The Athletic Hockey Show – Olympic Depth Chart Debate

Episode: Building Canada and USA Olympic depth charts
Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts & Panel: Max Bultman, Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler, Chris Peters

Overview

This episode focuses on in-depth debates about constructing the depth charts for Team Canada and Team USA for the upcoming Olympics. The hosts simulate management meetings, discussing and sometimes contesting each other’s picks for forwards, defense, and goalies. Drawing on recent performances, existing chemistry, player archetypes, and strategic needs for international play, the crew narrows down projected Olympic rosters for both hockey powerhouses.

Team Canada: Forwards Debates

[01:53–24:19]

Consensus Top Forwards

• “No surprise to anyone that Nathan McKinnon, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Sam Reinhart, Mitch Marner, Braden Point are in everyone’s top nine. Another guy though who is in everyone's top nine is Macklin Celebrini.” – Max (01:57)
• Macklin Celebrini is now considered a “lock” despite his youth, due to elite play and a strong World Championship.

Notable Quote:
“He’s a lock. He’s one of the league’s offensive leaders. He has a well-rounded game.” – Corey (02:51)

Other Locks

• Mark Scheifele: unanimous, valued for size and two-way play; “This Team Canada up front isn’t all that big...I do think that matters.” – Scott (05:33)
• Nick Suzuki: solidified as 4C, praised for defensive impact and versatility.

Center Position Debate (3C Spot)

• Sorelli vs. Point vs. Crosby: Preferences influenced by line chemistry (e.g., keeping Tampa’s Hagel-Sorelli-Point together) vs. pure star power and adaptability.

“You have to start by building lines that just work. Maybe it is that Hagel, Sorelli and Point are together, but I think that...wouldn't be my starting point necessarily.” – Scott (09:13)

The “Bubble” Forwards

Significant debate around the last handful of roster spots:

• Mark Stone, Brad Marchand, Travis Konecny, Tom Wilson all on the bubble.
  • Stone preferred for size and defensive stick.
  • Marchand advocated for veteran edge and playoff pedigree.
  • Tom Wilson’s physicality noted, but concerns about penalties in IIHF play.

“I don’t think Tom Wilson is the kind of guy who IIHF refs are gonna look favorably on...he could easily get Canada into penalty trouble in a medal round game.” – Corey (12:59)

Marchand vs. Wilson Final Spot Showdown [17:34–22:20]

• Split panel: arguments for Marchand’s intangibles and legacy vs. Wilson’s unique physical presence.
• Ultimately, Tom Wilson ekes in via Corey's “fence” vote, even as Scott notes, “I think there’s a chance both of them will be on, but I do think Brad's going to be on the team in the end.” (22:11)

Connor Bedard’s Role [22:20–24:19]

• Bedard is seen as a 13th forward or 4th liner—not yet as two-way complete or physically ready compared to Celebrini.
  • Concerns about top-nine spot due to defensive/physical demands and the quality of competition for roles.
  • “He’s probably a top 5–10 player in the NHL right now in terms of pure offensive abilities, his skill...But if you put him in the top six, top nine...you just have to...” – Corey (22:44)

Team Canada: Defense and Goalies

[27:18–41:40]

Defense Consensus

• Main locks: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Morrissey, Thomas Harley, Shea Theodore, Drew Doughty.
• Colton Parayko debated for his size and penalty kill specialty.
• Push-pull on bringing in youth (Matthew Schaefer) vs. physical veterans (“need at least one tough, big defenseman with both Kachuks on ice for USA” – Max, 34:05).

Notable Disagreements

• Evan Bouchard’s role: Controversial power-play specialist option.
  “There’s just a level gap for me, more with Evan Bouchard on the power play than with Colton Parayko on the penalty kill.” – Scott (35:47)
• Vote for Final D-Spot: Travis Sanheim squeaks onto the panel’s depth chart (39:25).

Goalie Debate [40:01–41:40]

• Logan Thompson (starter), Jordan Binnington, and Darcy Kuemper (3rd string) consensus, with Corey making a soft argument for Aidan Hill:
  • “I like the athleticism there, but...if you really all felt confident Kemper could be the 3...” – Corey (40:17)
• Starters: Most feel Binnington will start due to legacy, despite poor season.

Team USA: Forwards Debates

[43:18–58:25]

Consensus Forwards

• Universal: Auston Matthews, the Tkachuk brothers, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Dylan Larkin, Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, and Tage Thompson.

