The Edmonton Oilers are guaranteed to have one player represent Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, as Connor McDavid will obviously lead the charge in his attempt to add a gold medal to his already legendary resume.
However, the recent play of two of their other Canadian forwards could very well increase that number. As we know, chemistry is the most important thing in short tournaments like this, and that’s exactly why Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have put themselves in strong contention to join their captain in February.
Since being brought together as a trio, McDavid, Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins have been the best line in hockey — and it hasn’t been particularly close. McDavid’s 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 11 games in December coincided with Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins flanking him, both of whom were also incredibly productive, with 15 points (nine goals, six assists) and 13 points (five goals, eight assists) respectively.
Opposing teams have had no answers as they tried to contain the speed, skill, hockey IQ and relentless work ethic that this line brings. As a result, their dominance has increased led to serious conversations about keeping the three intact atop Canada’s Olympic roster — and it’s hard to argue with that when the numbers are so staggering.
A McDavid-Hyman-Nugent-Hopkins line makes too much sense for Team Canada
We saw during the 4 Nations Face-Off how difficult it can be to create instant chemistry with players who have never played together before. Finding the right linemates for McDavid proved to be a challenge, so why not go to the Olympics knowing exactly what you’re getting from the best player in the world and the two forwards who complement him best?
Getting McDavid flying out of the gate after the puck drops in Canada’s opener should be a top priority, and there’s no better way to ensure that than by surrounding him with familiarity and trust. Outside of Leon Draisaitl, no two players understand how to play with McDavid better than Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins.
We saw it in 2014 when the then best player in the world, Sidney Crosby, let his Pittsburgh Penguins linemate, Chris Kunitz, flank him in Sochi, which again ended in a gold medal. It would make perfect sense to see Hockey Canada go back to the well now in 2026.
Doug Armstrong and company don’t have much time left to make their final roster decisions, but given what they’ve seen recently in Edmonton’s top line, they should seriously consider keeping the three together, this time with the red and white.
Next: Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon for the Hart Trophy? Fans weigh in
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