The Team Canada management brass had a meeting Thursday evening to discuss the, always controversial, final Team Canada roster spots. Welcome to today’s Olympics and NHL Rumours, with us here at Last Word On Hockey. As we prepare for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Team Canada men’s hockey roster announcement planned for December 31st, there’s still a few spots potentially up for grabs. Let’s cycle through the names, and see if we can generate a scoring opportunity for someone.
Olympics and NHL Rumours and the Team Canada Final Roster Spots
Rumour: Pierre LeBrun from TSN’s Insider Trading gives the details on what spots are up for grabs. He then mentions the names fighting for the spots, as we sit less than two weeks away from the naming of the roster.
Analysis: We were aware of most of the spots up for debate. This seems like one final review, a check of the list, to find out who’s been playing well, and who has been in the, dun dun dun, penalty box.
LeBrun thinks there are spots at each position, forward, defence, and goal, that are still up for grabs. Up front, he believes that only two roster spots are left, with four players, or so, in the running. We will provide one final roster projection into next week, so stay tuned for who we think is on the team, based on the old, process of elimination. Thus, we won’t really discuss the locks here. One thing we will mention, is even though some of these players on forward we will discuss were likely locks in some prognosticators eyes, the way LeBrun discusses them, there is still uncertainty. And he is the insider, after all.
The Last Two Roster Spot Selections On Forward for Olympics and NHL Rumours
We have already had rumour pieces on players we thought would be included. The guys at forward we were pretty certain on included Macklin Celebrini, Tom Wilson, and one stud who is currently injured, Connor Bedard. Of those three, LeBrun is thinking Celebrini and Wilson are in. On today’s 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman further supported the Wilson idea, as he thinks he’s on, too.
Two other players, including Bo Horvat and Nick Suzuki seemed like front-runners for the list of possible selections. However, as of now, those guys aren’t in the group of locks. Two gritty players, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, may also raise some question marks. Does it make sense to have a roster including players like Bennett and Marchand, along with Tom Wilson? The skill guys out there might deserve a shot, if for no other reason than roster balance.
It seems the emerging story is Connor Bedard’s selection. He had been seen as the People’s Choice, meaning that it would be difficult to argue against his inclusion. Now that he his hurt, people like LeBrun think he is just on the outside looking in. In contrast, he does check all the boxes as someone to fit the role of 14th forward. Also, there is still that group of reserves, you know, in case of injuries. It seems at the very least, Bedard would be high on the list of reserves.
Focusing On the Blueline and Could Rookie Matthew Schaefer Make It?
Likewise of the forwards, it appears as though there are two defence spots for the taking. Again, we will wait to give our of choice of the six locks into next week’s article, but you get the idea. The big question is, could 18-year-old standout rookie Matthew Schaefer somehow, someway find himself on the roster. In any sense, he is in the final conversations that in itself is a great feat. The idea would be, could you take him as the eighth guy? Give him some lower leverage chances, and see where he fits. He has the skill set, it might be just a case of making sure he doesn’t look out of place.
The other name that is gaining momentum is Evan Bouchard, as per our Olympics and NHL Rumours. If we go back since November 15th, the defenceman scoring leaders for Canada is as follows.
- Raddysh – 21
- Bouchard – 17
- Chychrun – 16
- Makar – 16
As you can tell, these are guys, in particular Bouchard and Jakob Chychrun, that are making one last push for the roster. Friedman on Chychrun, “is not aurging with it, not arguing with it at all…[Chychrun] not just knocking on the door, he’s blasting it down.” Therefore, between Schaefer, Bouchard, and Chychrun, any one of the three could easily be the eighth guy selected.
There is some debate, given the continuity that existed, that Team Canada could run it back. The group that appeared at the 4 Nations Face-Off tourney, wouldn’t be out of place. As Friedman described, that unit essentially did a phenomenal job with players in and out of the lineup.
They did great juggling the spots then, when a couple of injuries had popped up. The three who’s spots might be up for debate include Thomas Harley, Colton Parayko, and Travis Sanheim. That would be for various reasons, either their play this year or injuries. As LeBrun theorizes, one or two of them might be replaced.
The Goalies, Who Knows with Them
For the battle of who gets the net, it is close. There were only four names mentioned, including Jordan Binnington, Logan Thompson, Darcy Kuemper, and Mackenzie Blackwood. One consensus pick does sound like Thompson, and Friedman did say that he thinks he is on the team. Blackwood was injured for some time, and Scott Wedgewood had garnered some attention, given his outstanding start to the season. Moreover, now that Blackwood is back, he has taken back the crease, with authority.
The other question mark is on Binnington. LeBrun thinks he makes it based on merit. When you think about it, the fact is, he is the only one listed that would be a returnee from the 4 Nations squad. Despite his lacklustre play in 2025-26, there is the thought he does make it on. However, that it is even a discussion on Binnington’s status, is itself interesting.
Main Photo James Guillory-Imagn Images
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