AI Olympic Hockey Roster Predictions: ChatGPT's Canada, USA 2026 Olympics Roster Projections

The world's most preeminent oracle would have been jealous of ChatGPT's predictions for the 4 Nations Face-Off final.

Our favorite robot was so successful that we're keeping it in the lineup, and asking for its AI Olympic Hockey roster predictions while focusing on Olympic Hockey odds favorites Canada and the USA. 

🥇 AI 2026 Winter Olympics Hockey roster predictions

With rosters more stacked than a pancake order at IHOP, Canada and Team USA need to only fine-tune their selections for next year's 2026 Winter Olympics. 

While a lot depends on what transpires on the ice over the next six-to-nine months, both teams will work tirelessly to find the perfect balance, providing the best chance to capture gold. One wayward decision, or even a minor misstep, might be the difference between glory and utter despair. 

The rosters won't be announced until late in 2025. Until then, let's analyze, project, predict, and speculate. 

🤖 Who will make 2026 Olympic Hockey rosters? ChatGPT's Canada, USA roster predictions 

The ChatGPT predictions, which are Based on an OpenAI language model, are designed for entertainment purposes, and not specifically for sports betting predictions at our best sports betting sites. 

🇨🇦 ChatGPT Team Canada 2026 Winter Olympics roster projections

🦫 Who will be Canada's captain? 

Like everyone under the sun, the robot has selected Sidney Crosby to lead Canada into the 2026 Winter Olympics. While the 2026 Olympic Games will almost certainly be Sid's swan song, Captain Canada's status is cemented until he decides otherwise.

ChatGPT selected Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon as the alternate captains. I can't argue with either, although Cale Makar donned the "A" at the 4 Nations Face-Off when healthy.

There isn't any reason to mess with Canada's leadership group, and you probably have a few screws loose if you do. 

Who will be Canada's head coach and assistant coaches? 

ChatGPT has relieved head coach Jon Cooper and assistant Rick Tocchet of their duties with immediate effect. The fortune-telling robot has replaced them with Rod Brind'Amour and Paul Maurice, the former getting the nod as head coach. 

While I can't disagree with their elite pedigree and experience, I'm not going to tinker with something that ain't broken. I don't love Cooper's Tampa Bay nepotism, but he's one of the best minds in hockey, and the bench boss just brought home the 4 Nations bacon.

Leave well enough alone, I say. 

🏒 My Canada Olympic hockey roster projections

My Canada Olympic hockey roster analysis  

Chat GPT's inclusions that should be excluded: 

Forwards: 

• Mathew Barzal: I'm not sure what ChatGPT was smoking before making this pick, but Barzal wouldn't make the cut.
• Connor Bedard: ChatGPT is so keen on the future that it's too eagerly trying to make it happen. With the depth this Canadian team boasts, it's a year or two early for the Blackhawks' prodigy. That's especially true considering Seth Jarvis was the youngest player on Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off roster at the tender age of 23.
• Zach Hyman: Sorry, Zach. Your palpable production drop-off isn't jiving with me. I shudder to think how many points you'd register without McDavid hand-feeding you. You are the poor man's version of Sam Reinhart, who isn't safe himself.

Defense: 

• Noah Dobson: While I love his potential and age (25), Dobson isn't where he needs to be to nab one of the roster spots.
• Dougie Hamilton: The thought process is sound here, ChatGPT, but Hamilton hasn't been nearly good enough in his own end for the New Jersey Devils this season. If he can clean his act up, he's definitely in the running.

Goaltenders: 

• Adin Hill: The status quo is simply not good enough. Canada's goaltending is already inferior to America's netminders, a weakness that doesn't need to be exacerbated. While Hill hasn't necessarily done anything wrong, he hasn't been covering himself in glory either.
• Samuel Montembeault: The goaltender for the Habs is on the bubble and will contend for a spot on his current trajectory. However, there are two better choices right now.

Chat GPT's exclusions that should be included:

Forwards: 

• Sam Bennett: Shame on you for ostracizing Mr. Bennett, ChatGPT. The Panthers forward was critical to Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off success. He scored the equalizer against the Americans in the final and was a menace throughout. He offsets Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, and Bennett was one of Canada's most important players, especially in limited minutes.
• Brandon Hagel: His season in Tampa cannot be glossed over. He's too good too omit.
• Tom Wilson: I don't blame ChatGPT for leaving him off the list. It's either Dubois, Wilson, or neither as far as I'm concerned.
• Mark Scheifele: Here's a polarizing figure. His perceived defensive ineptitude kept him off the 4 Nations Face-Off team, but Scheifele's creativity and offensive prowess are too pronounced to omit.

Defense: 

• MacKenzie Weeger: The Flames' ace in the hole deserves a shot. Calgary would be dead in the water without him patrolling the blue line. He's as good defensively as Weeger is in the offensive zone. Penalty kill, power play, you name it, Weegar is your guy.
• Colton Parayko: With the Americans' size and physicality, you can't leave this beast at home.

