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The Future of Team Canada: Who Will Replace the Veterans

crazynaiman

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Jul 2, 2015
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With the 2026 Olympics approaching, I’ve been thinking about who might step up to replace the veterans on Team Canada. There’s a sense that the rosters from the 2000s and 2010s were more talented, star-studded, and intimidating. Just think about the lineups from Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. The generation of Toews, Getzlaf, Nash, Marchand, Bergeron, Tavares, Stamkos, Weber, Price and Doughty has passed.

Now, only Crosby remains, alongside undeniable stars like McDavid, MacKinnon, and Makar. You could stretch and include Marner and Reinhart as well. But beyond them, many players seem replaceable and not at the same level.

This has me keeping a close eye on players under 23, imagining who could become Canada’s future stars and make the Olympic level roster. Here’s my take on some of the most exciting young talents:

Connor Bedard - A generational talent. It’s just a matter of watching his progress; Team Canada is waiting.

Macklin Celebrini - Off to a phenomenal start both statistically and on the ice. Should make the team alongside Bedard.

Owen Power - A solid defenseman with an intriguing ceiling. His future is one of the most exciting to follow.

Bowen Byram - A defensive leader in Buffalo alongside Dahlin. Right now, he looks better than Power and is a likely future Olympian.

Alexis Lafreniere - Hoping for his breakout. If he doesn’t progress, he won’t make the roster, but his potential remains high.

Shane Wright - Starting to show his potential this season. If he keeps this pace, he could develop into a top center and earn his spot.

Josh Doan - Made a shiny debut in the league, but hasn’t been given much ice time in this season and was sent to the AHL. His ceiling is massive, I believe.

Dylan Guenther - Younger than Doan but already in his third NHL season. He’s been impressive, and it feels like only a matter of time before he makes Team Canada.

Dylan Holloway - Thriving in St. Louis and has surprised me. He’d be a great fit in the bottom six of a future Team Canada roster.

Connor McMichael - Incredible progress this season and could make the team alongside Strome.

Thomas Harley - A brilliant defenseman who I’m confident will become a star and a lock for Team Canada.


Other players worth mentioning: Johnston, Perfetti, Drysdale, Schneider, Zary, Evangelista. Among the younger generation: Iginla, Sennecke, McKenna, Schafer, Martone, Dupont.

Who do you think will become Canada’s next stars and earn their place in future Olympic lineups?
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crazynaiman

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Jul 2, 2015
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ORRFForever

ORRFForever

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Oct 29, 2018
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crazynaiman said:
With the 2026 Olympics approaching, I’ve been thinking about who might step up to replace the veterans on Team Canada. There’s a sense that the rosters from the 2000s and 2010s were more talented, star-studded, and intimidating. Just think about the lineups from Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. The generation of Toews, Getzlaf, Nash, Marchand, Bergeron, Tavares, Stamkos, Weber, Price and Doughty has passed.

Now, only Crosby remains, alongside undeniable stars like McDavid, MacKinnon, and Makar. You could stretch and include Marner and Reinhart as well. But beyond them, many players seem replaceable and not at the same level.

This has me keeping a close eye on players under 23, imagining who could become Canada’s future stars and make the Olympic level roster. Here’s my take on some of the most exciting young talents:

Connor Bedard - A generational talent. It’s just a matter of watching his progress; Team Canada is waiting.

Macklin Celebrini - Off to a phenomenal start both statistically and on the ice. Should make the team alongside Bedard.

Owen Power - A solid defenseman with an intriguing ceiling. His future is one of the most exciting to follow.

Bowen Byram - A defensive leader in Buffalo alongside Dahlin. Right now, he looks better than Power and is a likely future Olympian.

Alexis Lafreniere - Hoping for his breakout. If he doesn’t progress, he won’t make the roster, but his potential remains high.

Shane Wright - Starting to show his potential this season. If he keeps this pace, he could develop into a top center and earn his spot.

Josh Doan - Made a shiny debut in the league, but hasn’t been given much ice time in this season and was sent to the AHL. His ceiling is massive, I believe.

Dylan Guenther - Younger than Doan but already in his third NHL season. He’s been impressive, and it feels like only a matter of time before he makes Team Canada.

Dylan Holloway - Thriving in St. Louis and has surprised me. He’d be a great fit in the bottom six of a future Team Canada roster.

Connor McMichael - Incredible progress this season and could make the team alongside Strome.

Thomas Harley - A brilliant defenseman who I’m confident will become a star and a lock for Team Canada.


Other players worth mentioning: Johnston, Perfetti, Drysdale, Schneider, Zary, Evangelista. Among the younger generation: Iginla, Sennecke, McKenna, Schafer, Martone, Dupont.

Who do you think will become Canada’s next stars and earn their place in future Olympic lineups?
Click to expand...
Well done.
 
