The Washington Capitals landed two players on Team Canada’s official 2026 Olympic roster. The announcement went down on New Year’s Eve, ending the much-anticipated reveal of the team that will compete for gold in Milano-Cortina.
Among the stacked roster, forward Tom Wilson and goaltender Logan Thompson made the cut. The two Capitals stars will represent Canada, amid a fantastic season this year.
Wilson, a heart and soul guy who plays with grit and skill, got the nod over other notable forwards like Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers. Wilson has notched 19 goals and 37 points in 38 games this season. He’s on pace for his best season and should provide much-needed depth in Canada’s bottom six.
The former first-round pick from the 2012 NHL Draft should give Canada a physical dimension crucial in the medal round. There’s little doubt that the Canadian squad will get a boost from Wilson.
As for Thompson, his stellar play from last season and this year catapulted him to the Olympics. The Capitals’ netminder has played 28 games this season, winning 15, to go with two shutouts. He’s posted a 2.33 GAA and a .915 SV%. Those numbers were hard for Team Canada management to ignore.
With Thompson in tow, Team Canada now has three elite-level goaltenders to compete against other powerhouse clubs like the United States, Sweden, and Finland.
Capitals Wilson Gets Recognition He Deserves
Wilson was one of the biggest snubs at last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off. He was reportedly among the final cuts, leaving him on a sort of waiting list for this year.
It seems that Wilson’s strong play with the Capitals landed him the recognition he deserves. Getting the nod for Team Canada is an acknowledgement of his overall consistent play.
Wilson will likely play a similar role on Team Canada as with the Capitals. Wilson could face some of the feistier opponents while finding opportunities to use his skills to contribute on the scoresheet.
It may be a little too early to speculate who Wilson’s linemates might be. But one thing is certain: Wilson will be a crucial piece for Team Canada.
Thompson to Share Time with Binnington in Canada’s Crease
As for the Capitals’ starting netminder, he’ll likely split time in Canada’s crease with Jordan Binnington. While Binnington is likely the starter, Thompson could get in a game or two during the round-robin tournament.
Canada could play as many as six games throughout the tournament. Given the short span of the tournament, it’s feasible to see Binnington and Thompson splitting time. Darcy Kuemper, a former Capital, could also see action.
Potentially, Team Canada coach Jon Cooper could give each goalie a start during the round-robin and then go with one “starter” in the medal round.
That’s all hearsay at this point. Still, just getting named to the team is a great honor and acknowledgement for the Capitals’ Thompson. He’ll have an opportunity to prove that GM Doug Armstrong made the right call by including his name on the final roster.
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