Interesting Names: Insider Offers Early Prediction for 2030 Team Canada Roster

We’re just 48 hours away from Jack Hughes scoring the golden goal in overtime to drop Team Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game of the 2026 Winter Olympics, but that hasn’t stopped hockey fans from looking ahead to 2030.

That’s especially the case for the Canadians, who are seeking revenge after losing to their bitter rivals and will be left with that sour taste in their mouth for the next four years, waiting for another chance at redemption. That’s why many are already making fun of how they think the Canadian roster will shake out in Paris 2030, with one of those projections coming from Oilers insider. Bob Stauffer.

There are several fascinating names scattered across his projected lineup, so let’s dissect what stands out the most.

Returning superstars

It will come as no surprise that Stauffer believes Team Canada will once again be led by the superstar core of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Macklin Celebrini. The first three will all be in their 30s by then, but let’s not kid ourselves: they will probably still be among the three best players in the world.

In addition to these obvious returnees, Stauffer also predicts that Mitch Marner, Nick Suzuki, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Thomas Harley will win Olympic gold again. Marner, Suzuki and Harley all had good moments in Milan, and while Hagel has been uncharacteristically quiet, his energy and versatility should keep him firmly in the mix for years to come. Point, meanwhile, will almost certainly be expected to make the team and play a prominent role as his absence in Milan was felt – especially given Canada’s sometimes lack of depth scoring.

Young new faces

What is immediately noticeable in Stauffer’s projection is the enormous amount of young talent involved. Connor Bedard and Matthew Schaefer will undoubtedly be present and will be among the faces of the team. He also projects young NHLers Adam Fantilli, Dylan Guenther, Beckett Sennecke, Mason McTavish, Wyatt Johnston and Sam Dickinson to break through and make it, which is hard to argue with given their talent and the trajectory they are expected to take.

He also gives the nod to two slightly older – but new – additions to the blue line: Evan Bouchard, who should have been there in 2026, and Kaiden Guhle.

The most intriguing names, however, are the ones who haven’t even been drafted yet: Gavin McKenna, Keaton Verhoeff and Landon Dupont. McKenna is the consensus first overall pick in the upcoming 2026 draft, while Verhoeff is also expected to be near the top. Dupont, meanwhile, is currently the favorite to take first overall in 2027 and is already producing at a point-per-game rate as a 16-year-old defenseman in the WHL.

There is still a long way to go for these three, but there is no doubt that they have the talent to not only make the team in 2030, but potentially play a meaningful role.

Goaltending overhaul

As expected, the goal position has seen quite a bit of turnover, with Logan Thompson as the only returning netminder in Stauffer’s projection. He brings in MacKenzie Blackwood – who some thought could have made the 2026 team prior to his injury-riddled season – and a non-Jordan Binnington St. Louis Blue in Joel Hofer as the other options.

Canada simply does not have the luxury that other countries have – especially the Americans – and this will continue to be a major debate for the next four years.

Don’t count out Sidney Crosby

Finally, the most notable name left behind from Stauffer’s planned selection was Captain Canada himself, Sidney Crosby. That shouldn’t be a surprise. He will be 42 years old in 2030 and could very well be retired by then, but it still feels strange not to see his name on Team Canada’s lineup.

Is it likely that he’ll still be playing in four years, let alone at an elite level? Probably not. But Crosby isn’t like most players. He is as competitive, dedicated and hardworking as they come. Combine that with the sting of having to painfully watch the gold medal game from the trainer’s room, injured, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Crosby find his way back to the Olympic podium one more time. Some athletes you just can’t count.

Next: Insider offers theory on why Connor McDavid has struggled to get over the hump