pairings I'd like to see as just a list of who I think will be there relatively depth-wise:

Hyman-McDavid-Marner
Crosby-Mackinnon-Reinhart
Bennett-Thomas-Point
Celebrini-Cirelli-Hagel
Also possible : Bedard, Johnston, Suzuki, Jarvis

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Pietrangelo
Theodore-Doughty
Sandheim
I see less flexibility here, so barring injury I think only the top 6 are locks.

Notes: With Cooper coaching I expect his TB players will be back. As of today a bit more confident Celebrini makes the starting 12 than Bedard, but I think both will be there. Suzuki to keep La Belle Province happy, if not on merit.

And a reminder to my fellow Canadians that even though it's a long way off please do try to keep in mind when Canada gets off to a sluggish start at the Olympics: They ALWAYS get off to a sluggish start at international tournaments but get better as it goes on.

As long as they qualify for the second round they'll almost certainly be there in the final and will have a very good shot to bring home gold again.

 

[LeafLoyalist]

This isn't my take on the actual lines/pairings I'd like to see as just a list of who I think will be there relatively depth-wise:

Hyman-McDavid-Marner
Crosby-Mackinnon-Reinhart
Bennett-Thomas-Point
Celebrini-Cirelli-Hagel
Also possible : Bedard, Johnston, Suzuki, Jarvis

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Pietrangelo
Theodore-Doughty
Sandheim
I see less flexibility here, so barring injury I think only the top 6 are locks.

Notes: With Cooper coaching I expect his TB players will be back. As of today a bit more confident Celebrini makes the starting 12 than Bedard, but I think both will be there. Suzuki to keep La Belle Province happy, if not on merit.

And a reminder to my fellow Canadians that even though it's a long way off please do try to keep in mind when Canada gets off to a sluggish start at the Olympics: They ALWAYS get off to a sluggish start at international tournaments but get better as it goes on.

As long as they qualify for the second round they'll almost certainly be there in the final and will have a very good shot to bring home gold again.

This looks solid to me, although in my opinion Hyman may not be a fit given the speed of the game played at the 4 nations. Yes he's great around the net, but as we saw in this tournament there was not much happening around the net typically seen in a game, it was alot of speed, and i doubt Hyman will keep up, but he should be considered. I don't think Bedard and Suzuki will be there, they lack the speed and intensity to be effective in a bottom 6 role, they would have to bump someone in the top 6, doubt that happens. I like the bottom 6, maybe switch Point/Hyman(if he makes it). Anybody with Cirelli-Hagel will excel, those 2 had their best games against USA, especially in the final, had good chemistry with Mitch and were effective offensively with high danger chances, their experience in Cup finals shows that it is important to have the pedigree to play in these high stakes games, I'm sure this plays a big factor in the selection process....which is why it will be tough for guys like Suzuki/Celebrini make this team.

So happy for another Team Canada win, we really needed this one with all the political nonsense coming from south of the border. I particularly enjoyed seeing Crabbe and Goyle (Tkachuk brothers) fail. Here are some thoughts leading into the Olympics.

Forwards:

- Locks from this team are: McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, Marner, Point, Reinhart
- Close to locks: Bennett
- Bubble: Stone, Hagel, Marchand, Konecny, Jarvis
- Shouldn't make it: Cirelli
- Locks are pretty obvious ones. Reinhart would be the only one who could be considered to be more of a close to lock due to his skating but as long as he keeps scoring, he should be there
- Bennett was a pleasant surprise. I was against having him on the team but I loved his physicality and obviously had a big moment in the final game.
- Stone and Marchand are really slow at this point of their careers. I'm not sure about either of them being there
- I really liked Hagel and would have him back as a 4LW with his speed, grit and ability to play with star players
- Konecny and Jarvis were fine and they should be given a look to make the team again but will need to prove themselves
- Cirelli is a great NHL player but he just looked out of place in the tournament
- Other players to consider: Suzuki, Thomas, Scheifele, Byfield, Johnston, Bedard, Celebrini, Wilson, Fantilli, Verheaghe
- Hoping our young up and coming stars like Bedard, Celebrini and Johnston take the next step convince TC to include them
- I really hope TC doesn't have blind loyalty to certain players like what happened in 2006 after the 2002 and 2004 successes. We won the tournament this year but it was by the skin of their teeth.
- I dont want Canada to respond too heavily to how US physically dominated them , but maybe Wilson is a good addition. As long as they don't build their team around it like the US team did in 2016. This also depends on what the Olympic rules are. They are playing on NHL sized ice with NHL refs, so doesn't it make sense for them to play with NHL rules?

