2026 Milan Olympics Team Canada Preview

This article is part of an ongoing series that follows up on Predicting Olympic Rosters as Chris, Roberto, and Chip take note of how their predictions match each countries official line up for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. To view more of the series go here.

Especially with consideration to some of the decisions Bill Guerin made for Team USA, it's fair to suggest that Team Canada are the easy favorites heading into the 2026 Milan Olympics, as they often are in all international competition. Canada has won gold in ice hockey every year the NHL players were participants in the Olympics: 2002 in Salt Lake City, 2010 in Vancouver, and 2014 in Sochi.

More recently, they took home the championship in the 4 Nations Face-Off last season. They will look to continue on that winning trajectory across the next week and a half led by a dominant trio of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby.

Chris (18 out of 25)

Reinhart - McDavid - Marner
Crosby - MacKinnon - Bedard
Hagel - Cirelli* - Point*
Konecny - Johnston - Jarvis+
Marchand - Bennett+ - Wilson 

Toews - Makar
Harley - Bouchard 
Theodore - Dobson
Schaefer - Morrissey 

Binnington - Hill - Montembault 

*Injured
+Replacements

Hand up, I probably shouldn't have slept on Macklin Celebrini making this team. My logic was Team Canada wasn't going to take both young guns and I clearly went with the wrong choice. I also still can't believe they decided to leave Matthew Schaefer off, not to mention Noah Dobson or Evan Bouchard (for Colton Parayko, really?). At the end of the day, Canada has Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon, I don't think they're going to lose too much sleep over how their blue line shapes up.

With Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point both hurt, Canada absolutely should run that Marchand - Bennett - Wilson trio as a third or fourth line, I seriously don't think you could piece together a less ideal line to go up against with the entire league in mind.

I am glad Canada had some sense and changed up their goaltending from 4 Nations. However, chances are they're surely going to count on another big time run from Jordan Binnington.

Chip (17 out of 25)

Reinhart - McDavid - Marner
Crosby - Mackinnon - Wilson
Celebrini- Johnston - Jarvis+
Scheifele - Bennett - Point*
Marchand - Suzuki - Geekie

Toews - Makar
Chychrun - Schaefer
Dobson - Morrissey
Doughty - Bouchard

Binnington - Hill - Blackwood

*Injured
+Replacements

When I left Connor Bedard off it was because he had just been injured and I wasn't sure he would be back in time. Oh well.

Leaving off kids like Matthew Schaefer and Wyatt Johnston is not only un-fun, but it also hurts your chances of winning. Look, I get it, the United States team did dumb stuff at 4 Nations and so you want to have in-your-face players like Bennett and Wilson who can punch back. But, why? Let the Brothers Tkachuk act like fools and then go about your business and win gold with the most talented roster in Olympic history.

Tom Wilson is a scumbag and a coward and my least favorite thing in the NHL. The fact that this clown ass is on Team Canada is the biggest blight to Canada outside of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Imagine how much fun this team would be to root for if you had Crosby with not only Celebrini, but Bedard and Schaefer too. Truly the past and future of the NHL on display. Instead, we get Tom Wilson, like a crap stain in a pair of brand new boxers.

Roberto (17 out of 25)

Reinhart - McDavid - Marner
Crosby - Mackinnon - Bedard
Celebrini- Johnston - Jarvis+
Hagel - Scheifele - Geekie
Marchand - Suzuki - Point*

Toews - Makar
Chychrun - Morrissey
Theodore - Dobson
Doughty - Schaefer

Binnington - Blackwood - Hill

*Injured
+Replacements

I believe Canada will regret not bringing Mackenzie Blackwood, but they need to be truly tested to reach that point of regret, so who knows. I disagree with some of their decisions: Morgan Geekie should get a chance and the young phenom Matthew Schaefer has more than earned his spot. But with five former number one overall picks already on the roster, it's hard to find any gaps or weaknesses aside from possible goaltending issues.

Team Canada Preliminary Round Schedule

• Feb. 12, 2026, 10:40 a.m. vs. Team Czechia
• Feb. 13, 2026, 3:10 p.m. vs. Team Switzerland
• Feb. 15, 2026, 10:40 a.m. vs. Team France

Predictions

Chris: I mean, aside from Team Czechia it doesn't get much easier for Team Canada. Expect them to go 3-0 with little-to-no trouble along the way.

Chip: There's no way they don't go 3-0 here. It's entirely possible that they don't even give up a goal to Switzerland or France. I'm optimistic that Tom Wilson will do something stupid and get himself thrown off the team.

Roberto: I'm honestly worried for France. A severe loss could be devastating for a team's national hockey program. Will Czechia challenge them? Maybe a little, but Canada should have no trouble sweeping through any opponent, whether it's a skill game or a gritty, physical one they need to play.