Canada’s roster for the 2026 Olympics in Milan will be revealed in just a few days on Dec. 31st. Connor McDavid was already named as one of the first six players on the roster back in June, but today I want to talk about another Oiler who is a dark horse to make the team.

With the embarrassment of talent that Canada’s management has to choose from, players like Zach Hyman may be an afterthought to some, but he isn’t to me. While it’s probably a long shot that we see Hyman in Milan this February, I believe he presents a compelling case. Let’s break it down.

Chemistry with McDavid

The Olympic hockey tournament is short, and there isn’t much time to practice as a team, so finding chemistry quickly will be paramount. There are no two Canadian forwards with a better track record together than McDavid and Hyman.

Since 2022-23, they’ve outscored the opposition 196-117 in their 5-on-5 minutes together and have roughly 62 percent of the expected goals. That’s historic levels of domination. Interestingly, both of them have been outscored in their minutes apart from one another.

While McDavid played fine at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Jon Cooper never settled on a line for him, cycling through different winger combinations throughout the tournament. If he wants to make his life a whole lot easier, he has a player available who he knows can deliver results with his top star.

It wouldn’t be the first time we saw Canada do something like this. Back in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Chris Kunitz famously made the team in large part because of how well he gelled with Sidney Crosby.

If Cooper wants to prioritize making his best player as comfortable as possible right from the opening puck drop, without having to experiment on the fly, Hyman is an attractive option.

Hyman can play a necessary role

If we know anything about these tournaments, it’s that managers aren’t interested in constructing All-Star teams. They need players who can cover a wide variety of skills. Hyman fills a role that Canada will need.

The Olympic ice surface will be slightly shorter than NHL-sized sheets, so time and space in the neutral zone will be at a premium. It’s safe to assume there’s going to be a lot of dump and chase to get through that congested zone, so speed and forechecking are necessary skill sets.

Hyman has underrated speed and gets to pucks quickly on the forecheck. He’s a highly physical player, and he cranks it up to a different level in a playoff environment. Last season, he was on pace to break the NHL record for hits in a single postseason had he not broken his wrist in the Western Conference Final.

Canada can count on him to put pressure on opposing defencemen, punish them in the corners, and get his linemates the puck. With all of that said, Hyman isn’t just a grinder; he excels at the hardest thing to do in this sport: scoring goals.

Hyman is scoring half a goal per game this season and has a 50-goal season to his name. They may not all be pretty, but no one will remember how the goals were scored. They’ll remember the wins.

Hyman doesn’t have a Stanley Cup ring yet, but he knows how to win hockey games. There’s a reason the Oilers have come out on top in six of their last seven playoff series he’s played in. Few players bring the same mix of pace, physicality, and nose for the net, which makes him a perfect complementary player for superstars.

Hyman’s competition for a roster spot

When the management team puts together this roster, there’s no doubt they’re making sure they have their bases covered in all facets of the game. They’re going to want to take several forechecking forwards to be the first in the corners to battle for pucks to go along with the skill guys.

Brandon Hagel, Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, Brad Marchand, Travis Konecny, and Zach Hyman are the most likely candidates for that role on the team. Hagel is probably a lock, considering he plays for Cooper in Tampa Bay, kills penalties and plays left wing — a position that’s not as deep as right wing for Canada.

Marchand, Bennett, and Hyman can also play left wing, but Marchand has the added benefit of killing penalties. With 42 points in 36 games, he’s Canada’s only forechecking forward more productive on a per-game basis than Hyman this season.

Bennett’s clutch performance in both the 4 Nations Face-Off and Playoffs last spring will put him in the running, too, despite underwhelming regular-season results.

If the coaching staff prefers Hyman on right wing, where he typically plays on McDavid’s line, he’d probably have to beat out Wilson, who is reportedly high on Canada’s radar. Another candidate, Konecny, made the 4 Nations Face-Off team, but failed to make an impact and quickly found himself sitting in the press box. I don’t expect to see him on the team with all of the other options they have, but you never know.

Will Hyman make Team Canada?

Despite the arguments I’ve laid out, if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t put money on Hyman making this team. The winger depth for Canada is incredible, and there’s so much skill available. Hyman will have to hope that his chemistry with McDavid, speed, and versatility to play either wing will trump his competition’s assets in the eyes of the decision-makers.

The emergence of young stars, Stanley Cup-winning pedigree available, and proven track record of players who participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off will likely put Hyman on the outside looking in.

Fans who don’t follow the Oilers closely may scoff at the idea of Hyman making the Canadian Olympic roster, but some roster battles don’t come down to which player has the most skill or flair. Any smart General Manager will also have time for players who score ugly and win battles.

Hyman has played over 2,500 minutes alongside McDavid and is producing at a point-per-game clip this season, which is competitive with other roster hopefuls who play a similar style. His mix of scoring ability and tenaciousness makes him a rare commodity. Even if he ultimately falls short, Hyman belongs in the conversation.

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