For the first time since 2014, the NHL is participating in the Olympic Winter Games in 2026. The fans have an opportunity to see the best hockey players on the planet compete for their country on the biggest stage of them all. Team Canada and Team USA are expected to be the heavy favourites so let us take a glimpse at what both 25-man rosters could look like and who has the best Olympic Hockey Roster.
Team Canada
Forwards:
| Sidney Crosby | Connor McDavid | Mitch Marner |
| Steven Stamkos | Nathan MacKinnon | Brayden Point |
| Brad Marchand | Connor Bedard | Mark Stone |
| Carter Verhaeghe | Mark Scheifele | Travis Konecny |
| Sam Reinhart | Zach Hyman |
Notable Omissions:
Dylan Cozens, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nicholas Suzuki, Jonathan Marchessault, Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, Mathew Barzal, and Jared McCann
Defense:
| Devon Toews | Cale Makar |
| Josh Morrissey | Noah Dobson |
| Shea Theodore | Dougie Hamilton |
| Thomas Chabot | Evan Bouchard |
Notable Omissions:
Drew Doughty, Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour, Mackenzie Weegar, Jacob Chychrun, Brent Burns, Alex Pietrangelo, Vince Dunn, Morgan Rielly, Kris Letang, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram.
Goalies:
| Adin Hill |
| Jordan Binnington |
| Stuart Skinner |
Notable Omissions:
Tristan Jarry, Connor Ingram and Logan Thompson
This Canadian team was extremely hard to predict. Looking at the notable omissions, there is a lot of talent left off this roster. That is a testament to how much depth is in Hockey Canada. I chose a veteran forward group with only one player under the age of 25. I decided to include an aging Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby, and Steven Stamkos because unless they have a significant drop-off in production during the next two seasons, they should make this team and be a leader in the locker room. Sidney Crosby is the only player that was on the 2014 Olympic roster that won gold. This team also has a veteran blue line with a good mix of size, speed, and puck movers.
The biggest question mark for Canada is between the pipes. Canada has not been known for having quality goaltending depth. However, Binnington and Hill are Stanley Cup Champions, so they know what it takes to win big games. This is a very good Canadian squad but is it good enough to beat the United States?
Team United States
Forwards:
| Matthew Tkachuk | Auston Matthews | Jason Robertson |
| Jake Guentzel | Jack Hughes | J.T Miller |
| Brady Tkachuk | Jack Eichel | Kyle Connor |
| Clayton Keller | Dylan Larkin | Tage Thompson |
| Alex DeBrincat | Cole Caufield |
Notable Omissions:
Patrick Kane, Vincent Trocheck, Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Boldy, Chris Kreider, Brock Boeser, and Matty Beniers
Defense:
| Quinn Hughes | Adam Fox |
| Brady Skjei | Charlie McAvoy |
| Noah Hanifin | John Carlson |
| Zach Werenski | Jacob Trouba |
Notable Omissions:
Brock Faber, Jake Sanderson, Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, and Jaccob Slavin
Goalies:
| Connor Hellebuyck |
| Thacher Demko |
| Jake Oettinger |
Notable Omissions:
Jeremy Swayman
This USA team is loaded with talent and just like Canada, all four lines can score. This Defense core is elite. They can score, but they can also shut down the opponent’s top players. The United States goaltending has a clear advantage over Canada’s. Connor Hellebuyck has a career .917 save percentage, Thacher Demko has a career .912 save percentage, and Jake Oettinger has a career .913 save percentage. The trio of Hellebuyck, Demko, and Oettinger are all Vezina quality netminders and all three are easily top 10 goaltenders in the NHL. If they continue to play at this level, all three goalies will be locks to make this team.
At the time of these Olympics, only seven players will be over the age of 30 (including two goaltenders) with the oldest being John Carlson at 36 years old. The oldest forward is J.T. Miller at 32 years old. This American squad is arguably the favourite and is well-positioned to win Gold at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy. The USA men’s team has not won gold at the Olympics since 1980.
Who has the best Olympic Hockey Roster?
I would give the edge to the United States. They are a younger team with a ton of skill and speed. They also have a clear advantage between the pipes which could be the difference maker.
Who do you think has the best roster? And what changes would you make to these projections? Check out Area 51 Sports Network for all your sports coverage. Also, check out my colleague Braden Istace’s roster predictions for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.