Olympic stock report: Which way are bubble players trending?

For some NHLers, there's more at stake in the first half of the season than simply helping their teams win games: They're auditioning for a chance to represent their country in Italy at the 2026 Olympics from Feb. 11-22.

The auditioning relates mostly to players from Canada and the United States, as the North American nations have the greatest player pools to select from.

Each participating country named six Olympians in June. Canada went with Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart, while the U.S. chose Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy, Brady Tkachuk, and Matthew Tkachuk.

Complete 25-man rosters are due by Dec. 31.

Which Canadian and American players have stood out - for better or worse - through the opening month? We discuss the most interesting ones below.

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Macklin Celebrini

The 2024 first overall pick has taken a major leap to begin his sophomore season. His 18 points are tied for seventh most in the NHL as of Wednesday morning. It's not just the production that should have Celebrini on Canada's short list, however. The 19-year-old's 200-foot game is mature beyond his years. Also: Celebrini's handedness - he shoots left - could help his chances, as Canada has more righties than lefties on the bubble at forward.

Nick Suzuki

Suzuki used a 4 Nations Face-Off roster snub as a launching pad to stardom. The Canadiens captain shares the NHL lead in points since the February event, collecting 18 goals and 38 assists for 56 points in 39 games (including 19 points in 13 contests this year). The 26-year-old is a responsible player who can be slotted at center or wing, on any line, for Canada. The only "knock" against Suzuki at this point is that he's declined offers to represent Canada at past world championships - something the Olympic brain trust might care about.

Matthew Schaefer

Nobody expected Schaefer to be a consideration as an 18-year-old defenseman, but his play thus far has warranted at least a serious discussion. The production (11 points in 13 games) speaks for itself, but it's Schaefer's poise and defensive chops that should have him firmly on Canada's radar.

Logan Thompson

Thompson's .935 save percentage is tops among Canadian goalies, and he's earned a quality start in all eight of his appearances this season. In other words, the Capitals' No. 1 goalie is making a compelling case for a roster spot. The question is, will Canada general manager Doug Armstrong finally buy in? Thompson played well last year, too, yet he didn't sniff a 4 Nations spot or receive an invite to Canada's Olympic orientation camp in August.

Mark Scheifele

There's no way Scheifele, whose 20 points are one off the league lead, can be denied a roster spot ... right? Offense aside, there are still valid concerns about how his lack of pace and inconsistent defensive game would factor in if he's tasked with a bottom-six role. That said, if Scheifele stays hot, Canada may have no choice but to roll the dice and take the bad with the good.

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Sam Bennett

Bennett is the definition of a big-game player, and the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner entered the season as a virtual lock to make the team. However, his start has been worrisome: only two goals and two assists, and the Panthers have been outscored 10-3 in his five-on-five minutes. Old-fashioned bad puck luck and a Stanley Cup hangover aren't helping a guy who, in his best years, doesn't put up eye-popping regular-season totals. Bennett hasn't lost his spot 13 games in, but his grip on it will loosen if he can't rebound soon.

Sam Montembeault

Montembeault was the third-stringer at 4 Nations and one of three goalies invited to Canada's orientation camp, giving him an inside track for an Olympic spot entering 2025-26. What's Montembeault done? Posted an .855 SV% in seven games and lost Montreal's starting job to Jakub Dobes. Yikes.

Evan Bouchard

Bouchard has always been a mistake-prone player. But it was fair to wonder if this season would be different, considering the Olympic year and him having turned 26 years old. The answer through 15 games is a hard no. Bouchard has been a turnover machine, and so many of them are avoidable, terribly timed, or both. If the Oilers defenseman was putting up gaudy numbers, OK, sure, he'd have an outside chance of being Canada's eighth blue-liner. But 10 points isn't special enough to rid the baggage Bouchard carries around.

Robert Thomas

Thomas might have made Canada's 4 Nations roster if he didn't get injured to start last season. He's quick, smart, and versatile - the kind of player Canada coach Jon Cooper would love at his disposal. Thomas needed a strong first month to re-enter the Olympic conversation but, again, got hurt. Now healthy, he's produced a modest two goals and six assists in nine games.

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Tage Thompson

The U.S. prioritized versatility and playoff experience when making its 4 Nations squad. GM Bill Guerin must now prioritize skill and finishing. Thompson leads all NHLers with 37 five-on-five goals since the start of last season. The 6-foot-7 Sabres sniper impressed at the 2025 Worlds and is off to a solid start with five goals and five assists in 13 regular-season games.

Cole Caufield

Caufield's lack of size and potential inability to adapt to a bottom-six role will surely give USA's management pause. Yet his game-breaking ability may be too difficult to ignore if he keeps up this pace. Caufield is tied for the NHL lead in goals with 10 in 13 games.

Jackson LaCombe

LaCombe hasn't become a household name yet, but the rising star signed the richest contract in Ducks franchise history in October for a reason. He's an excellent skater with plus puck skills who's also very good at disrupting attacks and retrieving loose pucks. While the U.S. has a dozen good options to fill out its defense corps, LaCombe's certainly in the mix.

Shane Pinto

You can bet coach Mike Sullivan will vouch for a right-handed center whom he can trust to take key defensive-zone faceoffs, not unlike how Vincent Trocheck was used at 4 Nations. With Trocheck injured and getting up there in age, Pinto could be a stellar replacement. The 6-foot-3 pivot is sound defensively, has won 60.4% of his draws, and - bonus - has racked up eight goals in 13 games.

Adam Fox

Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner, looked out of sorts for the vast majority of 2024-25. He struggled for the Rangers, in part because of injury, and slid down USA's depth chart at 4 Nations as the event's fast, physical play exposed his slow boots and small stature. He's bounced back through 14 games, collecting 11 points alongside impressive underlying numbers.

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Brock Nelson

The Avalanche are off to a great start, but they've done so without much help from Nelson, who has just three goals and two assists in 14 games. Nelson has a reputation as a big-game player, but he was mostly a nonfactor at 4 Nations and is now 34 years old. There are simply better center options for the U.S.

Patrick Kane

Kane, who turns 37 in November, isn't who he used to be and was thus an Olympic long shot coming into the season. Yet, if you squinted hard enough, you could envision "Showtime" in an American jersey, assuming the role of power-play specialist and off-ice leader. That idea is currently dead, with Kane appearing in just five of the Red Wings' first 14 games, thanks to an injury.

Luke Hughes

Hughes missed most of training camp due to a contract stalemate, possibly contributing to the slow start that he needed to avoid to have any chance of making the team. He's yet to score and has been sloppy defensively at times. In what would be a depth role, the Americans would likely prefer a safer option over Hughes.

Jeremy Swayman

Swayman hasn't played poorly this year. The Bruins netminder hasn't dominated, either, and there are only three U.S. goalie spots. Connor Hellebuyck is a lock for one, and Jake Oettinger's a good bet for another. Meanwhile, Thatcher Demko is enjoying arguably the best season among all American goalies.