Projecting Team Canada’s roster for expected 2025 World Cup of Hockey

Last week, the NHL and NHLPA announced plans to put an international best-on-best tournament back on the hockey calendar.

Finally.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league’s goal is to hold an international competition in February 2025, though the format hasn’t been ironed out just yet.

“I don’t know exactly what form it will take,” he explained. “The goal is to make it an international competition of some sort. It’s going to obviously be heavily NHL-centric in terms of the player base, maybe entirely NHL. We’ll see what form it takes, but that’s something we’re working on with the players’ association.”

Whatever this tournament looks like, the hope is that it’s the first of many opportunities to see the world’s best come together — including at the Olympic Games.

Daly said the goal is that if there is an international tournament in 2025 with NHL players, it would be followed by participation in the 2026 Olympics, the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, the 2030 Olympics, the 2032 World Cup of Hockey and so on.

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The last time NHL players participated in a true best-on-best international tournament was the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. That event featured six national teams (Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden) and two multinational squads: Team Europe, composed of players from the continent’s countries without a team of their own, and Team North America, whose roster was filled with players from both Canada and the United States age 23 or younger.

Although the under-23 team was fast and fun to watch, it means we have yet to see some of the game’s greatest Canadians — Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner — suit up together in red and white on the senior national team.

If the 2025 World Cup-style hockey tournament is held, it will have been more than a decade since NHL players’ last Olympic appearance in Sochi in 2014 because the NHL didn’t participate in 2018 or 2022. Recent attempts to plan another World Cup-style tournament have been dashed and delayed, so although there are still plenty of question marks when it comes to this proposed 2025 tournament, it’s hard not to start dreaming up a Team Canada roster.

So, that’s what we’re doing here. What might Team Canada look like in 2025?

The first thing you should know about projecting a roster of this calibre is that it is both impossible and very fun. The centre depth alone is an embarrassment of riches so gaudy that we’re channelling NBA-like position-less hockey by shifting a lot of talent over to the wing to make room. (This isn’t our first time projecting Team Canada more than a year in advance — we did this exercise back in 2020 when there was word NHL players might participate in the 2022 Olympics, but that unfortunately did not come to fruition.)

For the purpose of this particular exercise, we’ll assume a format similar to an Olympic tournament. The roster doesn’t account for the possibility of an under-23 team (hello, Connor Bedard!) and features four forward lines, three defensive pairs, three netminders and a trio of reserve skaters.

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FORWARDS

LINE 1: Zach Hyman – Connor McDavid – Mitch Marner

Having McDavid centre the top line is going to be the easiest decision in coaching, but it gets increasingly difficult after that when it comes to selecting the players to skate alongside him — because on a roster as deep as this one, there are countless combinations that would spark magic with McDavid. This one, though, is all about chemistry and speed.

Every team needs its Swiss army knife, and Hyman is the man for the job here. He’s got extensive experience skating with some of the top talents in the game in both Toronto and Edmonton, and has built-in chemistry with both McDavid and Marner.

There’s bound to be a long list of players wishing to skate alongside Marner, but you’re lying if you’re not completely intrigued to see what he can do beside McDavid. Throw out the designed plays and just watch them play shinny.

LINE 2: Steven Stamkos – Nathan MacKinnon – Brayden Point

When they’re not hanging out talking about parades and Stanley Cup rings, these three could be electric on a second line together. Shifting Point over to the wing opposite Stamkos (whom he typically centres on Tampa’s top line) allows MacKinnon to play his natural centre. Stamkos’ time representing Canada on the world stage has been limited, and MacKinnon and Point have never had the chance to don red and white for the senior team. Putting them all together in this tournament could bring out the best in all three.

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LINE 3: Brad Marchand – Sidney Crosby – Connor Bedard

As long as he’s lacing up his skates, Sidney Crosby should be donning a Team Canada sweater with a “C” stitched on his chest. The obvious linemate on his left side is Brad Marchand, with whom he struck instant chemistry at the 2016 World Cup alongside the since-retired Patrice Bergeron.

