2026 Olympics: Early Team Canada roster projections
With Jeff Marek
Consider our appetites whetted.
We didn’t know what to expect when the NHL first announced the seemingly silly 4 Nations Face-Off, a winter 2025 mini-tournament pitting only Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States against each other for eight days spread across Montreal’s Bell Centre and Boston’s TD Garden. But we underestimated how fired up the world’s top players were to compete in best-on-best hockey for the first time in 11 years. The passion – and violence – were volcanic. The stakes were instantly established as high. And Connor McDavid’s golden goal for Canada in overtime of the championship game versus the U.S. truly meant something. The players wanted it badly.
And if that was the intensity we got from a four-team tourney? To quote the late Bob Cole…oh, baby. The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics treat us to a 12-team best-on-best affair, sure to be epically entertaining.
So, forgive us if we’re so excited at Daily Faceoff that we need to jump the gun and cook up some extremely early roster projections for next February. Our roster structures will mimic those of the Olympic squads: 22 skaters, three goaltenders. The national teams must submit their finalized editions by Dec. 31, 2025.
We kick things off with the current undisputed champ, reigning winner of the last best-on-best Olympics (2014), World Cup (2016) and the 4 Nations (2025): Canada. I’ve recruited colleague Jeff Marek to join the fun.
FORWARDS (14) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Mark Stone | Connor McDavid | Brayden Point |
| Sidney Crosby | Nathan MacKinnon | Sam Reinhart |
| Brandon Hagel | Anthony Cirelli | Mitch Marner |
| Macklin Celebrini | Sam Bennett | Seth Jarvis |
| Nick Suzuki | Tom Wilson |
If you remember how Canada finished the 4 Nations, you’ll notice I used their winning lines as a jumping off point. It took a few games to find the right fit with McDavid, but he really found his way alongside Stone and Point later in the tournament. Same goes for Crosby, MacKinnon and Reinhart. The Hagel-Cirelli-Marner unit brings elite two-way play. I couldn’t leave Celebrini off the team after he showed such intriguing chemistry with Crosby at the World Championship this past spring. I don’t have them starting the tournament together, but it’s an option. I feel a bit foolish caving to the invisible pressure and installing Wilson as my 14th forward. Canada still beat the brawny Americans without him, don’t forget. But if things start to get really ugly again, it’s nice to have the bazooka stored in your armory.
Biggest flex: You’ll notice the conspicuous absence of Brad Marchand. I know he was a world beater in the 2024-25 playoffs. But he was playing on the Florida Panthers’ third line, pancaking other teams’ third and fourth lines. A few months earlier in the 4 Nations, Marchand was one of Canada’s least effective forwards, struggling to keep up. Yes, he was worn down, but that’s my point: it’ll once again be February, and he’ll be two thirds of the way through the NHL schedule at age 37. I want fresher legs.
Toughest cut: Travis Konecny made the 4 Nations squad and was excellent at the Worlds, tying for Canada’s scoring lead. But in best-on-best, he’s a fourth-liner, so I’d rather go with a bit more size and strength in that role.
Also considered: Brad Marchand, Travis Konecny, Mark Scheifele, Mathew Barzal, Zach Hyman, Robert Thomas, Wyatt Johnston, Jordan Kyrou, Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Quinton Byfield
FORWARDS (14) – Jeff Marek’s picks
| Sidney Crosby | Connor McDavid | Mitch Marner |
| Sam Bennett | Nathan MacKinnon | Sam Reinhart |
| Brandon Hagel | Anthony Cirelli | Robert Thomas |
| Brayden Point | Nick Suzuki | Seth Jarvis |
| Brad Marchand | Macklin Celebrini |
As usual, the strength of Team Canada rests up front with its forwards. Canada will once again ice a group that will be the envy of the tournament. Much of this group winks at the successful 4 Nations set up where Canada threatened to score no matter who was on the ice. Led by McDavid, this forward group will most likely play “mix and match” through the tournament depending on who’s hot and what’s working. Since Hockey Canada is not shy about bringing at least one young player for the experience at big tournaments, I wouldn’t be shocked if Celebrini gets the nod here and eventually works his way into a significant position on the team. Much of this is obvious with a couple of new faces. Suzuki is entering the prime of his career, as one of the best two-way players in the game, and belongs here. He and Cirelli give Canada a defensive posture with their bottom six while still providing a scoring threat.
Biggest flex: Thomas has to be on this team as one of the most creative players and best passers in the game.
Toughest Cut: Mark Stone. He’s a tremendous two-way forward, but Canada doesn’t lack for those, and his foot speed isn’t suited to the best-on-best action.
