And just like that, the 2026 Winter Olympics have come to an end, with the gold medal game between Team Canada and Team U.S.A. standing as the pinnacle of the Games.

From a hockey fan’s perspective, the gold medal game had everything you could ask for — aside from a ton of goals, of course — with big hits, great plays, and amazing saves. For Team Canada fans, though, the outcome was a heartbreaking one. Still, the ride was full of moments that will be talked about for years, and with that, we’ve put together our final Team Canada Thoughts for the 2026 Winter Olympics below.

The result of the Olympics wasn’t what he wanted, but Edmonton Oilers captain and now, we can add, ‘Captain Canada’, Connor McDavid, had a helluva Winter Olympics.

He finished with 13 points in six games, setting the record for most points by a player in a single Olympics with NHL players. He was also named tournament M.V.P., selected to the Olympic All-Star Team, and also named Best Forward.

Setting aside the loss of the gold medal game, McDavid played lights out throughout the tournament. He was physical, fast, and provided plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments, and when Sidney Crosby went down with an injury, he stepped up as the leader without question. With millions tuning into the Olympics and with some, I’d imagine, watching hockey for the first time, he left little doubt about who the best player in hockey is.

However, after the gold medal game, a narrative started to circulate online that McDavid can’t win the big one, which, if you look back nearly a year ago, isn’t exactly true — he scored the game-winning gold medal goal at the 4 Nations Face-off. Remember that?

That said, as the narrative began to spread, Oilersnation’s Tyler Yaremchuk defended the captain and summarized it well, posting: ‘The message here is that Connor McDavid is always the best player on his team, and when he is shut down, the supporting cast NEVER bails him out, the way he bails them out time and time again. That’s the problem.’

There’s no question that McDavid willed his team to the final game. Credit to Team U.S.A. for checking him well, but the reality is that Team Canada, loaded with NHL stars, needed others besides McDavid to step up, and they didn’t. And just in case anyone forgot, hockey is a team game, not a one-man show.

On that note, for many Oilers fans who were also cheering for Team Canada, watching their loss in the gold medal game — combined with back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Final over the last two seasons — is a tough pill to swallow. Very tough. And if you’re feeling it pretty hard, I can’t help but think of what McDavid must be going through, even though he said after the game that he’ll, “Just move on. Onward.”

That said, nothing is certain in hockey, and I can’t guarantee wins or outcomes, but one thing is almost certain: the Oilers’ captain will learn from the lessons, work on his craft even more, and use another big loss as motivation to become even better than he is now. I know that sounds cliché, but that’s just the type of person McDavid is. He has the mindset to be the best, and people like that turn every perceived failure into fuel.

Because Team Canada didn’t win the gold medal, it’s easy to slip into the ‘could’ve, should’ve, would’ve’ point of view. There are a few things I could nitpick where Team Canada could’ve done better, like capitalizing on their glorious chances in the gold medal game. But I’ll stick to one area that really stood out to me throughout the tournament, which was the need for better puck movement from the back end.

Outside of Cale Makar and Thomas Harley, the rest of the defence struggled at times to transition the puck up to their forwards effectively.

There were moments when Drew Doughty seemed a step behind. Even though he’s destined to be a Hall of Famer, the 36-year-old struggled at times defensively and on the transition. Another example is Colton Parayko. He made several giveaways, couldn’t move the puck up ice quickly, and his lack of foot speed was exposed at times over the course of the tournament.

And naturally, because I cover the Oilers, I’m going to bring up the Evan Bouchard argument. He wasn’t selected to Team Canada, but boy, he could’ve helped them.

When Team Canada was pressing for goals to tie the game in the quarterfinal and semifinal against Team Finland, they needed more D-men to get the puck in the hands of their forwards in prime spots, and that’s where Bouchard, the NHL’s leading point getter among D-men, excels. In the gold medal game, Parayko was paired with the McDavid line at 5v5 throughout, and when that line couldn’t get things going, I kept thinking, “If only there was a D-man who knows how to hit the Oilers’ captain in stride perfectly.”