Bubble/Depth Spots & Archetype Talk

• J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Alex DeBrincat, Cole Caufield, Brock Nelson, Clayton Keller, Matthew Knies, Shane Pinto, Jason Robertson, Logan Cooley all debated for bubble/depth roles.
  • Miller’s versatility vs. Jason Robertson’s high-end scoring but skating limitations.
  • Trocheck’s defensive reliability weighed against flashier, smaller skill types (Caufield, DeBrincat).
  • Cooley and Knies (youth/energy/physicality) vs. Nelson (center/size).
  • Strategic emphasis noted: “Bill Guerin has tipped his hand that heaviness is, is going to loom large in the decision process.” – Chris (46:28)

Notable Quotes

• “If you have Cole Caufield, when we have Kyle Connor, I only want to take one of Clayton Keller or Jason Robertson here.” – Max (52:35)
• Chris on Keller: “He is a facilitator...can really make guys around him better...he’s a heady player.” (52:58)

Panel's Final Forward Choices [51:45–58:25]:

• Adds: J.T. Miller, Cole Caufield, Logan Cooley, Vincent Trocheck, Clayton Keller, Matthew Knies.
• Small skepticism raised that management may lean even heavier/older (Brian Rust, Chris Kreider) or pass over Caufield in practice.

Team USA: Defense and Goalies

[58:25–68:19]

Defensive Locks

• Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Jacob Slavin, Jake Sanderson, Zach Werenski, Brock Faber.
• Seth Jones becomes preferred over Noah Hanifin for size, playoff impact, and right-side familiarity with Werenski.

Final D-spot Debates

• Luke Hughes and Lane Hutson (youth/offense) vs. Adam Fox (pulse of debate: is there a real role for Fox without PP time?).
  • Ultimately, Adam Fox selected over others for dependability and experience.

Notable Quote

“I think it would be cool if all three Hughes brothers were on the team. That’d be cool. But... I do think Adam Fox will ultimately make the final roster, but I do think his status is very precarious.” – Chris (63:21)

Goalie Choices

• Consensus on Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger as 1–2.
• Jeremy Swayman (Four Nations gold performance, recency) vs. Spencer Knight (future, hot start). Swayman chosen by majority with some reluctance.

Key Timestamps

• 01:53–24:19: Canada Forwards – Consensus, debates, bubble spots, Marchand vs. Wilson, Bedard vs. Celebrini
• 27:18–41:40: Canada Defense & Goalies – Pareko role, youth vs. size, Bouchard, goaltending starter debate
• 43:18–58:25: USA Forwards – Locks, archetype discussion, bubble forwards, strategy on roster building
• 58:25–68:19: USA Defense & Goalies – Final roster spots, Adam Fox/Hughes/Hanifin/Jones debates, goalie #3
• Notable Quote (Team-building philosophy):
  “This is not a peewee tryout. It’s not about who had two good months. It’s a thorough player evaluation.” – Corey relaying Team USA GM Bill Guerin (29:59)

Notable Moments & Quotes

• Marchand vs. Wilson ‘Super-Vote’: “That’s good radio right there. I quit. I forfeit.” – Chris (22:07)
• On Role Assignment & Redundancy:
  “These are all NHL All-Star players that we're talking. This is a different player pool than Team USA’s had.” – Max (55:15)
• On Management Leanings:
  “Don’t be shocked if somebody comes out of left field that we aren’t even talking about.” – Chris (55:23), referencing surprise USA picks in previous years.

Final Consensus Rosters (as built by panel)

Team Canada

Forwards:
McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, Celebrini, Bedard, Marner, Reinhart, Scheifele, Suzuki, Point, Sorelli, Hagel, Stone, Jarvis, Wilson (last cut: Marchand)

Defense:
Makar, Taves, Morrissey, Doughty, Harley, Parayko, Sanheim, Theodore

Goalies:
Logan Thompson, Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper

Team USA

Forwards:
Matthews, Eichel, Jack Hughes, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Tage Thompson, J.T. Miller, Cole Caufield, Logan Cooley, Vincent Trocheck, Clayton Keller, Matthew Knies

Defense:
Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Jacob Slavin, Jake Sanderson, Zach Werenski, Brock Faber, Adam Fox, Seth Jones

Goalies:
Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Ottinger, Jeremy Swayman

Closing Thoughts

The episode is a masterclass in deep hockey roster-building, weighing current form, 2025-26 performances, and nuanced Olympic strategy. The consensus is that both nations have elite, World All-Star-level top-9 forwards, but the final roster spots hinge on balancing skill, chemistry, physicality, and role specialization—especially on the blue line and fourth lines. The goaltending debate is less about #1 than about the right #3 and rewarding performances beyond short-term greatness. The panel ultimately agrees that last spots—and controversies—are likely to linger until Olympic camp opens.

For more daily deep-dives, tune into the Prospect Series from The Athletic Hockey Show.