Hockey Canada has formally announced its 25-man roster for the NHL’s return to Olympic action. They’re the first major power to announce its roster for the event in Milan, Italy, trimming it down and altering it from a preliminary list of 42 players they released back in August.
Forwards
- C Macklin Celebrini (Sharks)
- C Anthony Cirelli (Lightning)
- C Sidney Crosby (Penguins)
- LW Brandon Hagel (Lightning)
- C Bo Horvat (Islanders)
- C Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche)
- LW Brad Marchand (Panthers)
- RW Mitch Marner (Golden Knights)
- C Connor McDavid (Oilers)
- C Brayden Point (Lightning)
- RW Sam Reinhart (Panthers)
- RW Mark Stone (Golden Knights)
- C Nick Suzuki (Canadiens)
- RW Tom Wilson (Capitals)
Defensemen
- D Drew Doughty (Kings)
- D Thomas Harley (Stars)
- D Cale Makar (Avalanche)
- D Josh Morrissey (Jets)
- D Colton Parayko (Blues)
- D Travis Sanheim (Flyers)
- D Shea Theodore (Golden Knights)
- D Devon Toews (Avalanche)
Goaltenders
- G Jordan Binnington (Blues)
- G Darcy Kuemper (Kings)
- G Logan Thompson (Capitals)
The tournament’s most star-studded roster includes the vast majority of the players who took home Canada’s first true best-on-best championship since their gold medal at the 2014 Olympics at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. That includes all eight defensemen – there are no changes on the Canadian blue line from one year ago.
The biggest changes are in the crease. Binnington, who was Canada’s starter at the 4 Nations, may not hold the same path to the No. 1 job as he did 12 months ago but has done enough internationally to maintain his spot on the roster. His .870 SV% and 3.44 GAA with -9.7 goals saved above expected (MoneyPuck) in 23 games have him positioned as one of the NHL’s worst starters in 2025-26, but after posting a .907 SV% at the 4 Nations and a .944 SV% at the 2025 World Championship, he’d made himself an effective lock on the roster.
Joining Binnington between the pipes are Kuemper and Thompson, both of whom finished in the top four in Vezina Trophy voting last year and have both kept up their momentum into 2025-26. Thompson’s 22.9 GSAx leads the league heading into the New Year, while Kuemper has logged a pristine .917 SV% and 2.19 GAA in 23 starts for Los Angeles. They replace Adin Hill (Golden Knights), who’s spent most of the season on injured reserve, and Sam Montembeault, who’s lost his grip on the Canadiens’ starting job to Jakub Dobes.
There’s also some significant turnover among Canada’s forward group. Out from the 4 Nations roster are Sam Bennett, Travis Konecny, and the injured Seth Jarvis. Inserted into the group – as Canada can carry another forward to the Olympics – are Celebrini, Horvat, Suzuki, and Wilson.
Once again, it will be Canada’s forward group that will form its identity. They boast the league’s three leading scorers in MacKinnon, McDavid, and the 19-year-old Celebrini – arguably the front-runner for the Hart Trophy at the halfway point of the season. But beyond that, general manager Doug Armstrong opted to leave a good portion of the country’s top scorers this season at home, at least initially. Three players who are currently top 20 in the league in points – Wyatt Johnston, Mark Scheifele, and Connor Bedard – did not make the team.
It will be Canada’s reluctance to completely lean into its young talent, including Bedard and Calder Trophy frontrunner Matthew Schaefer on defense, that dominates the discourse in the coming days. Of course, injuries over the next month could pave the way for both to join their country in Milan. For some, it will be reminiscent of the 2006 Olympics, the last time Canada failed to medal with NHLers on its roster, when it opted to leave young offensive firepower in Sidney Crosby, Jason Spezza, and Eric Staal and was shut out by Russia in the quarterfinals.
Bo Horvat over Wyatt Johnston is a crime.
Wyatt Johnston sealed his fate with his playoff performance last year. Brutal.
No Johnson, Scheifele or Bedard. Only the 5th, 6th, and 7th most points by Canadian players this year, jeez.
I get the thinking behind roles rather than simply compiling skill. But it has the potential to blow up in their face too. They can’t just run back the 4 Nations strategy and expect it to work again. The competition is stronger.
Unfortunately, this year the Olympics isn’t your fantasy hockey pool.
Thanks Captain Obvious.
Bedard is injured. There are already 4-5 centres on the roster better than Scheifele and Johnston. It’s about building a complete team, not just scoring.
Bedard’s injury isn’t why he was left off the roster, per Doug Armstrong. He should be healthy in time, too.
He’ll make tons of future Team Canadas so no one should be crying over it, but man, leaving that level of superstar talent off a best-on-best competition is a tough decision. Any injury to Celebrini, Point or Suzuki and Bedard would have to be next man up.
This tells me you’ve watched Johnston play minimally. In Gulitzens system he leads the league in PPG’s. In deboers he was on PK1 in a top 10 unit.
By this logic Mitch Marner shouldn’t sniff the team.
