Very Early 2026 Olympic Hockey Projections And Predictions

Welcome to The Hockey News Big Show, where the theme for this off-season episode is early projections and predictions for the 2026 men's hockey Olympic tournament. Here's what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:

0:00: Will Team Canada make any significant adjustments to its Olympic roster?

5:36: Is Jordan Binnington still Team Canada’s top goaltending option?

08:30: Which nation has the best chance of upsetting Canada at the Olympics?

10:45: Should Team USA still be considered a favorite at the Olympics? 

15:50: Is Connor Hellebuyck still Team USA’s No. 1 goaltender?

19:00: Who will be Team USA’s toughest opponent in group play?

22:20: Will Team Finland or Team Sweden end up being a more dangerous team at the Olympics?

25:30: Will Erik Karlsson make Team Sweden’s Olympic squad?

27:45: Can Juuse Saros still be Finland’s top goalie? 

30:15: Predicting the medallists for the 2026 Olympics

31:30: Will the host nation of Italy end up scoring over or under 3.5 goals in group play?

33:05: Who finishes the tournament with more points: Leon Draisaitl or David Pastrnak?

34:10: Which defensemen finishes with more points: Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes?

36:00: What should Team Canada's goal song be?

37:20: What should be the mascot for the upcoming Olympic Games?

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