Team Canada: 2026 Roster

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Yeah, I’m gonna say that the guy who was the captain of the championship-winning team, who just led that team in scoring, should probably get a roster spot.

[Hackey]

Crosby is still playing at an elite level and embodies everything you want in a leader. I can't see a scenario where he isn't on the team unless he's hurt

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Crosby is still playing at an elite level and embodies everything you want in a leader. I can't see a scenario where he isn't on the team unless he's hurt

He was even playing less than 100% healthy.

He's on the team barring a huge fall off next year.

[Canada 02]

Weegar

https://twitter.com/user/status/1892769474996056210

[metroneck]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Celebrini could have played this year. He's 18 and is just under a ppg. Who cares about age

Family bias aside, Macklin has the motor to be an effective 4th line checker on the Olympic squad, and versatile enough to play up and down the lineup as needed.

I also think you will see him play with more edge as he matures.

[Psytic]

We need more youth. They really can’t run it back with the same roster. They looked progressively worse and more tired every single game after the first periods and got dominated physically at times in the late game. I would go younger personally. Seemed to be a lack of chemistry out there to that they will need to factor in.

Binnington can’t be your starter. I don’t care if he had 10 minutes of brilliance. He let in #### goals every game outside of that stretch.. I’d rather Thompson or Blackwood. Binnington can go 3rd string.

[Mathgod]

I didn't think Crosby was good at all in either of the games against the US. His production was all against SWE/FIN.

I didn't hear any reports of him playing hurt.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

I didn't think Crosby was good at all in either of the games against the US. His production was all against SWE/FIN.

I didn't hear any reports of him playing hurt.

He almost didnt play the tournament because he was hurt.

They left it up to him.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by transplant99

He almost didnt play the tournament because he was hurt.

They left it up to him.

But he was healed up, or he wouldn't be able to play. He looked his best in the very first game.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

But he was healed up, or he wouldn't be able to play. He looked his best in the very first game.

Again he was playing hurt but not enough to keep him out....it was all over the place at the start of the tourney.

This was 4 days before the start of it

Sidney Crosby remained out of action for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

Head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters the Penguins captain would miss the cross-state battle against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Meanwhile, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the decision to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off will be in Crosby's hands.

"The Penguins have said that this is his call," Friedman continued on the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. "Obviously, Sidney Crosby being who he is and what he's done for this franchise, they have said, 'If you want to play in this, it's your decision and we will support it.'"

[Mathgod]

^ he was not quite healed 4 days before the tournament. That doesn't mean he wasn't healed by the time he played in the first game.

His performance in that first game would suggest he was close to 100% in terms of health.

His performance in the games vs the US would suggest he can't keep up anymore against the top players in the world.

If he's on next year's Olympic team, I worry it'll be like Sakic in 2006, where he was good against Italy and Germany, but all zeroes after that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

^ he was not quite healed 4 days before the tournament. That doesn't mean he wasn't healed by the time he played in the first game.

His performance in that first game would suggest he was close to 100% in terms of health.

His performance in the games vs the US would suggest he can't keep up anymore against the top players in the world.

If he's on next year's Olympic team, I worry it'll be like Sakic in 2006, where he was good against Italy and Germany, but all zeroes after that.

It's not uncommon for an injured guy to play a great game, and then the injury catches up.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Psytic

We need more youth. They really can’t run it back with the same roster. They looked progressively worse and more tired every single game after the first periods and got dominated physically at times in the late game. I would go younger personally. Seemed to be a lack of chemistry out there to that they will need to factor in.

Binnington can’t be your starter. I don’t care if he had 10 minutes of brilliance. He let in #### goals every game outside of that stretch.. I’d rather Thompson or Blackwood. Binnington can go 3rd string.

IMO for the olympics you will see guys like Marchand and Stone out for younger players. Maybe even Bedard and Celebrini.

And I can almost guarantee that if Binnington has a decent season to start next year he will be back as one of the 3 goalies. Doesn't mean he will start.

[Snuffleupagus]

Assuming it's on big ice, we'll need lots of speed in the lineup, not sure Stone, Marchand or Doughty will fit the bill, I also think Bedard would be a huge asset with the open ice.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Assuming it's on big ice, we'll need lots of speed in the lineup, not sure Stone, Marchand or Doughty will fit the bill, I also think Bedard would be a huge asset with the open ice.

It’s NHL ice in 2026.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

But he was healed up, or he wouldn't be able to play. He looked his best in the very first game.

You think players only play when they're 100%? I doubt Crosby would miss a tournament like this even if he was only 70-80%. He just had back to back 90+ seasons and is on pace for something similar again this year. And he doesn't exactly have an all star supporting cast. I think Canada should cut some of the older guys for the Olympics but Crosby definitely isn't one of them. His presence/leadership going into those high pressure games is huge.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

If there isn’t a J Fricken Huberdeau thread yet there should be.
Not worth 10m. I get that.
To reinvent yourself at his age (in hockey terms) and be a net front guy and never once complain or defy it?

That’s a good man.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

^ he was not quite healed 4 days before the tournament. That doesn't mean he wasn't healed by the time he played in the first game.

His performance in that first game would suggest he was close to 100% in terms of health.

His performance in the games vs the US would suggest he can't keep up anymore against the top players in the world.

If he's on next year's Olympic team, I worry it'll be like Sakic in 2006, where he was good against Italy and Germany, but all zeroes after that.

Did I dream the clip of MacKinnon helping Crosby get his jersey on for game one because Crosby’s arm was ####ed?

[Dunnyberg]

What's going on with Quebec? No Quebecker made the 4 Nations team except Montembeault, and he may have been a political or business pick. I dont think many Quebec players warranted consideration, maybe Lafreniere or PLD because of his size.
Montembeautl is in fact the only starting goalie in the league from Quebec, and Fleury is the only backup.
For skaters, PLD is having a bounce back year and Lafreniere is becoming a quasi first liner, but there isnt much else up and coming.

In a province where hockey basically replaced the Catholic Church, this is a very worrying situation. Are Quebec's best male athletes all becoming Cirque du Soleil performers? Are the birthrates so low there that they cant produce elite NHL players anymore? The Q hasnt produced a first round draft pick in the last two drafts, and only two 2nd round picks.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Psytic

We need more youth. They really can’t run it back with the same roster. They looked progressively worse and more tired every single game after the first periods and got dominated physically at times in the late game. I would go younger personally. Seemed to be a lack of chemistry out there to that they will need to factor in.

Binnington can’t be your starter. I don’t care if he had 10 minutes of brilliance. He let in #### goals every game outside of that stretch.. I’d rather Thompson or Blackwood. Binnington can go 3rd string.

Wyatt Johnston will be on this team. I almost 100% guarantee it.

He apparently played himself off of the 4 nations team with his slow start. Jarvis will be there too