Typical wings fan hockey education
the issue Rollie is the guys who may be least deserving are the guys who play for Cooper all the time. point has been brutal for a year now and Corelli is avg at best.
@MoneyBall – Point has been brutal for a year now?!? What are you talking about?…This season has been rough for him (scoring wise for whatever unusual reason) but last season he was 42/40/82. You call that brutal? If you do, you’re an idiot then. Cirelli is average? LOL! He’s one of the better two way players in the league. I don’t think any sensible person with hockey knowledge would call him “average” by league standards. Truth is, you can make arguments up and down the Canada roster if they should or shouldn’t be on the team.
Personally, I’m not particularly fond of Tampa players in the Olympics because I would rather have them healthy for the rest of the season and playoffs than for them to be in an exhibition tournament that really doesn’t mean a thing in the end and could potentially get injured for nothing. The medals are not even actual medals anymore in the Olympics lol.
It’s a really solid Olympic roster for Team Canada. Some may be surprised by some of the choices but they’re clearly aiming to establish an overall team and strategy as each player picked was clearly chosen for a specific role to play on the team. They’ll do quite well especially with Jon Cooper as the coach.
Let the silly, Meaningless exhibition begin! Not to mention, Enabling the corrupt IOC to continue to bankrupt cities, And countries all over the world. Oh yah, And all of the country, Flag waving pride silliness. And then there’s the shutting down of the NHL for nearly three weeks.
Agree re IOC but the players wanted this not the NHL so good to give them a shot. Plus good rest time for most players.
But I thought you hated the NHL and hockey in general? At least that’s the vibe I get from most of your comments.
The really question is can this team beat the Americans? I’m not sure they do. But, there is a reason why I’m sitting on my couch and not picking the team.
Depends on the roster USA assembles. They made some mistakes at forward on the 4 Nations team.
Uh, what about Sam Bennett?
Harley hasn’t had a great year. Parayko had a bad 4 Nations. I think Chychrun or Schaefer earned spots over the lefty Harley, and the Bouchard omission on the right side stands out.
It’s still a really good team but I don’t think as good as it could’ve been. But that’s par for the course from this executive group.
Bouchard? Good fantasy player but a horrible defender. He should be nowhere near the Team Canada roster.
You have to score goals to win. His elite offense more than makes up for the defensive miscues.
Not when you already have have Makar and Morrissey on the roster. You fantasy hockey players really have a hard time with reality.
No it doesn’t. Bouchard can’t be trusted as a defenceman. His ability is on the PP, where Makar will not be ceding his rightful spot. Evan can sit at home with the rest of us
Harley has been injured this year, but also had a huge showing in the playoffs and 4nations last year. I see a bigger issue with lugging that fossil drew doughty along again.
Yes, I think the major “failure” is picking resumee over potential/current shape on the defense. Chychrun and Schaefer would both be difference makers.
And let’s not talk about Binnington (or think about starting him)…
As an American, let me just say: this team is a horror movie. Holy crap.
Also, I can’t wait for a crack at them. If we can win gold, beating a team this good will make it all the more satisfying!
Funny enough, I actually just passed by Bo Horvat Arena earlier today. Yes, he has a hockey rink named after him.
Binnington being one of the 3 best goaltenders Canada has to offer is a *really* discouraging sign for Hockey Canada, holy yikes. No wonder we have a goaltending shortage.
surprised blackwood wasn’t chosen. yes he’s on Colorado but 12-1-1 and they pass is kinda odd
Think Horvat got last spot over Injured Jarvis and bennett. not surprised If they have been told be ready for injury. Bouchard only needed if Makar hurt to play polwer play but never step on ice otherwise.. Pararyko he plays for st. lois. Will not be surprised if he 7 or 8 th defensemen. Scheifele not a well liked guy around league. It will cone down to goalies. americans will be leaving either Swayman or Demko at home. They would start for canada.
Demko should be left at home. Dude hasn’t been elite in years.
Alright gang, help me pick the 14th forward and 8th Dman for Team USA. Here’s the rest of my roster (and Guerin better be listening!):
Forwards:
Eichel
Matthews
K. Tkachuk
B. Tkachuk
Larkin
Thompson
Boldy
Connor
Robertson
Guentzel
Caufield
Hughes (having 2nd thoughts there)
Gauthier
Defense:
McAvoy
Q. Hughes
Werenski
Sanderson
Slavin
Faber
Fox
Goalies:
Hellebuyck
Oettinger
Swayman (could go with Wolf here).
Stoked Keith made the team for throw back hard nosed hockey. I’d add Matt Tkachuk to round out the forwards.
The picks will be debated , and a lot of centers can play the wing easily. But ….Cirelli over Sheifele. It’s a homer pick and Jon Cooper has the right. I just have a hard time with that one.
Hockey Canada are a bunch of old fools—dinosaurs. It’s a crying shame they keep sticking with tired players when they have tons of talent in the younger ranks.
Gold yet again it appears.
Binnington lmao