The wait is finally over, but the result is a bittersweet pill for Canadian hockey fans to swallow. Hockey Canada has officially finalized the 25-man roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and while the lineup is stacked with generational talent like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon, the conversation is dominated by one massive absence: Connor Bedard.
The Chicago Blackhawks phenom, who was in the midst of a breakout season, has been left off the squad following a heartbreaking shoulder injury. In his place rises a new teenage sensation—North Vancouver’s Macklin Celebrini. The 19-year-old San Jose Sharks center has shocked the hockey world by cracking the roster, sitting third in league scoring and proving he belongs among the elite.
Below, we break down the full roster, the controversial goalie overhaul, and what this lineup means for Canada’s Gold Medal hopes.
For weeks, the debate raged: Would Team Canada take the kids? The answer is a resounding “Yes,” but perhaps not the kid we all expected. The exclusion of Connor Bedard is a massive blow to the romanticized idea of seeing the “Next One” play alongside McDavid and Crosby. However, general managers rarely make decisions based on romance; they make them based on health and winning. Bedard’s upper-body injury made the risk too great, opening the door for Macklin Celebrini to step into the spotlight.
And let’s be clear—Celebrini isn’t a charity pick. Trailing only McDavid and MacKinnon in league scoring is an absurd stat line for a 19-year-old. His inclusion signals that Canada isn’t just relying on the “Old Guard”; they are integrating the next wave of speed and skill immediately.
A Major Shakeup in the Crease
While the forward group grabs the headlines, the real surgery happened in the crease. The management group looked at the 4 Nations Face-Off roster and decided it wasn’t good enough. Gone are Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault. In are Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper, joining the incumbent Jordan Binnington.
This is the area that terrifies Canadian fans the most. Unlike the forwards (where we cut 40-goal scorers like Mark Scheifele just to make room) or the defense (anchored by the incomparable Cale Makar), goaltending remains the one question mark. Binnington brings the fiery demeanor, but can Thompson or Kuemper provide the stability if things go sideways in Milan?
The defense remains largely intact from the 4 Nations tournament, providing chemistry that is often lacking in these short tournaments. The pairing of Cale Makar with Devon Toews is a luxury no other nation has—a built-in NHL chemistry that allows Makar to roam free while Toews locks it down.
Here is the official lineup that will fight for Gold in Milan:
In the end, this roster is a fascinating blend of the old guard (Crosby, Doughty) and the new blood (Celebrini, Harley). The omissions of Bedard, Scheifele, and Konecny are tough, but they speak to the insane depth of Canadian hockey. The pressure is now on. Anything less than Gold with this group will be considered a failure.
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