Predicting the Team USA and Team Canada 2030 Olympic Rosters

The fun on the 2026 Winter Olympics may have come to an end, but it's never too early to start imaging what the 2030 Winter Olympic rosters could look like. A lot can change in four years. Some current Olympians/NHLers could be close to retirement, if they haven't gotten there already. A whole new crop of talent will begin entering the league or will be making the transition from juniors and the AHL to the big stage of the National Hockey League.

There have been a ton of takes flying around following the historic gold medal game but I believe the most important one is that the game has never been better in terms of talent and entertainment level. Take the gold medal game out of it, and practically the entire qualifying round came down to one shot on goal in 3-on-3 overtime. Canada and USA are clearly the top dogs with the Americans currently holding bragging rights. But the truth is, the other countries aren't that far off. That is only going to improve four years down the road.

So what are these rosters going to look like? For now, let's focus on a potential gold medal rematch and see what USA and Canada could look like when the NHL heads to the 2030 French Alps Olympics.

Team Canada

Chris' Projected Roster

Celebrini - McDavid - Bedard
MacKinnon - Johnston - Marner
McKenna - Suzuki - Point
Hagel - Cirelli - Jarvis
Guenther - Crosby

Schaefer - Makar
Harley - Bouchard
Chychrun - Dobson
Power - Clarke

Thompson
Montembault
Joshua Ravensbergen

After the success Macklin Celebrini had on the Olympic stage, you have to think Canada is already regretting not taking Connor Bedard and, especially, Matthew Schaefer to Milan. Not only will they avoid that mistake in 2030, the two will be key parts of their future roster.

Sidney Crosby, on the other hand, will be 42 years old. Will he actually be under consideration at that age? Injuries already played a role this time around and kept him out of the medal round. As a Rangers fan, I know I'm supposed to hate Sidney Crosby, but I don't. He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest, player to ever play the game (behind only Wayne Gretzky, I suppose). And at the end of the day, he's a tremendous representation of the game of hockey. Logic would suggest that he's retired by this time. But, on the other hand, if there's a player I could see still playing and contributing at 42, it's Crosby. And for that, I see him as a depth piece on the roster.

There may be some doubts defensively, but honestly, they might be better in 2030 when they don't have to include Colton Parayko or an end-of-the-road Drew Doughty. Matthew Schaefer will be a problem for USA, as will Thomas Harley, who is only going to get better over the next four years.

Goaltending, on the other hand, is still incredibly shaky, hence why I'm going on a limb and giving San Jose Sharks prospect Joshua Ravensbergen consideration here. For Canada's sake, he better be good enough to compete for a job here.

Roberto's Projected Roster

Celebrini - McDavid - Bedard
MacKinnon- Point - Marner
Hagel - Suzuki - Johnston
McKenna - Fantilli - Johnson
Guenther - Byfield

Schaefer - Makar
Harley - Verhoeff
Morrissey - Dobson
Power - Clarke

Thompson
Blackwood
Hofer

After the high-octane Gold medal matchup, many hockey fans immediately turned their attention to the 2030 Olympic Games in the French Alps. I believe we will mostly see familiar faces, but with an infusion of youth into both squads.

Canada will have the chance to correct its mistake by bringing Schaefer who, given a few more years, will be firmly established in his superstardom, along with a few other young Canadian players who will have improved their skills enough to be strong contenders. The Columbus connection of Kent Hughes and Adam Fantilli would be fun as both players are adapting now to the learning curve of the NHL. And while we're at it, why not insert two of the best Canadian players from this upcoming draft year, Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff, as well.

Chip's Projected Roster

Celebrini - McDavid - Bedard
MacKinnon - Johnston - Marner
McKenna - Suzuki - Point
Hagel - Crosby - Suzuki
Guenther - Cirelli

Schaefer - Makar
Chychrun - Verhoeff
Morrissey - Bouchard
Power - Dobson

Thompson
Montembault
Hofer

Would Team Canada really bring back Cale Makar after the way he played in the Gold Medal game, getting caught out of position on the golden goal? Yes, of course they would. Only an idiot GM would keep an elite player like that off the roster based on one play that was really not his fault. Anyhoo.

