With the NHL’s Four Nations Face-Off roster announcements about to happen on Wednesday, San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini likely won’t make Team Canada’s roster. Still, he should be considered for their 2026 Olympic roster.
It is a longshot for the 18-year-old to make Canada’s Four Nations roster, as Celebrini has not only dealt with injury but has only played 15 career games. However, he’s quickly becoming an elite player, as he was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November and the First Star for the week ending Dec. 1.
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The Four Nations will give fans a taste of international hockey that has not been seen since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. 19-year-old and second-year pro for the Chicago Blackhawks, Connor Bedard, seemed almost a lock for Canada’s roster for the upcoming tournament, but his recent slump has cast some doubt.
Celebrini and Bedard will forever be linked as former NHL first-overall picks. Both are from Vancouver, play center, and are considered future superstars of their respective franchises. Leading up to the 2024 NHL Draft, Celebrini’s offensive potential was high but viewed as slightly lower than Bedard’s. With 14 points in 15 career games, Celebrini is showing the hockey world that his offense might’ve been underrated.
The San Jose Sharks centerman is also considered a complete 200-foot player. Even just 15 games into his career, Celebrini is already winning puck battles at the highest rate in the NHL, at 4.50 per game as of Nov. 26, according to Sportlogiq.
Bedard will almost certainly be a lock for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Still, Celebrini’s all-around play and offensive chance creation should make him a promising player for Canada. He will be able to provide more than Bedard on the defensive side of the puck and, depending on the rest of his development during his rookie season, could even see some penalty kill time.
Celebrini’s complete play on the ice has already drawn comparisons to Pittsburgh Penguins and Hockey Canada legend Sidney Crosby.
At the rate Celebrini is learning the NHL, his chances of making Team Canada’s Olympic roster seem higher than some might have expected. If Bedard can be considered for a Team Canada hockey roster at 19, so should Celebrini for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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