Perhaps I have my biased lens on, but I used Bouchard as an example, and I could’ve just as easily used another dynamic D-man like Matthew Schaefer instead. Still, it’s clear that outside of Makar, there was a lack of offensive threat from the blue line, and hopefully Team Canada learns its lesson: selecting a backend with mostly safe, stay-at-home defencemen (who gave away the puck at times anyway) isn’t necessarily a recipe for success in today’s game.

When the game is on the line, you need game breakers on the back end too, and players like Parayko and Travis Sanheim aren’t built for that.

Generational talents are often seen as those rare players who have extraordinary, game-altering skill that comes around every ten or more years — players like Sidney Crosby and McDavid. We’ve heard that hype with Celebrini during the NHL season, as he’s currently fourth in NHL scoring with 81 points. But hearing it and believing it are two different things, and I’m starting to believe, based on the way this 19-year-old kid from North Vancouver, B.C., played during the Olympics, that he’s the next Canadian player who will permanently earn the ‘generational’ title.

Celebrini finished the tournament with ten points (five goals, five assists) in six games, good for second place in scoring, and his five goals led the entire Winter Olympics, as did his 28 shots. He was also named to the Olympic All-Star Team, and his ten points set a record for the most points by a teenager in an Olympics featuring NHL players. Moreover, head coach John Cooper said about the youngster, after playing him a team-high 25:53 minutes against Finland, “He’s generational, that kid.”

Overall, Celebrini played a step above most of his teammates. He battled, showed his quickness, used his lethal shot, and played fetch with McDavid — making plays that made the opposition look silly that resulted in goals. Plays only elite-level players with the highest hockey IQs can make. On top of that, he was trusted in the highest-pressure moments, whether it was trying to tie the game, critical power plays, or in overtime. It seemed like the moment was never too big for him, which, if I had to pick one asset of his that was most impressive (because they all are), it would be his confidence.

Throughout the Olympics, the 19-year-old carried the confidence and poise of a 15-year NHL veteran, all while flashing that youthful grin.

That said, when the camera focused on Celebrini receiving his silver medal, the mark on his cheek from a battle was obvious, and it served as a subtle reminder of how this teenager gave it his all for Team Canada. At just 19, the Olympics gave us a glimpse at Canada’s generational star in the making for many more years to come.

The end result of the Winter Olympics wasn’t what Team Canada wanted. For their fans, some may have already moved on from the loss, while for others it will take time to process — much like Oilers fans have had to do before. Still, this Team Canada group delivered some unforgettable moments. Here are some that stand out above the rest:

– McDavid laid out a couple of players early in the preliminary games like he had been shot out of a cannon.

– Tom Wilson recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick against France and delivered big hits throughout the tournament.

– Celebrini became the first NHL player to score a penalty-shot goal at the Olympics.

– Sidney Crosby had a three‑point night against France, finishing with the most points by a Canadian at the Olympics in the NHL era.

– Nick Suzuki scored the game-tying goal with under four minutes left in the quarterfinal.

– Mitch Marner scored a clutch overtime goal against Team Czechia to send Canada to the semis.

– McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon connected for the game-winning power-play goal in the semifinal.

I know this tournament was ‘Gold or bust’ for the Canadians, but when the gold medal game ended, I was watching with friends who were stunned and speechless at the outcome, and that’s when my friend’s eight-year-old daughter asked, “Why is everyone so sad? The Olympics were fun and they still won a silver medal.”

That sweet and innocent comment gave everyone a little escape from the disappointment, briefly shifting perspective and reminding us to appreciate the journey.

Team Canada only played six games, but in those six games, it was a rollercoaster full of emotions and, most importantly, a ton of fun for everyone watching. I know people who don’t normally watch hockey, who were tuning in as much as they could — leaving work early, going to bars at times they’d never normally go, and waking up extra early — just to catch every moment they could of this fun and dynamic Canadian team in action.

It was a wild two weeks, and a tip of the hat goes to the fellas on Team Canada. They took their fans on a memorable run, won an Olympic medal, and brought Canadians together with moments to cherish — something they should be very proud of.

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