2026 Olympic Hockey

[donlever]

Bouchard is having a helluva year.

[JelloPuddingPop]

Bouchard is having a helluva year.

Had to look that one up, unbelievable for sure. One point off the league lead for defensemen scoring, on pace to be his best year yet.

He has played in the spotlight for what feels like a long time, but I keep forgetting he is only 26 - typically the time frame defensemen in the NHL hit their stride.

Norris votes for sure, not sure he will ever get one with his defensive gaffs, but consideration for the Olympic team? Sure. I understand the need for leadership, with Drew Doughty - a heck of player in his prime, and a great contributor to Canadian Hockey - but is that leadership not already in place with guys like Sandheim, Toews, Parayko? I haven't watched a lot of LA games this year - but DD certainly looks like he has lost a step these last couple of years.

That coupled with obvious chemistry with top PP centerman McDavid. Lots of reasons to have include him this year.

[donlever]

Also a plus player (+12) irrespective of defensive gaffs.

Edit....plus 10...-2 versus Leaves last night.

Chews up 25 minutes of ice per game.

[BoS]

He’d be an ideal replacement for an injured Makar. Beyond that, Canada needs defensive stalwarts.

[donlever]

Yeah....makes sense for sure.

I know without a doubt he is not pleased.....

[donlever]

Canada will open the Olympic hockey tournament against Czechia on Feb. 12 at 10:40 a.m. ET/7:40 a.m. PT, and will take on Switzerland on Feb. 13 at 3:10 p.m. ET/12:10 PT....

Feb 15 versus France....

Jarvis for Point.

Bennett for Cirelli.

[donlever]

Women's hockey.

Canada 4.

Swiss 0.

[donlever]

Rumour has Elias Pettersson starting the tourney on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Rickard Rakell on his wings.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Rumour has Elias Pettersson starting the tourney on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Rickard Rakell on his wings.

All three will be trailers on plays with the defense carrying pucks in?

[5thhorseman]

Loving the drone footage of alpine downhilll!

[donlever]

Wrong thread lol but yes very cool agree.

USA top 2 lines and D pairs

Guentzel-Matthews-Boldy
Brady Tkachuk-Eichel-Matthew Tkachuk

Rest of forwards were kinda scrambled with each rush

Hughes-McAvoy
Slavin-Faber
Werenski-Hanifin
Sanderson-Lacombe

[donlever]

Cellebrini-McDavid-Wilson a line in practice right now for Team Canada
MacKinnon between Marchand and Suzuki.
Crosby between Stone and Marner.
Horvat between Hagel and Reinhart.
Bennett/Jarvis

[rockalt]

Rumour has Elias Pettersson starting the tourney on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Rickard Rakell on his wings.

Interesting. First thought is who else is playing centre and who do they line up with their best wingers? I'm guessing they'll put Joel Eriksson Ek between 2 of Forsberg, Nylander, Raymond and list the other one with Lindholm? I thought Zibanajad would play centre so this has thrown me off a bit. Perhaps Johannson slots in as their 4C?

Either way I'm very interested to see how Team Sweden looks in this tournament. The injuries have been a bummer if you want to watch best on best but they still have a pretty good team.

[donlever]

Interesting.

Screenshot_20260209-120409_Instagram.jpg (53.09 KiB) Viewed 434 times

[Cornuck]

What will be interesting is how he responds with 3rd line minutes (less ice time - but lower competition) - playing wing instead of center - not being in a fishbowl. But then we were expecting more out of him in the 4 Nations tourney.