2028 World Cup of Hockey: Early Team Canada roster projections
With Steven Ellis and Scott Maxwell
It wasn’t long ago that the exercise of constructing best-on-best rosters was pure fantasy, as we went 11 years between seeing NHLers compete for undisputed international hockey supremacy. Today? We’re spoiled. We had the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and the Olympics in 2026, and we’ll get a World Cup in 2028 before another Olympic tournament in 2030.
We no longer have to operate in the theoretical; we’ve seen the world’s most elite men’s hockey nations clash. We know which players flourished and which didn’t. When we project rosters going forward, we do so making educated guesses this time around.
This summer at Daily Faceoff, we’ll kick tires on what the top World Cup rosters might look like. The eight participating nations aren’t confirmed, but we know what the top half dozen countries will be at least.
A few rules to know for this exercise:
1. Just as the 4 Nations did, we’ll use NHL-sized rosters rather than the Olympic-sized ones in these projections. That means 20 skaters and three goalies rather than the 22 and three that teams brought to Milan this winter – until or unless the NHL confirms a roster-size change.
2. The tournament is 19 months away, and teams will likely be finalized around 17 months from now, so we’ll do a fair amount of age-based projection here, whether that means the ascension and best-on-best debuts of certain youngsters or the aging out of some players from 2026 Olympic squads.
We begin with Canada, who was knocked off the throne by USA at the 2026 Winter Games.
FORWARDS (13) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Macklin Celebrini | Connor McDavid | Wyatt Johnston |
| Mitch Marner | Nathan MacKinnon | Connor Bedard |
| Dylan Guenther | Nick Suzuki | Porter Martone |
| Brandon Hagel | Sidney Crosby | Sam Reinhart |
| Seth Jarvis |
The (fun) challenge of forecasting a year and a half out is projecting how much youth will replace the veteran brigade. I suspect we’ve seen the last of the gritty Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and perhaps Tom Wilson in best-on-best, based on age alone; Mark Stone’s physical deterioration and lack of foot speed might bounce him off the 2028 roster as well. I still have Crosby around as the elder statesman because, well, I can’t imagine Crosby being snubbed for a Team Canada as long as he’s an active player. As for me projecting out some of the kids: I’m confident another year-plus will finally give Bedard the runway to become an All-Star-caliber player and force his way onto the Canadian roster – assuming he can bounce back from his offseason shoulder injury, expected to sideline him into November 2026.
Biggest flex: I vault Johnston from not even on the Canadian Olympic team to the first line for 2028. Yep. He’s the most deadly power-play scorer in the NHL, and he notched three 30-goal seasons, including a 45-goal effort, before turning 23.
Toughest cut: Gavin McKenna certainly could be a superstar already by midway through his second NHL season – Celebrini was, after all – but the questions about McKenna’s consistency and two-way play lower his floor slightly, so it’s possible he finds himself where Bedard was this past winter, still needing to show the all-round game needed to play at Canada’s standard. I could also seriously see small, scrappy Zach Benson making a push for a bottom-six spot to replace Marchand’s contributions, while Beckett Sennecke has a real shot, too.
Also considered: Beckett Sennecke, Tom Wilson, Mark Stone, Zach Benson, Mark Scheifele, Robert Thomas, Bo Horvat, Gavin McKenna, Mathew Barzal, Travis Konecny, Adam Fantilli, Dylan Holloway, Brayden Point, Quinton Byfield, Logan Stankoven
FORWARDS (13) – Scott Maxwell’s picks
| Macklin Celebrini | Connor McDavid | Wyatt Johnston |
| Connor Bedard | Nathan MacKinnon | Sidney Crosby |
| Brandon Hagel | Nick Suzuki | Mitch Marner |
| Logan Stankoven | Robert Thomas | Dylan Guenther |
| Seth Jarvis |
It’s always tough to truly nail down Canada’s forward group. For the last number of years, it’s boasted a pool of six or seven extremely talented forwards who are obvious locks and then another tier made up of somewhere between 25-50 forwards who you could see making Team Canada and not getting too up in arms about it. The last couple tournaments, Canada has opted to go for the more physical side of that group of 25-50 forwards, and it felt like it finally bit them in the Olympics with how much Canada struggled to score at times and often had to rely on their top line of McDavid, MacKinnon and Celebrini just to get anything out of their stars. I’ve reunited the McDavid-Celebrini and MacKinnon-Crosby pairs, but have given them the scoring support on the wings which they lacked at the Olympics in Johnston and Bedard. If those fail, or a 40-year-old Crosby shows his age and needs to be lower in the lineup, it’s easy to see how any of Stankoven, Thomas, Guenther or Jarvis could fit into their top six if they need another element. Hagel, Suzuki or Marner could also help out, but I like keeping the three of them together to act as Canada’s line of shutdown forwards/penalty kill specialists so that they don’t feel obligated to shoehorn an Anthony Cirelli or Sam Bennett into the lineup.
