2026 Olympic men's ice hockey rosters

[GFG#1]

Originally Posted by Locke

I have to finish reading the thread but if I'm Bennett? I am dancing with glee!!

"Oh no! I cant represent Team Canada and instead have to cool my heels on a beach for 2 weeks? Especially after 3 deep playoff runs and in anticipation of a 4th?? Oh Noes!!! Howsoever shall I survive?!?!"

Presumably while crushing a margarita.

These guys aren't playing in the NHL because they would rather sit on a beach and drink margaritas. The Olympics matter to these guys, I guarantee Bennett would rather be playing for team Canada in the Olympics then sitting on a beach.

[GreenLantern2814]

Sidney Crosby has not lost a best-on-best tournament as a professional, and if I were a gambling man, I'd continue to bet on 87 coming through for this country when we need it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I think that's when you start considering intangibles as well. I would take Bennett over Suzuki, Cirelli, and Horvat. This year I might even take him ahead of Point, though Point is pretty much back to his old self now that he's back from his injury.

Suzuki is playing lights out this year.

Do you take him over Tavares, Geekie, Johnston, Scheifele, Bedard, Batherson, Konecny, ROR, RNH, Guenther, Strome, Kadri, Barzal? All those guys are ahead of him in production. That's a lot of intangibles you'd need.

Cirelli is the only big question mark IMO. Suzuki deserves to be there and and Horvat are part of a large pool of forwards to pick from. The bigger snubs are Geekie or Johnston IMO.

[Flamesfan05]

I would take Bennett definitely over Marner who can’t show up for big games. Maybe over Stone who is aging already and yeah Cicirelli


They will regret this decision, Bennett brings energy to big game that most of the team can’t

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Sidney Crosby has not lost a best-on-best tournament as a professional, and if I were a gambling man, I'd continue to bet on 87 coming through for this country when we need it.

I imagine he wears the C.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Ron Francis over any of the above, still annoys me to this day. But would Booby Clarke take a Penguin over a Flyer? Ha.

No Francis, no Robitaille, no S. Niedermayer. It was such a weird selection in 98.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/2006413769174401159

I have a feeling that Bennett will ultimately end up on the team. Someone will not make it and Bennett will be first call in

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

I would take Bennett definitely over Marner who can’t show up for big games.

"Can't show up"?

2 assists in the final game of the four nations - the tying goal and the winning goal.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

"Can't show up"?

2 assists in the final game of the four nations - the tying goal and the winning goal.

How stupid of me looking at his Leafs career

Sorry

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Sidney Crosby has not lost a best-on-best tournament as a professional, and if I were a gambling man, I'd continue to bet on 87 coming through for this country when we need it.

Denmark might have something to say about it, and sure technically it wasn't a best on best, but Canada had a powerhouse of a team for that tourney.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Suzuki is playing lights out this year.

Do you take him over Tavares, Geekie, Johnston, Scheifele, Bedard, Batherson, Konecny, ROR, RNH, Guenther, Strome, Kadri, Barzal? All those guys are ahead of him in production. That's a lot of intangibles you'd need.

Cirelli is the only big question mark IMO. Suzuki deserves to be there and and Horvat are part of a large pool of forwards to pick from. The bigger snubs are Geekie or Johnston IMO.

Yes I would probably have both Suzuki and Bennett ahead of all those guys.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

LMAO Horvat and the soft undersized hab over playoff Sam Bennett.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Sidney Crosby has not lost a best-on-best tournament as a professional, and if I were a gambling man, I'd continue to bet on 87 coming through for this country when we need it.

McDavid could learn a thing or three under his tutelage. Not that he will.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GFG#1

These guys aren't playing in the NHL because they would rather sit on a beach and drink margaritas. The Olympics matter to these guys, I guarantee Bennett would rather be playing for team Canada in the Olympics then sitting on a beach.

Yeah, so much so that their participation was omitted entirely from one of their last CBA negotiations and they didn't go.

I wouldnt go so far as to say that nobody cares, but I think its over estimated, I'd wager that these guys' #1 priority is still their NHL team.

And after the memo they got that their hotels are going to suck and the rinks aren't even finished yet? At the moment this is looking more and more like a 2nd rate tournament.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Yes I would probably have both Suzuki and Bennett ahead of all those guys.

Johnston is the class of the bunch but Geekie is on pace for 50 goals. And healthy Bedard is better.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah, so much so that their participation was omitted entirely from one of their last CBA negotiations and they didn't go.

I wouldnt go so far as to say that nobody cares, but I think its over estimated, I'd wager that these guys' #1 priority is still their NHL team.

And after the memo they got that their hotels are going to suck and the rinks aren't even finished yet? At the moment this is looking more and more like a 2nd rate tournament.

This is a silly thing to double down on. It’s not even a debate. The Olympics matter to these guys, everybody wants on these teams.

Who do you think players are paying lip service to when they say they want the opportunity and are hoping to go? Why do you think guys want to go to the World Juniors, or guys go to the World Championships?

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Johnston is the class of the bunch but Geekie is on pace for 50 goals. And healthy Bedard is better.

Missed Johnston in that list, I mentioned he should be on the roster in the original post. I have no idea if Bedard is going to be healthy, and I wasn't following Geekie enough this season so I still see him as a 30G, 70P player that's having a great year.

[Cole436]

It’s honestly a pretty good roster

Cirelli over Scheifele, Sanhiem and or Doughty over Schaefer and Kuemper over Blackwood are misses imo, but I don’t think they’re game breaking mistakes.

Wilson, Horvat and Suzuki all deserved their spots, and I’m in support of Bennett being cut. In a 7 game series I’d take Sam Bennett, but he’s too much of a double edged sword for a tournament like this, as he has the capability of taking the stupidest penalties at the wrong time.

I’d be very surprised if Binnington exits the round robin as the starter, so we have to hedge our bets on Thompson.

I’m also so glad we didn’t select Bouchard. I think it would have been a near catastrophic mistake allowing him on this team.

I wonder who the injury call ups will be. Scheifle and Bedard must be close to the top of the list.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

LMAO Horvat and the soft undersized hab over playoff Sam Bennett.

Suzuki is 5 ft 11 207, according to NHL.com.

That’s Crosby-sized, not undersized.

And he’s better than Bennett player for player.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

For anyone questioning the selection of Tom Wilson, I hope you're watching the Rangers game. He is dominating. Big hit, goal, then a fight all in the same shift. What a beast.

Yeah I’m of the opinion he beat out Bennett. It was one or the other.

Big Bennett fan. But he’s played a ton of hockey lately. And Wilson is flying.