Also considered: Mark Scheifele, Mark Stone, Zach Hyman, Mathew Barzal
DEFENSEMEN (8) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Devon Toews | Cale Makar |
| Thomas Harley | MacKenzie Weegar |
| Travis Sanheim | Evan Bouchard |
| Josh Morrissey | Colton Parayko |
Whereas Canada’s forward group was its clear strength before and during the 4 Nations, its D-corps left room for improvement in my opinion. For starters, I’ve righted the silly wrong of snubbing Bouchard. He’s one of the most dynamic puck-movers of his generation, he brings a booming shot, and if you pair him with the rangy Sanheim you recreate Bouchard’s Edmonton Oilers partner Mattias Ekholm. Parayko may have passed the eye test and earned respect with his fisticuffs at the 4 Nations, but he actually struggled; Canada owned just 38.8 percent of 5-on-5 expected goals with him on the ice. So we put the big, sturdy righty Weegar in that spot this time and move Parayko into a reserve role.
Biggest flex: Too much recency bias on Harley, slotting him above Morrissey? Well, Harley was extremely sharp as a fill-in during the 4 Nations, and he has matured into a go-to defender for the Dallas Stars. He was pretty much as good as Morrissey in offensive and defensive impact this past season and, turning 24 next month, is only getting better. Harley’s ready to handle bigger minutes and the breakneck pace of the Olympics.
Toughest cut: I think there’s room for Noah Dobson. If he can stay healthy and post a strong first half under the bright lights with the Montreal Canadiens, he’ll vault himself into the discussion. I wouldn’t be surprised he forces his way onto this team.
Also considered: Noah Dobson, Aaron Ekblad, Shea Theodore, Jakob Chychrun, Dougie Hamilton, Bowen Byram
DEFENSEMEN (8) – Jeff Marek’s picks
| Devon Toews | Cale Makar |
| Josh Morrissey | Shea Theodore |
| Thomas Harley | Evan Bouchard |
| Travis Sanheim | Aaron Ekblad |
The top pair of Makar/Toews continues to be a lock. Hockey Canada loves their established pairs and this one remains elite. Harley has distinguished himself as one of the top defensemen in the country and should play an even more prominent role at the Olympics.
Biggest flex: Even though Cale Makar will anchor every Team Canada power play, it’s always wise to have different looks, and Bouchard provides backup from the point on the power play and acts as a major shooting threat and rebound generator.
Toughest cut – Drew Doughty did an admirable job coming back from a broken ankle in time for the tournament last year, but he turns 36 this December and is entering his twilight years.
Also considered: Drew Doughty, Thomas Chabot, Colton Parayko, Dougie Hamilton, Noah Dobson
GOALTENDERS (3) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Jordan Binnington |
| Logan Thompson |
| Darcy Kuemper |
Here’s where the recency bias has to play a factor. The position is so fickle that Canada’s brass should ride the hottest hand. Kuemper finished third in the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy vote. Thompson finished fourth. They were both top-10 in the NHL in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes, too. If the likes of Sam Montembeault, Adin Hill and Mackenzie Blackwood look better a couple months into the NHL season, fine, GM Doug Armstrong can pivot.
Biggest flex: Is it a flex to keep Binnington installed as the starter when he was so shaky at times at the 4 Nations and was outplayed over the course of the 2024-25 calendar by several Canadian goalies? Maybe, but Binnington stood tall in the deciding overtime when he absolutely had to, outduelling the supposed best goalie in the world in Connor Hellebuyck. That alone stakes Binnington’s claim to the No. 1 job in Milan.
Toughest cut: Hill and Montembeault did nothing wrong after making the 4 Nations squad. I simply chose two guys who had better years than they did.
Also considered: Adin Hill, Sam Montembeault, Mackenzie Blackwood, Jake Allen
GOALTENDERS (3) – Jeff Marek’s picks
| Jordan Binnington |
| Sam Montembeault |
| Logan Thompson |
The big question for Team Canada remains, and it’s become the great Canada angst-ridden conversation – where have the goalies gone? For me, and many others, this remains Binnington’s net until he relinquishes it. At the 4 Nations, Binnington was elite in the biggest game of the tournament and showed zero evidence of not being ready for the moment in the final against the U.S. Canada will need that again at the Olympics. Having said that, I could also see the NHL’s most underrated netminder Montembeault claiming the crease and not looking back.
Biggest flex: None
Toughest cut: Adin Hill is a rock-solid option, but Thompson has forced himself into the discussion following an excellent season.
Also considered: Adin Hill, Darcy Kuemper, Mackenzie Blackwood, the ghost of Jacques Plante
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