It is “gold medal or bust” for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, and Chris Cuthbert joins Ken Hitchcock and John Shannon to break down Canada’s finalized men’s Olympic hockey roster. They go position by position through the 14 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 3 goaltenders and dig into the biggest decisions the selectors made.
They discuss:
• The surprise exclusion of Sam Bennett and what it means
• Why Canada kept the same defensive group from the Four Nations tournament
• Hitchcock’s emphasis on versatility, identity, and trust
• Cuthbert’s thoughts on chemistry and adjusting lines if needed
• Goaltending strategy and why Jordan Binnington is likely the Game 1 starter
• Managing egos, expectations, and ice time in a short Olympic tournament
Team Canada is built to win. The only question is… did they get it right?