I think Team Canada goes back to what won them the title at the 4 Nations Face-Off: a commitment to skill over grit. And with all the skill oozing from the Great White North, no one could blame them. Sidney Crosby is going to be at the very end of his career, but if he's still playing there's no way he's not part of the roster. In addition to the young players listed, there's potential here for a lot of amazing young players who aren't even on the radar to be part of this team by 2030, like Michael Misa and Roger McQueen.

Team USA

Chris' Projected Roster

Tkachuk - Matthews - Tkachuk
Boldy - Eichel - Keller
Robertson - Hughes - Caufield
Knies - Larkin - Thompson
Cooley Will Smith

Hughes - McAvoy
Sanderson - Faber
LaCombe - Hutson
Werenski - Fox

Oettinger
Dustin Wolf
Hellebuyck

They just won the gold medal. It's obvious USA Hockey is in a good place, at least in terms of talent. That said, the "core" of this group will remain intact come 2030—although I suppose I'll take this as an opportunity to eat a spoonful of crow.

Look, congratulations are in order for J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck. They took a lot of trash, specifically from us, about making this roster. But they accepted their role and played it pretty damn well—perfectly, in the sense that the Americans didn't allow a power play goal the entire tournament. They're proud and feel vindicated, as they should. It's an incredible accomplishment. That doesn't change how I feel about them from a Rangers perspective, and I stand by the belief that this roster could and would have been better with Jason Robertson in the picture. If anything, that just goes to show how deep the talent pool is with USA Hockey. Still, they'll be on the wrong side of 30 come 2030, as will Brock Nelson and several others from this gold medal squad.

Lane Hutson and Jackson LaCombe will take on some of the defensive responsibilities. Cole Caufield will surely be in the picture. The University of Minnesota fan in me would love to include a line of Knies-Cooley-Snuggerud, but I don't see St. Louis Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud becoming that good of a forward. So, it's San Jose's Will Smith who will take that final spot. Also going back to roles, Knies-Larkin-Thompson would be a fantastic "fourth" line that balances tenacity and talent.

Lastly, Dustin Wolf is going to be one of the three goalies on this team. Bookmark it now. Hellebuyck will be 36 so there's a chance he'll be aged out, but also a chance he won't. Worst case for him, he's as good of a third string goalie you'll ever get.

Roberto's Projected Roster

Tkachuk - Matthews - Tkachuk
Boldy - Eichel - Thompson
Knies - Hughes - Caufield
Robertson - Larkin - Leonard
Cooley Beniers

Hughes - McAvoy
Werenski - Faber
Sanderson - Hutson
Buium - Hughes

Oettinger
Knight
Hellebuyck

Team USA will double down on the sibling camaraderie by bringing all three Hughes brothers at the expense of Adam Fox. It's hard to imagine Guerin and USA's management team believing they need to make many changes, so Adam Fox will likely remain sidelined. This may be the wrong move, but it seems the most likely one.

After Swayman's turbulent performance, the chances of him getting the nod again are slim, so Spencer Knight will step in. Additionally, since a few years have passed, the goalie dynamic has shifted, with Hellebuyck now being on the older side of his career and Oettinger being the one called upon.

Chip's Projected Roster

Tkachuk - Matthews - Tkachuk
Boldy - Eichel - Hughes
Robertson - Larkin - Tage Thompson
Perreault - Hagens - Leonard
Smith - Beniers

Hughes - McAvoy
Werenski - Hughes
Sanderson - Hutson
Buium - Fox

Hellebuyck
Oettinger
Wolf

Stock up on the milk, because Adam Fox and Jason Robertson make the roster. I agree with Roberto that all three of the Hughes brothers make the roster, but I think Brock Faber is the guy who gets dropped to make it happen.

If Guerin is still running the show, my guess is he will look for Trocheck to play if he's still in the NHL, or a similar type of penalty kill specialist, but I don't know who that might be at this point. Maybe it's Tage Thompson, or maybe it's Alex Tuch. I don't know if Guerin will do this, but if it's me I'm bringing the Boston/World Juniors connection with the Perreault-Hagens-Leonard line.

In goal, yeah, Hellebuyck will be old, but I think he'll still get the call. Much like Team Canada, there's a lot of space for someone to emerge over the next couple of years and put themselves on the radar.