Team Canada Quick Hits: Trouble with heavy hitters, Celebrini and goalies

The Olympics are almost here and Canada is coming in full of confidence and pressure – classic Team Canada style. Jon Cooper is in charge with a line-up full of big names that you could almost chisel into a monument. She Haven’t won gold since 2014and after bronze in 2018 they want to return to the status of 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. The Canadian game plan is basically: let these two do their thing. McDavid is at 96 points, MacKinnon at 93, and somehow they’re treating pressure as if it’s just a suggestion. When the game gets tight, you want guys who can move the ice without thinking about 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 is 19 years old and plays like he has been in the league for ten years. He’s fourth in NHL scoring and is already turning heads and stealing some serious attention. At every tournament there is a youngster who stands out, and Celebrini feels like such a child. He doesn’t look wide-eyed or nervous — more like he walked into the room, shrugged his shoulders and said, “Okay, what’s next?”

Team Canada Quick Hit Three: Target questions

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

Team Canada opens against Team Czech Republic in three days

Canada gets the Czech Republic on February 12, Switzerland the next day, and then France on February 15. It’s just the usual warm-up before the hard work begins. The goal? Gold, pure and simple. Deal with the hype and hope that the top guys deliver when it counts.

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

Related: NHL.com’s Olympic crystal ball: Who will win gold in 2026