Macklin Celebrini leads Canada’s next generation. The 20-year-old San Jose centreman scored 45 goals and 115 points in his sophomore season, finishing fourth in Hart Trophy voting.

By the numbers
Celebrini45 goals, 115 points
Johnston45 goals, 86 points
Bedard30 goals, 75 points in 69 games
Schaefer23 goals, 59 points

Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven, Seth Jarvis, Connor Bedard, Dylan Guenther, Beckett Sennecke and Adam Fantilli form the core of the forward group behind Celebrini. Quinton Byfield and Alexis Lafreniere each scored 24 goals in 2025-26, while Dylan Holloway and Dawson Mercer bring multiple 20-goal seasons. Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna add two younger names to the group.

Matthew Schaefer leads a defense that is set for turnover after Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster. The 18-year-old scored 23 goals and 59 points for the New York Islanders, winning the Calder Trophy. Jamie Drysdale, Owen Power, Brandt Clarke, Olen Zellweger, Denton Mateychuk, Zayne Parekh and Braden Schneider are also identified as candidates.

Canada’s under-25 group will be measured against the roster needs created by the aging 2026 Olympic team. The next best-on-best tournament referenced in the outlook is the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.