Canada’s Projected Roster for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey

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The 4 Nations Face-Off has drawn to a close, but the NHL made sure to let fans know that they wouldn’t have to wait quite so long for best-on-best international competition to return. Already confirmed to send their players to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy (check out Tony Wolak’s Olympic roster projection here), the NHL used the 4 Nations Face-Off to announce a 2028 World Cup of Hockey, with a location still to be announced.

While few details are known at this point, many still fondly recall the 2016 event in Toronto (the last best-on-best tournament prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off) for its exciting play and creative wrinkles, including a Team Europe and an under-23 Team North America. Although much remains uncertain about the 2028 event, it’s pretty safe to assume that Canada – the reigning 4 Nations Face-Off victors and also the defending World Cup champions – will be represented.

The question is, then, what will Team Canada look like? While there will surely be some carry-over from the country’s 4 Nations Face-Off entry, it’s important to remember that the World Cup remains three years away and a lot can change over that time period. With that in mind, here is a very early projection of what Team Canada’s 2028 World Cup roster might look like:

(Note: players are listed alphabetically, by last name)

Forwards (13)

Connor Bedard
Sam Bennett
Macklin Celebrini
Anthony Cirelli
Brandon Hagel
Seth Jarvis
Travis Konecny
Nathan MacKinnon
Mitch Marner
Connor McDavid
Brayden Point
Sam Reinhart
Mark Scheifele

The foundation of the Canadian forward corps should, health permitting, stay fairly consistent across the 2026 Olympics and the World Cup. That’s because the top of the lineup is led by players who are projected to still be in peak form over the next few years. 4 Nations Face-Off overtime hero Connor McDavid will have just turned 31 in time for the next World Cup, while tournament MVP Nathan MacKinnon will be 32.

The most noteworthy departure from the 4 Nations Face-Off roster is, of course, Sidney Crosby. “Sid the Kid” has earned the benefit of the doubt that age is merely a number and hasn’t been slowing him down, particularly during a sensational 4 Nations performance that saw him finish third in tournament scoring with a goal and four assists in four games. That being said, he will be 40 years of age at the time of the next World Cup, and it might finally be time for a post-Olympic changing of the guard. These projections also have Brad Marchand and Mark Stone aging out of a role up front.

Even without Crosby and Marchand, there is plenty of carry-over from the 4 Nations Face-Off group, with 10 of 13 forwards still included in the 2028 projections. The arguments, as always, come on the fringes of the forward corps. I have Mark Scheifele and a 22-year-old Connor Bedard slotting in this time around, while projecting a 21-year-old Macklin Celebrini to join the fold after, perhaps, a few World Championship experiences. If Team Canada executives are looking to ice a younger roster (of the projected group, only Bedard, Celebrini, Brandon Hagel and Seth Jarvis will be under 30), there could be room for 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna.

If Crosby is still at it during the 2027-28 NHL season, it’ll be tough keeping him off the team. Beyond that, though, omissions are hard to come by for a roster with plenty of consistency and familiarity. Zach Hyman gets left out in the cold again, but the real question for this group is which young Canadians can break through and make a name for themselves between now and February 2028.

Defencemen (7)

Evan Bouchard
Noah Dobson
Thomas Harley
Cale Makar
Josh Morrissey
Colton Parayko
Devon Toews

Considering all of the achievements and accolades Cale Makar has already earned in his NHL career, it’s hard to believe that the Colorado Avalanche blueliner will still be shy of his 30th birthday at the time of the World Cup. He is part of Canada’s foundation for the foreseeable future and figures to play a big role in 2026 and 2028.

Cale Makar Colorado Avalanche
Cale Makar was a difference-maker for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Joining Makar again will be his Colorado defensive partner Devon Toews, who averaged only slightly less than Makar’s 28 minutes over the four 4 Nations games. Toews will be turning 34 the month of the World Cup, but barring any rapid decline, he will still hold value for his ability to log heavy minutes and his chemistry with the 2022 Norris Trophy winner.

Colton Parayko and the flu-ridden Josh Morrissey should also hold over from the 4 Nations squad, while Thomas Harley projects to be promoted from injury fill-in to full-time Team Canada representative. The 2028 group should have room for 4 Nations snubs Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson, who could replace the likes of aging defenders Drew Doughty and Alex Pietrangelo, who opted out of the 4 Nations.

Much of the changing of the guard represented here is youth-oriented. While there will be room for veterans like Toews, Parayko and Morrissey, a move to make the blue line younger could benefit the likes of Harley (26 at World Cup time), Bouchard (28) and Dobson (28). That might also open up the door for a player like Owen Power or even 2025 top prospect Matthew Schaefer, but likely means trouble for veterans on the bubble, including Shea Theodore, Travis Sanheim, Mackenzie Weegar and Chris Tanev.

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Goaltenders (3)

Jordan Binnington
Mackenzie Blackwood
Adin Hill

Whether it’s the 4 Nations Face-Off, the 2026 Olympics or the 2028 World Cup, it feels like Team Canada could almost flip a coin when it comes to their goaltending. Jordan Binnington’s clutch heroics in helping the country secure a 4 Nations-clinching 3-2 overtime win over Team USA probably gives the St. Louis Blues netminder the edge for future international competitions, but there’s no de facto No. 1 here like the Americans have in Connor Hellebuyck. Instead, the Canadian crease is basically an open battle between a handful of viable candidates.

While Canada would ideally love to have one elite option between the pipes, the good news amidst the numerous solid available options is that no one should age out in the coming years. Binnington will be 34 at the 2028 World Cup, but Adin Hill, Samuel Montembeault and Mackenzie Blackwood will all be just 31 years of age, while Logan Thompson will be 30. It remains to be seen whether someone among the young Canadian goalie crop of Joel Hofer, Devon Levi, Nico Daws, Jet Greaves or Sebastian Cossa can break through.

Among the most likely candidates, it was Hill and Montembeault who were selected for backup duty behind Binnington in Montreal and Boston. Who is selected in 2028 will ultimately boil down to how things go at the Olympics, not to mention their subsequent NHL seasons. I’ve chosen Blackwood here because he has a real chance to break out and play meaningful playoff hockey for a talented Avalanche team, much like Hill in Vegas (where he already has a Cup).

The same could be true of Montembeault and Thompson, although the young Canadiens still need to start winning in front of Monteambeault and Thompson needs to shed a questionable reputation that reportedly inspired his former Golden Knights coaches to leave him off the 4 Nations Face-Off roster.

It goes without saying that a lot can change between now and February 2028, particularly with Olympic hockey on the docket between now and then. But now that best-on-best international competition looks as though it won’t be going away anytime soon, it’s fun to forecast down the road to see how this generation of Canadian hockey will grow, evolve and change over time.

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