Colorado Avalanche

Team Canada Quick Hits: Heavy Hitters, Celebrini & Goalie Issues

Team Canada heads to the Olympics loaded with stars, young talent, and depth—gold is the goal, and the pressure is on.

by
Old Prof
February 9, 2026

The Olympics are nearly here, and Canada’s coming in full of confidence and pressure — classic Team Canada style. Jon Cooper’s calling the shots with a lineup stacked with big names you could practically chisel into a monument. They haven’t won the gold since 2014, and after a bronze in 2018, they’re looking to sweep back into the status of being the best in the world.

Team Canada Quick Hit One: Heavy Hitters Up Front

Everyone’s eyes are on Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon — honestly, they make the ice feel smaller when it matters most. Canada’s game plan is basically: let these two do their thing. McDavid’s sitting at 96 points, MacKinnon’s at 93, and somehow they treat pressure like it’s just a suggestion. When the game gets tight, you want guys who can move the ice without overthinking it — and Canada has two of the absolute best for that job.

Team Canada Quick Hit Two: Macklin Celebrini Is a Young Star to Watch

And then there’s Macklin Celebrini. He’s 19 years old, plays like he’s been in the league for a decade. Fourth in NHL scoring, he’s already turning heads and stealing some serious spotlight. Every tournament has that one youngster who pops, and Celebrini feels like that kid. He doesn’t look wide-eyed or nervous — more like he wandered into the room, shrugged, and said, “Okay, what’s next?”

Macklin Celebrini Connor McDavid — Both Macklin Celebrini and Connor McDavid will be playing for Team Canada.

Team Canada Quick Hit Three: Goaltending Questions

Team Canada has three Stanley Cup winners in net. They include Jordan Binnington (2019), Darcy Kuemper (2022), and Logan Thompson (2023). Although that sounds solid, Binnington’s season has been a rollercoaster. If there’s a worry for Team Canada, it’s in the crease. That said, Binnington’s season has been a rollercoaster, so Cooper might need a Plan B ready. It’s not a disaster, just one of those spots where you go, “All right, let’s see how this goes.”

Team Canada Starts Against Team Czechia in Three Days

Canada’s got Czechia on Feb. 12, Switzerland the next day, then France on Feb. 15. It’s just the usual warm-up before the heavy lifting starts. The goal? Gold, pure and simple. Deal with the hype and hope the top guys deliver when it counts.

The roster’s solid. Old hands, new talent, and reliable depth give them what they need. Now it’s just about stepping on the ice and being Team Canada. That’s usually enough.