My ideal 2026 Canada roster

Team: 2023-24 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 2, 2024

Published: Feb. 3, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Few thoughts:

1st line: Don’t necessarily want to put Hyman there, but his being the perfect fit beside McDavid and Marner (who he played alongside in Toronto) forces him onto the team. Somewhat along the lines of Chris Kunitz making the team as a product of his play with Crosby back in 2014.

2nd line: Speed. Three guys who can outskate anyone who are also passing and shooting dual threats. Potential to be the hockey version of the harlem globetrotters.

3rd line: No single “vision” for this line. Crosby being 38 (at the time of the tournament) would fare better with fewer responsibilities on the wing. Point is the next best forward who provides a good scoring punch and Verhaeghe who is a very efficient scorer and constantly gets overlooked but is very deserving of having a spot on this team.

4th line: Good luck scoring against those three.

1st d-pair: No explanation needed

2nd & 3rd d-pair: trying for the best balance of offense and defense. Canada actually doesn’t have many olympic level shutdown-style defensemen so they might have to settle with playing high(er) event hockey.

Just missing the team:
Forwards: Travis Konecny, Robert Thomas, Pierre-Luc Dubois
Defensemen: Thomas Chabot, Josh Morrissey, Aaron Ekblad


Players I think will age out of contention for a spot by 2026: Brad Marchand, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Jared Spurgeon, Drew Doughty, Alex Pietrangelo