And as tempting as it was to shift MacKinnon to the wing to form the Maritime Line (The Mariline?) alongside his Nova Scotian neighbours, the draw of inserting Bedard here was just too enticing not to try. He has yet to set foot on NHL ice but we’re all already in love with his shot, which is poised to be among the league’s best on arrival. Even more valuable, though, is the opportunity for Bedard — who will, at the time of this tournament, be in his sophomore NHL season — to learn firsthand from one of the best centres and leaders the game has ever seen.

LINE 4: Jonathan Huberdeau – Dylan Cozens – Mark Stone

Fresh off a breakout season with Buffalo, Cozens looks like he’s ready to truly blossom this season on a Sabres squad that’s looking — dare we say — playoff-ready. He gained invaluable experience with the national team when he suited up alongside Pierre-Luc Dubois at the 2022 world championships, and with another year under his belt, should be ready to centre a line of his own on the game’s biggest stage. And who better to help him thrive than two of the best setup men in the league?

Both Huberdeau and Stone come with great big “ifs.” Huberdeau struggled in his first Calgary season but is poised for a bounce-back and would have plenty of time before this tournament to regain his 85-assist form. Meanwhile, Stone’s health could hold him back from playing any extra hockey, but the reigning Cup-winning captain deserves a roster spot here — and, yes, Canadians deserve at least a cameo appearance from #ExpressiveMarkStone on the world stage.

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DEFENCE

Josh Morrissey – Cale Makar

An important note off the top: All members of the 2018 Canadian national junior team are currently banned from international play during the ongoing investigation into allegations of group sexual assault. That means Makar, who was on that team, is not currently eligible to play. For the purposes of this exercise, we’re including him on this projected roster, but it’s important to note that here.

While Makar is a lock for the Norris every year, Morrissey was looking incredibly Norrissey himself last season, as he embraced his leadership role on the Jets’ blue line. Pair them up, and it’s hard to see anyone defeating this top duo.

Owen Power – Alex Pietrangelo

Power is progressing right on schedule. The No. 1 overall pick in 2021 made massive strides over the course of his rookie season with Buffalo and should be more than ready for a brighter spotlight come tournament time. Pairing him with a veteran such as Pietrangelo would be invaluable experience for him. Pietrangelo suits up on his natural right side here, but has played the left side before, and his inclusion on the roster also allows maximum flexibility, should pairings need to be shaken up.

Morgan Rielly – Dougie Hamilton

Canada’s best blue-liners have a flair for the offensive, and this third pairing would be no exception. Both are relied on heavily on a nightly basis in Toronto and New Jersey, respectively, and could really complement each others’ skillsets on the international stage. Also, adding these two to the back end means the power-play options are truly endless.

Reserve skaters: Carter Verhaeghe, Nick Suzuki, Brandon Montour

Versatility is key here, and that’s where Verhaeghe comes in. He’s quick to form chemistry, can play anywhere in the lineup and has proved in the playoffs he’s got the clutch gene. Suzuki is developing into an elite centreman in Montreal and would be an easy addition to this roster for his leadership qualities alone.

Montour was a revelation in Florida this past season, thriving under the bright lights of the Stanley Cup Playoffs all the way to the Cup Final. Plug him into the lineup for a boost of blue-line offence and a jolt of physicality when you need.

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GOALTENDERS

What was once a strength is now a big question mark for Team Canada. While the country’s got plenty of depth up front and on the blue line, it’s difficult to identify a clear-cut No. 1 here. So with some well-intentioned recency bias and a dash of hope, here’s the trio that could suit up in 2025.

Starter: Stuart Skinner

The 2022-23 season wasn’t always the smoothest sailing for Skinner, who took over the Oilers’ crease as a rookie with his surprising performance and delightful moustache. Is he ready for the international spotlight? Surely, another year playing under the bright lights in Edmonton — and a long playoff run next spring? — would prepare him well.

Backup: Darcy Kuemper

He brings experience to a position that might need a veteran presence, and has proven himself to be both a standout starter and ever-ready backup.

Third: Devon Levi

This is a bit of a wild card, but if Daly is serious about NHLers making multiple international appearances over the next few years, Canada will need to figure out its crease for the long run. Can Levi be the next reliable Canadian netminder for Olympic cycles to come? He was excellent on the world stage junior circuit in 2021 and is about to embark on his rookie season in Buffalo. Whether he plays or not at this proposed World Cup, it’ll be another dose of solid experience for the youngster.

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