Five young stars we’d like to see play for Team Canada at the World Championship

Five young stars we’d like to see play for Team Canada at the World Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . With the 2025-26 NHL season finished for half of the NHL, the attention for those eliminated players turns to the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Although it’s not regarded in the same light as the Olympics or even the World Juniors Championship, for that matter, it’s a way for players to represent their country and either continue their strong seasons or attempt to correct a poor one and rebuild their confidence. With the return of best-on-best international hockey, NHL players are using the World Championship to leave their mark on their country’s management staff, in hopes that it leaves a positive impact when they make selections for the World Cup of Hockey in 2028. Today, we’ll look at five players we’d like to see play for Team Canada at the World Championship: Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks Connor Bedard had a strong case and probably should have made Team Canada’s Olympic roster.

But an injury and the decision to bring in veterans meant that Bedard watched his country lose in the gold-medal game from home. Bedard’s track record with Canada is very strong, and he could add to it by making himself available for the World Championships. The 20-year-old has participated in this event previously, scoring five goals and eight points in 10 games, but if he joined the team this year, he would be a focal point of their offense.

It would also allow Bedard to demonstrate further why he needs to not only be on Canada’s next best on best roster, but also a prominent figure in the forward group. He finished the 2025-26 season with 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games, but prior to his injury, the former 2023 first overall pick was on pace for over 40 goals and 100 points. MORE : The Sky Remains The Limit For Blackhawks' Connor Bedard Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders Matthew Schaefer, like Bedard, was a final cut by Team Canada for this year's Olympics, and he will be a vital piece of their future teams.