Key Highlights
- NHL players will compete for 32 teams in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- The tournament runs from February 11-22, 2026, in Milano Cortina.
- This is the first time NHL players have participated since 2014.
- Several notable players and teams are listed on rosters for the event.
The Return of NHL Players to Olympic Ice: A Historical Moment
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that NHL players will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking a significant milestone for both hockey and the Games themselves. This decision comes after an eight-year hiatus since 2014, when NHL players last competed at the Olympics.
Preparations and Participation
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will host men’s hockey from February 11-22. Teams from 32 nations will be represented on the ice, with each participating country having at least one NHL player contributing to their roster.
Notable Rosters and Players
The roster of players includes some of the most recognizable names in professional hockey, such as Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Sidney Crosby. Teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Buffalo Sabres have multiple NHL stars signed up for the event.
A Look at Participating Nations
Here’s a closer look at which nations are fielding NHL players for the 2026 Winter Olympics:
- Anaheim Ducks: Leo Carlsson, Lukas Dostal, Mikael Granlund, Radko Gudas, Henri Jokiharju, Elias Lindholm, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman
- Boston Bruins: Rasmus Dahlin, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Tage Thompson
- Calgary Flames: Rasmus Andersson, Martin Pospisil
- Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho, Frederik Andersen, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jaccob Slavin
- Chicago Blackhawks: Teuvo Teravainen
- Colorado Avalanche: Joel Kiviranta, Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Devon Toews
- Columbus Blue Jackets: Elvis Merzlikins, Zach Werenski
- Dallas Stars: Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell, Jake Oettinger, Mikko Rantanen
- Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider
- Edmonton Oilers: Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid
- Florida Panthers: Uvis Balinskis, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, Niko Mikkola, Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk
- Los Angeles Kings: Joel Armia, Drew Doughty, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe, Darcy Kuemper
- Minnesota Wild: Matt Boldy, Jonas Brodin, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, Filip Gustavsson, Quinn Hughes, Nico Sturm, Jesper Wallstedt
- Montreal Canadiens: Oliver Kapanen, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Alexandre Texier
- Nashville Predators: Filip Forsberg, Erik Haula, Roman Josi, Juuse Saros
- New Jersey Devils: Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jacob Markstrom, Timo Meier, Simon Nemec, Ondrej Palat, Jonas Siegenthaler
- New York Islanders: Bo Horvat
- New York Rangers: J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad
- Ottawa Senators: Lars Eller, Nikolas Matinpalo, Jake Sanderson, Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk
- Philadelphia Flyers: Rodrigo Abols, Rasmus Ristolainen, Travis Sanheim
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, Arturs Silovs
- San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, Alexander Wennberg
- Seattle Kraken: Philipp Grubauer, Kaapo Kakko, Eeli Tolvanen
- St. Louis Blues: Jordan Binnington, Philip Broberg, Colton Parayko
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Erik Cernak, Anthony Cirelli, Zemgus Girgensons, Jake Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, Victor Hedman, Pontus Holmberg, Brayden Point
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller, Olli Maatta
- Utah Mammoth: Clayton Keller, Olli Maatta
- Vancouver Canucks: Teddy Blueger, Kevin Lankinen, Elias Pettersson, Lukas Reichel
- Vegas Golden Knights: Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Mitch Marner, Jonas Rondbjerg, Mark Stone, Shea Theodore
- Washington Capitals: Martin Fehervary, Logan Thompson, Tom Wilson
- Winnipeg Jets: Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck, Josh Morrissey, Nino Niederreiter
The Significance of NHL Participation
The inclusion of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics is a significant event for hockey fans and enthusiasts around the world. It provides an unparalleled opportunity for the best players to showcase their skills on the global stage, fostering international competition and camaraderie.
The return of NHL players to the Olympics not only adds prestige to the tournament but also highlights the sport’s global appeal and the growing influence of North American hockey in the international arena. This event is expected to generate significant interest and excitement among fans, further cementing the Olympic Games’ status as a premier sporting spectacle.