Following theScore’s Olympic hockey roster projections from last week, we’re examining bubble players from Canada and the United States as the Dec. 31 roster submission deadline approaches.
These players sit on the edge of making their respective Olympic teams.
Connor Bedard
Case for: The Chicago Blackhawks center was drafted as a generational talent in 2023. He’s lived up to that billing in his third NHL season.
Bedard currently sits sixth in NHL scoring with 40 points in 29 games.
His foot speed has improved dramatically. His top skating speed is nearly a full mph faster than last season. That improvement should give him a real shot at cracking a loaded Team Canada roster.
If Canada omits Bedard and fails to win gold, fans will view this as one of the worst decisions made by a Canadian Olympic hockey general manager.
No pressure, Doug Armstrong.
Case against: Bedard’s defensive game still needs work. He ranks in the eighth percentile of Evolving-Hockey’s defensive rating. That’s only a slight improvement from his first two seasons.
Can head coach Jon Cooper trust Bedard in a top-six role alongside Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon? Those lines will face the best competition from opposing teams.
If Cooper lacks that trust, does Bedard fit in the bottom six? That’s where penalty killers and role players might be preferred.
Prediction: Makes the team. Although we’ve left Bedard off our most recent roster projections, his performance is making it increasingly likely that Armstrong finds a spot for him.
That might mean cutting Mark Stone or Seth Jarvis.
Bedard deserves a chance as a top-six winger. If that doesn’t work, he can be the extra forward. The upside is too high to pass on.
Sam Bennett
Case for: Big-game players make plays in big games. That’s all Bennett has done for the last year.
His selection for the 4 Nations Face-Off raised eyebrows, but he played well in that tournament. He was even better for the Florida Panthers in the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy with 15 goals in 23 postseason games.
Bennett has proven he can win. He’s tough and will have no issue taking a lesser role as a fourth-line checker.
Case against: While Bennett has picked things up lately, he’s still playing at a 49-point pace this season. He’s never been a great defensive player, despite his physicality and intangibles.
Picking Bennett for his past big-game moments over several players who’ve outperformed him this season could be a mistake.
Prediction: Doesn’t make the team. It’s easy to see why Canada would want to run it back from the 4 Nations. But multiple players who weren’t at that tournament should have passed him by now.
Macklin Celebrini
Case for: Celebrini has done everything possible to earn a look from Canada’s management. He trails only MacKinnon and McDavid in the Art Ross race with 43 points.
He’s established himself as a legitimate MVP candidate for single-handedly vaulting the rebuilding San Jose Sharks into the Western Conference playoff race.
Celebrini’s offensive production comes on a team that ranks 32nd in five-on-five expected goals. It’s enticing to imagine what he could do alongside Team Canada’s stars.
Most importantly for Celebrini’s case, he played well for Canada at the world championship in May. He earned high praise from Sidney Crosby.
It’s hard to argue there’s a better person to have in your corner.
Case against: Like Bedard, questions persist about where Celebrini fits into Canada’s lineup. With no shortage of centers, Celebrini would likely move to the wing.
He doesn’t kill penalties and has no big-game experience at the professional level.
The 19-year-old is skilled enough to represent Canada, but can he be trusted defensively? Although Celebrini has made strides in that area, there’s no margin for error at the Olympics.
Prediction: Makes the team. Even as an extra forward, Celebrini’s earned a spot. His two-way play has improved, and his game-breaking talent should outweigh his age.
Tom Wilson
Case for: Wilson’s on pace for a career year with 32 points in 30 games this season. He’s reliable defensively and can kill penalties.
With Bennett off to a slow start, Wilson is a strong candidate to fill the same role Bennett played at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Wilson is difficult to play against, and he has Stanley Cup experience. Canada is short on power forwards, and it’s hard to argue there’s a more effective option than Wilson right now.
Case against: Wilson has earned his reputation as one of the NHL’s most polarizing players. His blend of skill and physicality is rare, but he’s been suspended six times in his career.
Under IIHF officiating, Wilson will have a short disciplinary leash. Should he take a costly penalty or suspension, Canadian fans will be outraged at his selection.
Prediction: Makes the team. Canada knows taking Wilson is a risk, but role players are necessary for success at international tournaments.
If Wilson stays out of trouble, he’ll make a positive impact.
Cole Caufield
Case for: Caufield is a game-breaking talent. He scored 37 goals last season and is on pace for over 45 this year.
He has a knack for scoring in big spots – he’s the Montreal Canadiens’ all-time leader in overtime winners.
While the United States has talent, crunch-time scoring has often been its downfall at best-on-best tournaments. Taking someone who’s routinely answered the bell in those spots would be wise.
Case against: Listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, Caufield is small. He’s not a great defensive player and doesn’t contribute much when he’s not scoring.
Team USA general manager Bill Guerin made questionable roster decisions for the 4 Nations Face-Off, but omitting Caufield was understandable considering how one-dimensional he is.
Prediction: Doesn’t make the team. Losing the 4 Nations by one goal isn’t going to change Guerin’s team-building philosophy.
The U.S. has several other players who can produce similar offense to Caufield but are bigger and contribute in other ways, such as Matthew Knies and Cutter Gauthier.
Clayton Keller
Case for: Team USA notably left Keller off the 4 Nations roster, a decision that looked worse after he finished 2024-25 with a career-high 90 points.
He’s a shifty playmaker who could work well alongside one of America’s snipers while contributing on the power play. Over the past three seasons, Keller ranks ninth among all players with 77 power-play points.
Case against: Keller’s production is down from last season, and he doesn’t have the defensive skills to be a lock. He’s not going to bump Jack Eichel or Auston Matthews down the depth chart.
He doesn’t fit the mold of a bottom-six center.
Prediction: Doesn’t make the team. The USA has too many stronger options up front to find a spot for Keller.
If he were having a more productive year offensively, it would be tougher to pass on him.
J.T. Miller
Case for: Miller is versatile, capable of playing center or wing on a scoring or checking line. He’s also a veteran leader on what projects to be a young roster compared to Team Canada.
Miller is having a down season, but he’s just two years removed from a 103-point campaign.
Case against: At 32 years old, Miller has lost a step. He’s on pace for 51 points this season. His underlying numbers aren’t great either.
Selecting him would be the exact type of mistake the U.S. has made in past best-on-best tournaments, such as taking Brock Nelson for the 4 Nations.
Prediction: Makes the team. Both Guerin and head coach Mike Sullivan will value Miller’s leadership.
Sullivan is Miller’s coach with the New York Rangers, and he gave him the captaincy this season for a reason.
Jason Robertson
Case for: Robertson admitted that his desire to represent his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off was a distraction during his early struggles last season. He’s responded well to being left off the roster.
Since the tournament ended in late February, Robertson ranks fourth across the NHL with 34 goals and sixth with 68 points in 58 games.
He’s on pace for 103 points this season and is defensively responsible enough to be trusted on any line.
Case against: The Americans are deep at left wing. Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, and Matt Boldy – who plays for Guerin in Minnesota – all slotted ahead of Robertson in our latest roster projection.
Does Team USA envision Robertson filling a fourth-line role?
Prediction: Makes the team. With veterans like Nelson and Chris Kreider – both of whom made the 4 Nations squad – likely out of the picture this time, there’s room for Robertson.
He’s tied for third in the NHL with 19 goals this season.
It would make little sense for the USA to omit the hot hand with so much pressure riding on this tournament.
