The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic games are just a couple of months away, and
for Team Canada, crafting the best team possible for this Olympic run is essential.
While all of today’s NHL’s scoring leaders are performing at a torrid pace, the best
fireworks are being showcased by the young stars of the game. Connor Bedard and
Macklin Celebrini are playing better than ever, and it’s good for the game.
The argument for taking on these young superstars is compelling for Team Canada -
they’re both having breakout performances this year and spearheading playoff
campaigns for their respective teams. Bedard averaged less than a point per game in
his first two seasons, but now is leading the Blackhawks with almost a point and a half a
game this season as an assistant captain. Celebrini is also averaging nearly a point and
a half and both players are top three in the league in scoring.
The main detractor in employing Bedard and Celebrini is their lack of experience. While
both centers are performing well, they could fail to fulfill roles for Canada, a team that
already boasts many high-skilled goal scorers like MacKinnon, McDavid, and Crosby.
Canada may opt to instead fulfill role players like Tom Wilson, Nick Suzuki, Brandon
Hagel, and Sam Bennett, adding to it necessary veteran experience.
Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals is red hot, averaging a point per game this
season and can provide physicality to the Team Canada roster. Nick Suzuki of the
Montreal Canadiens had a career high 89 points last season and is a great two-way
player.
Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning had a career high 90 points last season and
is great on the penalty kill. In last year’s Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Championship
run, Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe and could bring high stakes experience to the
Canadian squad.
Any of these role players could be chosen ahead of Bedard and Celbrini. However, the
young superstars’ stellar performances so far this season are impossible to ignore. I
believe both will make the final squad in February.
Doug Armstrong, Team Canada’s General Manager, says most of the roster will be
decided this week. It will be a tight race.