Who should be in Canada’s 3 goaltenders for the 2026 Olympics?
With 2025 coming to a close, the new year sees the return of best on best hockey at the Olympics. The four nations faceoff earlier this year was a unbelievable display of how fast paced and crisp the game can be. However, with the NHL coming back to the olympics for the first time since 2014, for us at Vgoal it begs the question, Who’s going to be between the pipes for Canada? Do they run back the four nations lineup or go with who’s hot going into the tournament.
The tandem of Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault were considered to be one of, if not the weakest goaltending groups at the 4 nations. Binnington seems to have secured his spot on the Olympic roster with his performance in the final against the Americans and his ability to show up when the game matters the most as far back as the 2019 cup winning run with the St. Louis Blues. Hill and Montembeault, however, aren’t in the same boat. Hill has been out with a lower body injury since late October and with Montembeault struggling and even spending some time in the American league, the last two spots seem to be up for grabs.
Numbers don’t always tell the story when it comes to goalies, but it does give us a good baseline to start at. Two names that have been very prominent this year and at the top of the league leaders is the Colorado avalanche duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. Blackwood was out for a little bit of time earlier this year, giving Wedgewood the ability to take majority of the starts where he put up a 2.13 GAA to go along with a .919 save % good for 2nd and 3rd in the league. While with his starts early in the year and since coming back from injury, Blackwood has posted a 2.15 GAA and a .924 Save %, ironically good for 3rd and 2nd in the league. Are the two avalanche goalies Canadas best option or are they a product of an absolute juggernaut team in Colorado.
One of the biggest snubs from Team Canada at the four nations was Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson, who has had another solid start to his 2025-2026 season being a mainstay in the leagues top 10 in wins, save % and GAA. Darcy Kuemper also has quietly had another very good year, a cup winner with Colorado, Kuemper has backed up his first ever Vezina nomination in 2024-2025 with a 2.19 GAA and a .917 save % which is top 5 In both categories.
With the Americans having Hellebuyck and Oettinger, Sweden having Wallstedt and Ullmark and Finland having Saros and Lankinen, Canada seems to be one of the few nations with some question marks about who will be on the roster and then who will stand in net when the tournament gets underway. Regardless of who is selected and shows up in Italy, Canada has a solid core between the pipes and should be the favorite for the gold medal!
Coach Avery’s Prediction
Starter: Logan Thompson
Backup: Jordan Binnington
3rd: Mackenzie Blackwood
Coach Kelsey’s Prediction
Starter: Jordan Binnington
Backup: Logan Thompson
3rd: Darcy Kuemper