Defense:

- Locks: Makar, Morrissey, Theodore
- Close to locks: Toews, Pietrangelo
- Bubble: Doughty, Sanheim, Parayko, Harley
- Makar and Morrissey were phenomenal for us this tournament. Makar was the best player in the championship game outside of Binnington
- I didn't love Toews' tournament especially in the US game without Makar. He was just shaky throughout the whole tournament. Being Makar's partner is obviously a huge plus for him
- Petro should be there. I don't love that he bailed on us but he is still a big, mobile d-man that will help the team.
- I love Drew Doughty, easily one of my favourite all time players but I am conflicted on this one. He had a fantastic game against the US on Saturday but otherwise he looked pretty slow although steady. I'd like to see a faster team in the Olympics he's up in the air for me
- Sanheim and Parayko were fine but they definitely are not locks quite yet
- Harley was awesome. Would love to see him make the team next year
- Other players to consider: Tanev, Weegar, Ekblad, Bouchard, Chabot, Chychrun, Power, Pelech, Pulock, Montour, Dobson
- I'd consider bringing in Bouchard just for his snapshot if this a 13F/7D tournament

Goalies:

- Locks: Binnington
- Bubble: Hill, Montembault
- Other players to consider: any Canadian goalie
- Binnington proved myself and so many others wrong and deserves to be there next year 100%

My team right now:

Reinhart McDavid Point
Bedard MacKinnon Marner
Celebrini Thomas Stone
Hagel Crosby Wilson
Bennett
Konecny/Suzuki/Jarvis/Johnston/whoever is playing the best

Toews Makar
Morrissey Theodore
Harley Pietrangelo
Sanheim Doughty

Binnington and 2 others (I will go Thompson and Hill for now)

I thought Mitch with Cirelli/Hagel were their best line in the final, not sure i agree with that take.

 

[LeafLoyalist]

This is about February 2026. Let's see where they are in winter next year.

 

[waitin425]

Celebrini - McDavid - Marner
Crosby - Mackinnon - Bedard
Bennett - Point - Reinhart
Hagel - Schiefele - W. Johnston
Marchand, Suzuki

**I want that top 6 so bad. It's locked in for me.**

 

[LeafLoyalist]

Thought he played well. Cirelli was more underwhelming.

It will always amaze me how Hagel has more even-strength points than guys like Eichel, Rantanen, Marner, Crosby, Connor, Scheifele, Hughes. All while having Anthony Cirelli as his center, playing a complete 200ft. game and being one of the best forecheckers in hockey right now.

I thought they both played their best game in the final, when the stakes were the highest, Cirelli-Hagel and Bennett as well stepped up and carried them....Cirelli being in 3 straight Cup finals shows that experience is very important

 

[LeafLoyalist]

Marner to McDavid Scores Canada Wins and beats the Fricking Americans...beauty


In Italia(Italy) its being played on standard NHL ice size? No kidding...well that changes things somewhat

I'm hoping this tournament will bring Marners best in the playoffs, he was outstanding and stepped up in key moments. Without that OT winner against Sweden we may not be in the final. And the 2 apples in the final were HUGE!!!

 

[yessir29292]

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.

conn smythe discussions until he was too slow too play against the Oilers. he's not fast enough for best on best hockey

 

[ORRFForever]

Pretty sure Chychrun playing for Canada at the U18's locked him in for Canada internationally.

I thought it was only good for 5 years from the last time a player played for their country.

I could be wrong. I hope you are right.

 

[JackSlater]

If Hyman didn't make it to the four nations event this year after his outlier season last year, I have to think he has very low odds to make it next year when he's a year older and coming off a more typical season. McDavid having a successful tournament also has to hurt his odds somewhat.

 

[ORRFForever]

Celebrini - McDavid - Marner
Crosby - Mackinnon - Bedard
Bennett - Point - Reinhart
Hagel - Schiefele - W. Johnston
Marchand, Suzuki

**I want that top 6 so bad. It's locked in for me.**

Bedard had not looked good. I know Chicago is HOT GARBAGE but he needs to be better before he makes the team.

Celebrini... maybe.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

conn smythe discussions until he was too slow too play against the Oilers. he's not fast enough for best on best hockey

He got injured

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I thought it was only good for 5 years from the last time a player played for their country.

I could be wrong. I hope you are right.

Nope. Once a player plays international for their counter at anything above the U18 level they are for the most part locked into the country. There is a process to switching but it very rarely happens. He is 100% locked into Canada at this point.