In a recent episode of The Athletic Hockey Show, a panel including Max Bultman, Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman, and FloHockey’s Chris Peters built a hypothetical Team Canada depth chart for the 2026 Olympics. The lineup envisions 15 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goaltenders, crafted after a thorough debate about balance, size, veteran presence, and the roles each player might assume on the Olympic stage.
Forwards: Celebrini’s ascent and role clarity
Earlier this year, Macklin Celebrini appeared to be on the bubble for Olympic selection. By the panel’s consensus, that hesitation has vanished. Celebrini is now viewed as a cornerstone, recognized not only for elite offensive instincts but also for a mature, well-rounded game that includes first-rate skating and competitiveness. Unlike some young players who might be selected primarily for scoring, Celebrini is expected to contribute across the ice and drive play against top-tier competition.
Role allocation was a central theme. The majority agreed on a core group of top-nine forwards: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart, Celebrini, and Brayden Point. Beyond those players, agreement dissolved when detailing the bottom six. The panel did acknowledge that Mark Scheifele and Nick Suzuki have been playing at an exceptionally high level and deserve spots somewhere on the roster. After these nine, consensus was hard to reach.
A recurring topic was Canada’s relative lack of natural size among forwards, a concern amplified by reports that Milan’s rink may be smaller than NHL dimensions. This prompted arguments for players known for physicality and high compete levels, such as Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Mark Stone, Tom Wilson, and Brad Marchand.
Wilson emerged as a focal point. Chris Peters argued that a faster-paced, heavy style would shape the tournament, citing Wilson’s peak form this season—close to a 50-goal pace and a daunting presence in the middle of the ice. Corey Pronman, however, warned that Wilson’s discipline in an IIHF environment—where officiating is strict on head contact—could lead to penalties. In the end, the group leaned toward Marchand and Seth Jarvis for the high-energy, bottom-six roles that will likely spark more discussion when the roster is unveiled.
Bedard’s role: Top-six star or depth piece?
Connor Bedard drew unanimous support for making the team, but his projected usage sparked differing views. Scott Wheeler argued for placing Bedard in the top six, given his offensive burst and dynamic skill set.
The rest of the panel leaned toward Bedard as depth or a power-play specialist. Corey Pronman suggested that, despite Bedard’s extraordinary offensive talent, it would be difficult for him to displace established two-way kinds of players like Reinhart or Marner in the top nine right away. The prevailing thought was that Bedard would likely begin as the 13th forward, contributing heavily on the power play and as a spark plug off the bench.
Defensemen: core, then contention, then final decisions
Canada’s defense corps featured several confirmed pieces: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Morrissey, Thomas Harley, with broad support for Drew Doughty. The real debate centered on the final pairing, weighing between defensive specialists and puck-moving options.
Parayko vs. skill: a clash of philosophies
The most heated exchange centered on Colton Parayko. Many valued his size and penalty-killing prowess as essential countermeasures against physically demanding American lines. Chris Wheeler pushed back, arguing that blue-liners like Makar and Morrissey can handle penalty-killing responsibilities and that Parayko’s puck-management shortcomings would be a liability. Wheeler indicated a greater trust in Makar in high-stakes defensive moments than in Parayko.
Parayko did earn a spot, and Shea Theodore—who was sidelined by an injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off—was included as the seventh defenseman.
The eighth defense spot boiled down to youth versus experience. Four candidates represented distinct profiles: Jakob Chychrun (best spread of skating, offense, size, and shot) as Pronman’s pick; Evan Bouchard (Wheeler’s choice as a power-play specialist and Makar’s insurance); Matthew Schaefer (Mike Bultman’s pick for talent); and Travis Sanheim (Peters’s steady, versatile option).
With the vote split evenly, a compromise was sought. Bultman ultimately shifted to Sanheim, securing the final blue-line slot.
Goaltending: merit on ice, tenure behind the crease
The trio of goalies—Logan Thompson, Jordan Binnington, and Darcy Kuemper—was straightforward. The real question was who should start.
Pronman and Wheeler argued for Thompson, asserting he has been the most effective goaltender this season on merit. Chris Peters, however, noted the difficulty of breaking away from the incumbent gold-medalist from the previous year, Binnington, even if his current season shows struggles. Peters predicted that Binnington would likely start Game 1, given his proven track record and leadership role, regardless of fluctuations in form.
This discussion highlights not only the strategic logic behind Team Canada’s Olympic planning but also the tensions between fresh offense and tested experience, physicality and finesse, and the gamble of giving more ice time to a rising star versus a proven veteran. The final depth chart reflects a careful blend, yet it remains subject to change as players’ forms evolve and as organizers weigh the risks and rewards of each selection.
What do you think about the balance of this roster? Should the team prioritize youth and upside, or lean more on established veterans to anchor the group? Which player would you move or keep as the 13th forward or eighth defenseman, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion about Canada’s Olympic strategy as the deadline approaches.
