It’s the roster decision that will have the entire nation talking. With the Olympic Games in Milan just weeks away, the pressure to finalize Team Canada’s lineup is reaching a boiling point. TSN’s Director of Scouting Craig Button and analyst Mike Johnson have just dropped their latest and final roster projection, and they didn’t play it safe.
Gone is the “loyalty” to familiar chemistry—Zach Hyman has been cut. In his place? The phenom, Connor Bedard, who is finally being unleashed alongside Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. But the biggest shock isn’t up front. It’s on the blue line, where an 18-year-old rookie has been named as the team’s “break glass in case of emergency” weapon.
If you thought this roster was set in stone, think again. The experts are betting on high-octane skill over safety, and the projected lineup looks absolutely terrifying.
Projected Team Canada Roster
Here is the updated consensus lineup. Note the massive injection of youth on the first line and the third defensive pair.
Expert Analysis: Team Canada’s Bold New Look
When you look at the wealth of talent Canada possesses, the hardest job isn’t finding good players—it’s telling great players they aren’t going. Button and Johnson’s latest projection proves that pedigree alone won’t book your ticket to Italy.
The Bedard Effect
The headline grabber is undeniably Connor Bedard. A month ago, leaving him off seemed prudent to allow for veteran stability. Now? It’s impossible. Bedard replaces Zach Hyman, signaling a shift from “grinding chemistry” to pure, unadulterated skill.
The proposed top line is the stuff of video game dreams: Crosby (LW), MacKinnon (C), and Bedard (R). The logic is sound—Crosby and MacKinnon can handle the heavy lifting defensively, allowing Bedard to do what he does best: terrorize goaltenders.
The Blue Line Surprise: Matthew Schaefer
While the top six defensemen (Makar, Toews, Morrissey, etc.) remain stable, the 4th pairing is a massive curveball. Button and Johnson have tapped Matthew Schaefer. Yes, the 18-year-old rookie.
The rationale is fascinating: Schaefer is the “emergency” option. If Canada needs a jolt of speed, instinct, and pure puck-moving ability, Schaefer offers a dynamic element no one else can replicate. To balance his youth, he’s paired with the ultimate stabilizer: Drew Doughty. Pairing the calm, Olympic veteran with the explosive rookie is a masterstroke in roster construction.
The Goalie Dilemma
In the crease, Jordan Binnington holds the No. 1 spot, but only by a thread. The experts agree he is surviving on “grace”—his past performance in the 4 Nations and Stanley Cup pedigree is outweighing a lackluster 2025-26 NHL season. However, the leash is short. Darcy Kuemper is waiting in the wings as the “Steady Eddie” option if Binnington falters early.
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Great projection. I have a feeling Bedard’s injury has cost him a spot in the lineup. We will find out tomorrow! Go Canada Go!