Biggest flex: Stankoven feels like a stretch until you think about it more. There is a bit of optimistic projection going on with this pick, because otherwise bringing in a guy with a career-high of 44 points might be a bit low by Canada’s standards (then again, Bennett’s career high before 4 Nations was 49 points, and Cirelli’s was 45). But the Carolina Hurricanes’ Cup win showcased his versatility. He can play as a pesky Brad Marchand-esque forward in the bottom of the lineup, and if something isn’t clicking in the top of the lineup, he can provide a different playstyle there if need be. He’s the type of player Canada always big-brains onto their roster, but he also comes with actual offensive upside as shown with 11 goals in 19 playoff games, and there’s still room to grow in the next year and a half.
Toughest cut: I want to say the likes of Sam Reinhart, Mark Scheifele and Mark Stone feel like tough cuts, but they’ll be respective 32, 34 and 35 years old, so who’s to say they’ll be playing at prime levels at those ages, compared to this younger contingent coming up? The true toughest cut was Brayden Point, because he’s still in his prime years and could be good enough for Canada, but it all depends on how he responds to last season. 18 goals and 50 points in 63 games is not what we’ve come to expect from him, and whether this regression is age-related or luck-related, I’m hedging my bets so far that this will continue going into the World Cup in 2026.
Also considered: Matthew Barzal, Zach Benson, Adam Fantilli, Dylan Holloway, Zach Hyman, Gavin McKenna, Brayden Point, Sam Reinhart, Mark Scheifele, Mark Stone
FORWARDS (13) – Steven Ellis’ picks
| Macklin Celebrini | Connor McDavid | Wyatt Johnston |
| Sidney Crosby | Nathan MacKinnon | Connor Bedard |
| Mark Scheifele | Nick Suzuki | Mitch Marner |
| Brandon Hagel | Adam Fantilli | Porter Martone |
| Seth Jarvis |
Canada has the largest pool to choose from, with 268 forwards skating in at least one game this past season alone. It goes without saying, which makes some decisions quite difficult – and, in some cases, online arguments get a little out of hand. With this group, we’re talking about 13 All-Star-caliber players, all of whom already play huge roles on their teams. Swapping one fourth-liner for another isn’t going to change the makeup of a team – simple as that.
Personally, I’d like the NHL to adopt the IIHF model and allow teams to carry 14 forwards and eight defenders – one extra per position. We saw how injuries factored into the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, so the NHL would be wise to follow the standard international roster protocol.
Biggest flex: I always wondered whether Scheifele’s lack of World Championship experience over the past decade hurt him in Hockey Canada’s eyes heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics. I know they had a ton of centers to choose from, but Scheifele was on track for more than 100 points early in the season and ultimately got there. He had some solid moments at the World Championship this year, including a hat-trick in a come-from-behind win over Norway (which eventually beat Canada in the bronze-medal game). He’ll be 34 during this tournament, so he’ll be one of the older players, but I feel like he’ll still have quite a bit in the tank by then.
Toughest cut: I like the idea of adding more skill, and McKenna would have been a perfect fit somewhere on the third line. By then, he’ll have a year and a half under their belt, and we’ve seen guys like Celebrini and Schaefer prove they can come into the league swinging big. I think we’ll see him at the 2030 Olympics, at least. I’ll add in another one: Beckett Sennecke. Martone has been a leader internationally multiple times for Canada, and if it came down to the two of them in a bottom-six role, I think they’d go with Martone instead.
Also considered: Gavin McKenna, Sam Reinhart, Beckett Sennecke, Brayden Point, Mark Stone, Dylan Guenther, Zach Benson
DEFENSEMEN (7) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Thomas Harley | Cale Makar |
| Matthew Schaefer | Evan Bouchard |
| Josh Morrissey | Noah Dobson |
| Jakob Chychrun |
Canada’s D-corps was a weakness before and during the 2026 Olympic tourney. It needs a pretty serious refresh, and I anticipate much more of a commitment to building a dynamic and dangerous blueline. Schaefer and Bouchard should’ve made the 2026 squad, and omitting them probably cost Canada gold given it lost by a single goal without them. I don’t see Canada’s brass repeating that mistake. They need Schaefer’s mad-dash mobility and Bouchard’s booming shot – not to mention the fact both guys play strong defensive hockey even if they don’t do it in the classic meat-and-potatoes way.