ORRFForever

ORRFForever

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Oct 29, 2018
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crazynaiman said:
With the 2026 Olympics approaching, I’ve been thinking about who might step up to replace the veterans on Team Canada. There’s a sense that the rosters from the 2000s and 2010s were more talented, star-studded, and intimidating. Just think about the lineups from Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. The generation of Toews, Getzlaf, Nash, Marchand, Bergeron, Tavares, Stamkos, Weber, Price and Doughty has passed.

Now, only Crosby remains, alongside undeniable stars like McDavid, MacKinnon, and Makar. You could stretch and include Marner and Reinhart as well. But beyond them, many players seem replaceable and not at the same level.

This has me keeping a close eye on players under 23, imagining who could become Canada’s future stars and make the Olympic level roster. Here’s my take on some of the most exciting young talents:

Connor Bedard - A generational talent. It’s just a matter of watching his progress; Team Canada is waiting.

Macklin Celebrini - Off to a phenomenal start both statistically and on the ice. Should make the team alongside Bedard.

Owen Power - A solid defenseman with an intriguing ceiling. His future is one of the most exciting to follow.

Bowen Byram - A defensive leader in Buffalo alongside Dahlin. Right now, he looks better than Power and is a likely future Olympian.

Alexis Lafreniere - Hoping for his breakout. If he doesn’t progress, he won’t make the roster, but his potential remains high.

Shane Wright - Starting to show his potential this season. If he keeps this pace, he could develop into a top center and earn his spot.

Josh Doan - Made a shiny debut in the league, but hasn’t been given much ice time in this season and was sent to the AHL. His ceiling is massive, I believe.

Dylan Guenther - Younger than Doan but already in his third NHL season. He’s been impressive, and it feels like only a matter of time before he makes Team Canada.

Dylan Holloway - Thriving in St. Louis and has surprised me. He’d be a great fit in the bottom six of a future Team Canada roster.

Connor McMichael - Incredible progress this season and could make the team alongside Strome.

Thomas Harley - A brilliant defenseman who I’m confident will become a star and a lock for Team Canada.


Other players worth mentioning: Johnston, Perfetti, Drysdale, Schneider, Zary, Evangelista. Among the younger generation: Iginla, Sennecke, McKenna, Schafer, Martone, Dupont.

Who do you think will become Canada’s next stars and earn their place in future Olympic lineups?
Click to expand...
Don't forget Kent Johnson, Quinton Byfield, Adam Fantilli, Dylan Cozens, Dawson Mercer, Mason McTavish, Cole Sillinger, Brandt Clarke, Olen Zellweger, Zach Benson and Logan Stankoven.

And, of course, Seth Jarvis - who, at 22, is already on the 2025 team.

Landon Dupont is certainly turning heads - you mentioned him.

Picking 2030 will be insanely difficult. A YOUNG, FAST, TALENTED team.
 
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wetcoast

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Nov 20, 2018
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I think that 2 or 3 of these young guys could be studs in 5 years for Canada.

Iginla, Sennecke, McKenna, Schafer, Martone, Dupont.
 
ORRFForever

ORRFForever

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Oct 29, 2018
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wetcoast said:
I think that 2 or 3 of these young guys could be studs in 5 years for Canada.

Iginla, Sennecke, McKenna, Schafer, Martone, Dupont.
Click to expand...
Maybe all. :)

jj cale said:
It would if he would have the mentality. Size itself doesn't make you hungry to want the puck.
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Last year he looked like he was taking the final steps to being elite. This year has, thus far, been a step back.
 
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Statsy

Statsy

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Dec 21, 2009
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We actually seem to be producing phenoms at a higher rate in recent years. That bodes quite well for the future, even if we have a transitionary period coming up with a bit less star power.

Now let's start working on some goalies! ;)
 
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ORRFForever

ORRFForever

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What I predicted (copy and pasted) from May...

My 2030 Canadian Olympic roster up front...

LAF - McDavid - Byfield
Fantilli - Bedard - Guenther
(Neighbours/Benson) - Celebrini - Johnston
McTavish - Jarvis - Stankoven
McKenna / Wright / MacKinnon

In 2030, other than McDavid and MacKinnon, no one is over 28.

***************************************************************

Now...

Cuylle / LAF - McDavid* - Bedard
McKenna - MacKinnon - Johnston*
McMichael - Celebrini* - Guenther
Johnson - Jarvis - Marner

13th Forward : Holloway / McTavish* / Stankoven / Wright

* Faceoffs
 
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TheBeastCoast

TheBeastCoast

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Mar 23, 2011
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Dartmouth,NS
Statsy said:
We actually seem to be producing phenoms at a higher rate in recent years. That bodes quite well for the future, even if we have a transitionary period coming up with a bit less star power.

Now let's start working on some goalies! ;)
Click to expand...
Ravensbergen and Ivankovic are good signs on the goalie front in this years draft....and need Cossa to hit. But goalies are such a roll of the dice it will take years to see if it turns around. Just need one elite one to step forward though, don't need 8 goalies to win!
 
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