2026 Olympic men's ice hockey rosters - Page 20 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

flamesgod · 12-31-2025, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluejays

Listening to the 32 Thoughts Podcast now and Friedman says that Cooper wanted his guys and that came at the expense of Bennett. Sucks that everything is political, even in sports. Especially in sports. Can't tell me Cirelli and Hagel are going to be more impactful in a similar role. I get giving the coach a choice makes sense, but there should be something along the lines of, "you can't choose your own guys". Seems like each year these choices come up there are always dubious management choices with players that shouldn't be there.

Honestly, Cirelli shouldn’t even be in the conversation with all the different types of talent Canada could choose from.

transplant99 · 12-31-2025, 11:53 PM

Someone on TV pointed out that only 2 guys on this team have Olympic experience....sid and Doughty.

Explains part of the reason DD was named but another part of it is (as heard on the radio earlier today) is apparently he is one of the best in the league in shot suppression this year. I have no idea where you find such stats but apparently the management puts lots of importance on it.

As for the Bennett snub....Wilson will fill that role pretty well i would think. He is a scary dudewho can really play the game anyway needed.

Hagel and Cirrelli are obviousCooper picks but they also are good PK guys and you need a few of those types as well....lookin at it im guessing the PK pairs will be Stone/Marner and the TB duo.

An embarrassment of riches though among Canadian players....there was always going to be deserving guys left off.

dino7c · 12-31-2025, 11:57 PM

Oiler fans were talking 4 Oilers on the team just yesterday lol

n00berdeau · 12-31-2025, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamesgod

Honestly, Cirelli shouldn’t even be in the conversation with all the different types of talent Canada could choose from.

Cirelli wasn't very effective in the 4 Nations. Finished -3, even though that's supposed to be his specialty. I'm OK with Point and Hagel on the team, but there's no way Cirelli should be. The Americans will tougher to beat this time with Q.Hughes and Tage Thompson.

stamps · 12-31-2025, 11:58 PM

4 Calgary Boys on the Team

n00berdeau · 01-01-2026, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

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

It's crazy that Francis is 5th all time in points and never played for Canada in a best on best.
He was on the 96 team at first but either got injured or cut after the prelims.

n00berdeau · 01-01-2026, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Marner was one of the best players at the 4 Nations. Maybe the best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Those lines look pretty great to me, but I would consider swapping Reinhart and Marner. You need someone with a defensive conscience on that top line, and Reinhart has such a lethal shot that he would easily fill in the Draisaitl role of playing with McDavid.

Marner is very good defensively, if he was more physical he would win the selke.

stemit14 · 01-01-2026, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transplant99

Someone on TV pointed out that only 2 guys on this team have Olympic experience....sid and Doughty.

Explains part of the reason DD was named but another part of it is (as heard on the radio earlier today) is apparently he is one of the best in the league in shot suppression this year. I have no idea where you find such stats but apparently the management puts lots of importance on it.

As for the Bennett snub....Wilson will fill that role pretty well i would think. He is a scary dudewho can really play the game anyway needed.

Hagel and Cirrelli are obviousCooper picks but they also are good PK guys and you need a few of those types as well....lookin at it im guessing the PK pairs will be Stone/Marner and the TB duo.

An embarrassment of riches though among Canadian players....there was always going to be deserving guys left off.

Yeah. The “B squad” team Canada roster would still be a really good team. First crack at it and I’m sure I’ll be missing some good players:

Barzal-Bedard-Scheifele
Geekie-Johnston-Jarvis
O’Reilly-Kadri-Konecny
Huberdeau-Bennett-Tavares

Chychrun-Weegar
Schaefer-Ekblad
Dobson-Tanev

Blackwood
Wedgewood

n00berdeau · 01-01-2026, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stemit14

Yeah. The “B squad” team Canada roster would still be a really good team. First crack at it and I’m sure I’ll be missing some good players:

Barzal-Bedard-Scheifele
Geekie-Johnston-Jarvis
O’Reilly-Kadri-Konecny
Huberdeau-Bennett-Tavares

Chychrun-Weegar
Schaefer-Ekblad
Dobson-Tanev

Blackwood
Wedgewood

Verhaege is the only change I would make, stand out player on a stacked Panthers team, especially in the playoffs.

XeO · 01-01-2026, 02:35 AM

Forward lines I would go with:

Celebrini - McDavid - Wilson
Crosby - MacKinnon - Reinhart
Hagel - Suzuki - Marner
Marchand - Horvat - Stone

Extras: Cirelli, Point

What lines would you all choose?

Mathgod · 01-01-2026, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stemit14

Yeah. The “B squad” team Canada roster would still be a really good team. First crack at it and I’m sure I’ll be missing some good players:

Barzal-Bedard-Scheifele
Geekie-Johnston-Jarvis
O’Reilly-Kadri-Konecny
Huberdeau-Bennett-Tavares

Chychrun-Weegar
Schaefer-Ekblad
Dobson-Tanev

Blackwood
Wedgewood

That team would have a decent chance at medaling. Even with actual team Canada in the tournament.

Flamesfan05 · 01-01-2026, 09:52 AM

Another big mistake is Binnington
That dude has to be one of the worst goalies this year

Maybe they are afraid of his tantrums?

Scroopy Noopers · 01-01-2026, 10:00 AM

US not taking Fox is wild…

Scroopy Noopers · 01-01-2026, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont think theres really any need for that.

Olympic hockey just really isnt as great as people are making it out to be.

How much damage do you think France, Italy, Latvia, Germany and Denmark going to do?

Its like a 4, maybe 5 team competition. 3 of them are going to get medals.

Thanks for making my day. Incredible Locke response.

jmac98 · 01-01-2026, 10:30 AM

The term 'snub' is getting more miles than 'soccer mom' these days. Wyatt Johnston for example wasn't snubbed. He just didn't make the team.

GioforPM · 01-01-2026, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Another big mistake is Binnington
That dude has to be one of the worst goalies this year

Maybe they are afraid of his tantrums?

Pretty much the same reason as people are arguing for Bennett: He was great in 4 Nations. He's seen as a clutch guy who rises to big games despite mediocre seasons.

Flamesfan05 · 01-01-2026, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Pretty much the same reason as people are arguing for Bennett: He was great in 4 Nations. He's seen as a clutch guy who rises to big games despite mediocre seasons.

Not really , one is the current playoff MVP having his career year…. The other one had a good playoffs years ago and currently arguably the worst starting goalie in the NHL

GioforPM · 01-01-2026, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Not really , one is the current playoff MVP having his career year…. The other one had a good playoffs years ago

You can argue about it, but that's the reason they are doing it. But who was the goalie in 4 Nations again? Who made those big OT saves?

Flamesfan05 · 01-01-2026, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioforPM

You can argue about it, but that's the reason they are doing it. But who was the goalie in 4 Nations again? Who made those big OT saves?

I guess we have to see but if he is the starting goalie , want to bet they will not win?

I won’t post here again

transplant99 · 01-01-2026, 10:54 AM

Yeah....listening to Armstrong after the reveal yesterday, the entire management team and coaching staff never didnt have Binnington on the roster.

They trust him....and that simply cannot be overlooked.

That being said, Binnington will get one preliminary game as will one of the others (guessing Thompson) and Cooper will go with the better guy to start things off.

People will quibble about this guy or that guy making the team or not. Truth is this looks like a very complete "team" and not just an all-star roster.

Really good players are going to be asked to play roles on the club that would normally fall to others.

I think Armstrong, Cooper and their staffs have earned the benefit of the doubt though.