Biggest flex: Schaefer will be, and might already be, Canada’s No. 2 defender, but I couldn’t put him on the same pair as Makar. They both need to be the dominator. Harley and Bouchard have that ability, too, but can defer to their all-world partners.
Toughest cut: I separated Makar from his longtime Colorado Avalanche and Team Canada partner Devon Toews. The chemistry can only go so far. With Canada trying to take the crown back, there’s no more leaving talent behind. Speaking of which: Canada’s blueline is wide open enough that a youngster such as Brandt Clarke or Sam Dickinson could play his way onto the team by 2028.
Also considered: Brandt Clarke, Owen Power, Sam Dickinson, Devon Toews, Shea Theodore, Darren Raddysh, Travis Sanheim
DEFENSEMEN (7) – Scott Maxwell’s picks
| Matthew Schaefer | Cale Makar |
| Shea Theodore | Thomas Harley |
| Josh Morrissey | Evan Bouchard |
| Brandt Clarke |
Another noticeable blemish on Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster was their struggle to move the puck from their blueline. They went so far into the “We don’t need any more Makar types because we have Makar” logic that they lacked puck movers elsewhere in the lineup, especially when Morrissey went down with an injury. As such, my lineup is loaded with puck-moving defensemen, and despite the reputation of some of them, this doesn’t come at the expense of the play in their own zone (only Schaefer of this bunch has a negative goals above replacement at -0.9, and in a much smaller sample size). Maybe it could use a more experienced penalty killer, but any members of this group will be more than useful in that role as well. This group in addition to the shift towards scoring talent up front probably means that Canada is scoring more than enough goals that the odd defensive slip-up won’t be punished. Theodore in particular has impressed me enough to crack this roster again. I previously would have considered him as a “slightly worse Bouchard,” but Theodore evolved his defensive game in the playoffs, and I think Canada can still use him on this team.
Biggest flex: It may feel a bit premature to include Clarke on this roster, but how many of you thought the same about Harley when he was added to the 4 Nations roster? Clarke is more or less what Harley was then and if anything brings a stronger defensive game to the table. Clarke will likely be a part of the next generation on Canada’s blueline with Schaefer and Harley, so at worst, he should get the invite just to get the experience in a depth role.
Toughest cut: I was quite close to keeping Noah Dobson on the roster, largely to have another right-shot defenseman to work with, and honestly, I could be convinced to include him so you have an even three lefties and three righties with Harley able to play both sides. But for me, there isn’t anything he brings to the table that the younger Clarke doesn’t. If I’m cutting anyone, it’s Morrissey since he’ll be 32 at the time of tournament, but I still favor him for his two-way acumen.
Also considered: Jakob Chychrun, Noah Dobson, Travis Sanheim, Devon Toews
DEFENSEMEN (7) – Steven Ellis’ picks
| Jakob Chychrun | Cale Makar |
| Matthew Schaefer | Thomas Harley |
| Shea Theodore | Evan Bouchard |
| Brandt Clarke |
As Scott said, the 2026 Olympic team didn’t have enough puck-movers, and it especially hurt them in overtime in the final game. Canada needs seven guys who can shoot and move the puck, and that’s the mentality I’m going with here. Given that this tournament doesn’t hold anywhere near the importance to the teams themselves that the Olympics do, why not go all-in with a high-end offensive D-corps that can skate and create high-quality chances from just about everywhere? If it works, carry a similar approach to France in 2030. If not, mix in a bit more size and defensive stability. This core, though, seems like a blast to watch.
Biggest flex: While it felt like the Canadians missed the boat by not taking him this past winter, I can’t imagine them leaving off Chychrun if he’s still thriving like he did this year. I like his high-flying game, and pairing him with Makar would give him a truly dominant partner who can handle the D-zone with ease, allowing Chychrun to fly all over the ice to create some damage. It also would take the pressure off Makar to do everything with the puck, something that seemed to be the case at times in Italy.
Toughest cut: I left Josh Morrissey off the team because it almost feels like bad juju to bring him for a third straight tournament. He was injured at both the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics – would the Canadians want to risk it a third time? That’s some crazy-serious projecting, of course, but if he’s a bubble guy at all, you might as well go with some fresh legs instead.
