For the Montreal Canadiens, several key names have emerged in recent discussions surrounding both Team Canada and Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Captain Nick Suzuki, defenceman Noah Dobson, forward Cole Caufield, and goaltender Samuel Montembeault have all found themselves invited to their country’s Olympic Orientation Camp.
While not every name is a lock, the simple fact that four Canadiens are being considered speaks volumes about the quality and progress of this young roster. Each case is unique, with varying odds of making the cut, but each player represents both national-team potential and organizational pride. Let’s break down where they stand.
Samuel Montembeault
For Montembeault, the last two seasons have been a career-defining stretch. Once regarded as a depth goaltender, Montembeault has steadily elevated his game with Montreal, becoming a reliable NHL starter and proving himself on the international stage. His inclusion in the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year solidified his place on Canada’s radar, giving him valuable experience in a best-on-best environment.
Goaltending has long been a tricky subject for Team Canada. Unlike past eras where names like Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Carey Price dominated the crease, Canada now faces more uncertainty. With Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and a few others in contention, Montembeault may not be the presumed starter, but he has shown that he can be trusted in pressure situations. His calm demeanour, technical improvements, and ability to rise in big games make him an intriguing option to fill either a backup or even a platoon role.
For Montembeault, being part of the 4 Nations was a milestone, but February’s tournament will be the true test. If he continues his strong form in Montreal, there is every reason to believe he will be part of Canada’s final roster.
Nick Suzuki
If Montembeault represents a steady presence in net, Suzuki symbolizes the Canadiens’ offensive leadership and two-way reliability. As Montreal’s captain, Suzuki has grown into one of the most respected young centres in the league, and his name is firmly in the conversation for Canada’s Olympic and international lineups.
Canada is famously deep at centre. With Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point, and others all vying for top-line roles, the battle for spots is brutally competitive. Suzuki doesn’t carry the same flash as McDavid or MacKinnon, but what he does bring is an enviable versatility. He can play in all situations, power play, penalty kill, defensive-zone draws, and is the type of player coaches love to rely on when the stakes are highest.
For Suzuki, February will be crucial. While he may not be penciled into Canada’s top 12 just yet, he is exactly the type of “bubble” player who can push his way onto the roster with a strong start to the 2025–26 season. His leadership qualities, consistency, and hockey IQ could easily convince Hockey Canada to bring him along as a dependable bottom-six option.
If Canada prioritizes balance rather than loading up purely on offensive firepower, Suzuki has a very real chance to don the maple leaf this winter.
Cole Caufield
On the other side of the border, Caufield finds himself under consideration for Team USA. The Americans boast one of the deepest forward groups in hockey, with stars like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, and Kyle Connor already established as locks. For Caufield, that depth makes his path far from guaranteed.
What he does offer, however, is something no coach can ignore: goal-scoring ability. When healthy and in rhythm, Caufield is among the NHL’s most dangerous pure shooters, a weapon on the power play and a threat every time he steps into the offensive zone. For Team USA, who may want a player capable of flipping a game with a single shot, Caufield has the perfect profile as a potential secondary scorer.
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The challenge lies in proving he can be consistent enough to earn that trust. With so many American forwards ahead of him on the depth chart, Caufield likely enters the season as a long shot. But that’s not to say he’s out of the running. A hot start to 2025–26, where he establishes himself as one of Montreal’s offensive leaders and produces at a near point-per-game pace, could force USA Hockey to take notice.
Noah Dobson
Still only 25, Dobson has already developed into one of the NHL’s best young defencemen. Canada’s defence is deep, but Dobson brings a unique package of size, skating, and offensive instincts. With Cale Makar and Shea Theodore headlining, Canada may prioritize balance after that. The issue? Canada is loaded on the right side. Makar, Colton Parayko and Drew Doughty will probably still be there.
Even if he doesn’t crack the final roster, the fact that Dobson is in consideration speaks volumes about his rise as a top-tier NHL defenceman. His trajectory suggests that future international tournaments may be more within his reach.
While none of Suzuki, Dobson, Caufield, or Montembeault can be considered a lock at this stage, each has a pathway to international hockey in 2026. Montembeault already has the inside track with Canada thanks to his 4 Nations appearance. Suzuki will be pushing hard to carve out a role despite Canada’s daunting depth at centre. Caufield and Dobson, meanwhile, face long odds but could force themselves into the conversation with strong starts to the season.
In the end, the story is less about who ultimately makes the rosters and more about what this means for Montreal. The Canadiens are building a roster filled with young, skilled, internationally relevant players. That, perhaps more than anything, is a sign of brighter days ahead at the Bell Centre.