Goaltenders:

• Mackenzie Blackwood: Blackwood has been playing so well since arriving in Colorado he infiltrated Vezina Trophy odds conversations
• Logan Thompson: Speaking of the Vezina Trophy odds conversation, Thompson is being mentioned in the same breath as Connor Hellebuyck. He'd be a shoo-in if the tournament started next week.

Canada 4 Nations Face-Off players not projected to make Olympic roster

• Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes), Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings), Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars), Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers), Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning)

🇺🇸 ChatGPT Team USA 2026 Winter Olympics roster projections

🦅 Who will be Team USA's captain? 

It's status quo where America's captain is concerned, with Auston Matthews leading the red, white, and blue into battle. ChatGPT predicted Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk would be the alternate captains.

Charlie McAvoy was one of the alternate captains during the 4 Nations Face-Off, which is the only difference. 

Who will be Team USA's head coach and assistant coaches? 

ChatGPT expects the Americans to go with the status quo here too, including two-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Sullivan as head coach. John Hynes, John Tortorella, and David Quinn retain their positions as assistant coaches. 

🏒 My Team USA Olympic hockey roster projections

My Team USA Olympic hockey roster analysis  

Chat GPT's inclusions that should be excluded: 

Forwards: 

• Matty Beniers: If Beniers can replicate the level he consistently reached during his rookie season, when he scored 57 points in 80 games, I'm all for him making the squad.
• Cole Perfetti: The 23-year-old boasts bundles of potential, but he's at least a few notches away from reaching elite status. Until that happens, he won't get a spot on the USA's roster.
• Brock Boeser: While a solid, on-the-bubble candidate, he needs to reach another level before cracking this squad.

Defense: 

• Jacob Trouba: If this were an open-ice hitting competition, Trouba would be my captain. Unfortunately, it's not, and his best years are in the past. ChatGPT is too preoccupied with excessive physicality leading to all-out donnybrooks. I wonder what spearheaded that predisposition. Cue the flashbacks to the USA vs. Canada 4 Nations Face-Off round-robin tilt
• Ryan McDonagh: Come on, ChatGPT. I expect more.

Goaltenders:

• Spencer Knight: Knight has been showing exquisite potential, and it's clear he can step into the No. 1 role when the Panthers need him. But he's not a No. 1 netminder yet, falling below the lofty Team USA gold standard.

Chat GPT's exclusions that should be included: 

Forwards:

• Dylan Larkin: The captain of the Red Wings is a lock to make the roster. He was one of the more pleasantly surprising players at the 4 Nations Face-Off and is Detroit's heart and soul. He's also an opportunistic scorer who contributes at an almost point-per-game clip.
• J.T. Miller: Another point-per-game player, Miller has been instrumental in the New York Rangers' revival since rejoining the team. The Blueshirt also adds an invaluable leadership component.
• Matt Boldy: Young, electric, quick, and dynamic, Boldy is too good not to bring to Italy.

Defense: 

• Jaccob Slavin: Slavin was the Americans' unheralded MVP at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He prevented Crosby from a guaranteed goal and made a miraculous block on Seth Jarvis during the final against Canada, just two of countless spectacular defensive plays. He's also a wizard offensively, leading to an unmatchable unicorn aura.
• Adam Fox: While he produced a quiet and ineffective 4 Nations Face-Off, you can't leave one of the best set-up men from the point off the roster.

Goaltenders:

• Anthony Stolarz: The Americans must include him if Stolarz is healthy. He's been a top-five goaltender in the league this season despite suffering a knee injury that kept him out for an extended patch. He's calm under pressure, and like Hellebuyck, Stolarz covers a ton of the net.

Team USA Nations Face-Off players not projected to make Olympic roster

• Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins), Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators), Brett Pesce (New Jersey Devils), Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers), Brock Nelson (New York Islanders), Chris Kreider (New York Rangers)

❓2026 Winter Olympics hockey FAQs

Who is favored to win the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Canada is favored to win the 2026 Winter Olympics while getting +175 odds. Those odds imply a 36.36% probability, according to our odds calculator. 

Who won the last Olympic hockey tournament?

Finland won the Beijing 2022 Olympic tournament. However, it wasn't a best-on-best tournament, with NHL players prohibited from participating. 

When is the 2026 Winter Olympic hockey tournament?

The 2026 Winter Olympic hockey tournament takes place from Feb. 11 to Feb. 22.

When is the 2026 Winter Olympic hockey gold-medal game?

The gold-medal game occurs on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 7:10 a.m. ET. 

Who won the last best-on-best Olympic hockey tournament? 

Canada won the last best-on-best Olympic hockey tournament in 2014 at the Sochi Olympics. 

How many players are on an Olympic hockey roster? 

The maximum number of players on an Olympic men's hockey roster is 25, and the maximum for an Olympic women's hockey roster is 23. However, each team can only dress 20 skaters and two goaltenders for each game. 

🏒 NHL betting odds pages

Here are our futures pages breaking down the best NHL odds to help with your NHL picks.

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