Also considered: Noah Dobson, Travis Sanheim, Devon Toews, Landon DuPont, Josh Morrissey, Darren Raddysh
GOALIES (3) – Matt Larkin’s picks
| Logan Thompson |
| Jet Greaves |
| Scott Wedgewood |
Canada’s goalie pool remains pretty thin, but it’s on the rise. Thompson has been as good as any netminder in the NHL across the past two seasons combined, he’s smack in his prime and, most importantly, he earned his stripes and got an Olympic invite after being frozen out of the 4 Nations. Thompson has entered the circle of trust and should be an overwhelming favorite to start in 2028.
Biggest flex: Probably none? Wedgewood is a safe, high-floor backup. The undersized but athletic Greaves is one of Canada’s best-kept secrets playing in relative obscurity with the Columbus Blue Jackets. I think he’s probably Canada’s second-best goalie right now – and he got the call as its starter at the 2026 Worlds, where he excelled with a .920 save percentage.
Toughest cut: No Jordan Binnington? He was arguably the NHL’s worst goalie this past season but got his Olympic call on the grounds he backstopped Canada to the 4 Nations win. Binnington was decent at the Olympics, but there’s no longer any obligation to keep him on the team now that’s not the starter on an active championship squad.
Also considered: Jordan Binnington, Mackenzie Blackwood, Joel Hofer
GOALIES (3) – Scott Maxwell’s picks
| Logan Thompson |
| Jet Greaves |
| Joel Hofer |
Goaltending has long been the talking point of Canada’s international teams, and while they’re still lacking in the game-breaking talent that they’ve had in past international tournaments with Carey Price, Roberto Luongo, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, etc., things are looking much brighter in net than in previous seasons. Thompson is much further into the elite conversation than many will give him credit for, as his 68.01 5v5 goals saved above expected in the last four seasons is fifth. Meanwhile, Hofer and Greaves are currently 14th and 16th in that regard, and with both still 25 years old, there is plenty of room to grow by the time the 2028 tournament comes around.
Biggest flex: My colleague Matt already alluded to Greaves as Canada’s best-kept secret, but does that make Hofer an even larger secret? He’s coming off a season where he handily won the starting gig from Canada’s 2026 Olympic starter in Binnington and did so in the modern starter’s workload of 46 games. Maybe Hofer doesn’t have the ability to lock in during the big moments like his tandem mate in St. Louis, but he still feels like the more consistent bet.
Toughest cut: He wasn’t the toughest cut for me as an analyst, but I was tempted to put Binnington as the third goalie just based on precedent. However, I don’t think his Olympic performance was strong enough to warrant a return if he maintains his current poor form in the NHL. He didn’t lose the tournament for Canada and did have the occasional “big game” moment we’ve come to expect from him, but it was often needed after a slip-up earlier in the game. He’ll also be 34 when the World Cup starts, so it’s hard to see a world where he’ll be at a level worthy of making the cut, especially since his general manager won’t be deciding Canada’s rosters anymore.
Also considered: Jordan Binnington, Mackenzie Blackwood, Sam Montembeault, Scott Wedgewood
GOALIES (3) – Steven Ellis’ picks
| Logan Thompson |
| Jet Greaves |
| Scott Wedgewood |
Yep. An exact replica of Matt’s roster. I know Canada’s goaltending depth isn’t impressive, by any means. But I feel confident in Thompson’s ability to steal games, and he absolutely should be the No. 1. Greaves appears to be one of Canada’s goalies of the future, and I can’t disagree in the slightest. I thought his recent World Championship performance was a bit wonky (the final two games weren’t his best work). But when he’s hot, he’s hot, and his overall NHL body of work has been impressive.
The Canadians could go with either Wedgewood or Blackwood as the third goalie, but I went with the guy who, at least this year, was simply the better option. I could see them flip-flopping before the final roster is named. Also, I don’t see a world where Carter Hart makes it, even if he’s a Vezina Trophy winner by then. From a PR standpoint, I can’t imagine Canada making that decision.
Biggest flex: Can’t think of one here. This felt pretty cut and dry.
Toughest cut: Again, I’m not sure there is one. I’d love to galaxy-brain it and go with Joshua Ravensbergen or Sebastian Cossa, but I don’t foresee either option happening in reality. If Cossa goes on an absolute tear with the Utah Mammoth and becomes the No. 1, maybe I could see him becoming the third option. But this trio felt easy-peasy to put together.
Also considered: Sebastian Cossa, Jordan Binnington, Joel Hofer, Mackenzie Blackwood
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