NHL players were finally granted permission to return to the Olympic Games for 2026, and rosters are set to be announced on December 31.
Some are wondering who will make the final cut, and we have both betting picks and odds provided by FanDuel Canada to break down the big decisions Team Canada must make.
Odds to make Canada men's Olympic hockey team 
So far, six players have been named to Team Canada — Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart.
| Player Name |  |
|---|---|
 Sam Bennett (F) |
-20000 |
| Brad Marchand (F) |
-20000 |
 Mitch Marner (F) |
-20000 |
 Josh Morrisey (D) |
-20000 |
 Macklin Celebrini (F) |
-4000 |
 Devon Toews (D) |
-4000 |
 Tom Wilson (F) |
-1500 |
 Brandon Hagel (F) |
-700 |
| Mark Scheifele (F) |
-450 |
 Thomas Harley (D) |
-300 |
 Connor Bedard (F) |
-250 |
 Drew Doughty (D) |
-210 |
| Mark Stone (F) |
-210 |
 Nick Suzuki (F) |
-155 |
| Shea Theodore (D) |
-150 |
 Seth Jarvis (F) |
-150 |
 Colton Parayko (D) |
-140 |
 Evan Bouchard (D) |
-105 |
 Travis Sanheim (D) |
-105 |
 Matthew Schaefer (D) |
-105 |
| Anthony Cirelli (F) |
+105 |
| Bo Horvat (F) |
+250 |
| Zach Hyman (F) |
+340 |
| Robert Thomas (F) |
+600 |
| Travis Konecny (F) |
+750 |
| Wyatt Johnston (F) |
+750 |
| Noah Dobson (D) |
+750 |
 John Tavares (F) |
+750 |
 MacKenzie Weegar |
+900 |
| Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (F) |
+1500 |
| Aaron Ekblad (D) |
+1500 |
| Carter Verhaeghe (F) |
+1500 |
| Brandon Montour (D) |
+1500 |
| Quinton Byfield (F) |
+1500 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Canada as of 12-22.
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Projected Canada men's Olympic hockey team roster and best bets
Projections are based on the latest from TSN.
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
 Sidney Crosby* |
Nathan MacKinnon* |
Connor Bedard |
| Macklin Celebrini |
Connor McDavid* |
Sam Reinhart* |
| Brandon Hagel |
Nick Suzuki |
Mitch Marner |
| Brad Marchand |
Bo Horvat |
Tom Wilson |
| Brayden Point* |
Mark Scheifele |
Nick Suzuki (-155)
Nick Suzuki leads the Montreal Canadiens in points, and he's an excellent two-way player who is so highly sought after in tournaments like this.
A price of -155 for a center is a much better deal than the one we're seeing on Sam Bennett (-20000), and I think the Canadiens captain is much more valuable than Bo Horvat. With books pricing the Islanders center at +250... it seems they agree.
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
|---|---|
| Devon Toews |
Cale Makar* |
| Josh Morrisey |
Shea Theodore |
| Travis Sanheim |
Colton Parayko |
| Matthew Schaefer |
Drew Doughty |
Evan Bouchard (-105)
Not the best defensive defenseman on the board, but very few players can produce offense like Evan Bouchard. The Oilers D-man has also played in back-to-back Cup finals, so he knows what it's like to play under pressure.
I think Bouchard fits in better than Matthew Schaeffer, who isn't ready for a spot like this just yet. Ask me my opinion in four years...
| Goaltenders |
|---|
| Jordan Binnington |
| Darcy Kuemper |
| Logan Thompson |
Logan Thompson to start vs. Czechia (+145)
Ok, how is this plus money? Logan Thompson is part of the Vezina conversation, while Jordan Binnington looks like he's playing with a hole in his glove... and pads...
LT was rumored to have been left off the 4 Nations team due to drama with an assistant coach, but if Team Canada is serious about going for Gold in Milano, Thompson is their guy.
*already named to the team.
Will Connor Bedard play on Team Canada?
After suffering a freak shoulder injury in the dying seconds of a game vs. St. Louis, Connor Bedard's Olympic status remains in limbo. The young phenom is set to be reevaluated in early January following rehab. Bedard is still listed at -250 to make the roster.
Team Canada 2026 Winter Olympics FAQs
The 2026 Team Canada Olympic hockey roster must be announced no later than December 31, 2025.
The 2026 Olympic hockey tournament begins on February 11, 2026, with Canada playing their first game on February 12, 2026.
Yes, Connor McDavid is set to make his Olympic debut at the 2026 Olympic games.
Yes, Sidney Crosby is expected to play in the 2026 Olympics, likely marking the final time he dons the Canada jersey.
