The Edmonton Oilers are guaranteed to have one player representing Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, as Connor McDavid will, of course, lead the charge seeking to add a gold medal to his already legendary resume.
However, the recent play of two of their other Canadian forwards could very well increase that number. As we know, chemistry is everything in short tournaments like this, which is exactly why Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have firmly put themselves in contention to join their captain in February.
Since being thrown together as a trio, McDavid, Hyman, and Nugent-Hopkins have been the best line in hockey—and it hasn’t been particularly close. McDavid’s 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 11 games in December have coincided with Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins flanking him, both of whom have also been incredibly productive, tallying 15 points (nine goals, six assists) and 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in that span, respectively.
Opposing teams have had no answers when trying to contain the speed, skill, hockey IQ, and relentless work ethic this line brings. As a result, their dominance has sparked serious chatter about keeping the three intact atop Canada’s Olympic roster—and it’s hard to argue against it when the numbers are this staggering.
A McDavid-Hyman-Nugent-Hopkins Line Makes Too Much Sense for Team Canada
We saw at the 4 Nations Face-Off just how difficult it can be to manufacture instant chemistry with players who have never played together. Finding the right linemates for McDavid proved to be a challenge, so why not enter the Olympics knowing exactly what you’re getting from the best player in the world and the two forwards who complement him best?
Hyman Nugent Hopkins McDavid Oilers
Having McDavid flying out of the gates from puck drop in Canada’s opening game should be a top priority, and there’s no better way to ensure that than by surrounding him with familiarity and trust. Outside of Leon Draisaitl, there are no two players who have a better understanding of how to play with McDavid than Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins.
We saw it in 2014 with the then-best player in the world, Sidney Crosby, getting his Pittsburgh Penguins linemate, Chris Kunitz, to flank him in Sochi, which ended in another gold medal. It would make perfect sense to see Hockey Canada go back to the well again now in 2026.
Doug Armstrong and company don’t have much time left to make their final roster decisions, but given what they’ve recently seen out of Edmonton’s top line, they have to be seriously considering keeping the three together, this time donning the red and white.
Next: Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon for the Hart Trophy? Fans Weigh In
