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The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games are less than a year away, and we now know the first batch of NHL players who will be participating in the event.
This will be the first time NHL players have been allowed to compete at the Games since 2014, after a deal was reached between the league and the IIHF. As such, anticipation for the upcoming Olympic Games has been through the roof.
Fans were treated to a bit of an appetizer this past season, with the wildly successful Four Nations Face-Off capturing attention. The Winter Olympics, however, are a whole new beast as 12 countries will be competing for a spot on the podium.
To kickstart the process, each of those teams named the first six players to their rosters on Monday morning. A total of 56 NHL players earned roster spots, with players from other leagues making up the remaining 16 spots.
Here is a look at who made the initial cut:
No surprises for Canada here as they run back a leadership group that captured Four Nations gold this past season. The only question is if Sidney Crosby will remain captain, or if the torch will be passed to Connor McDavid?
Revenge will be on the minds of the Americans going into the Olympic Games. Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes headline this talented group while the Tkachuk brothers reprise their roles as well.
The Swedes once again look to be a force on the international stage. It’s the usual suspects once again with William Nylander and Victor Hedman headlining, while Gabriel Landeskog is a surprise addition.
Mikko Rantanen can take over a tournament, and Miro Heiskanen is a world-class defender. Aleksander Barkov and Sebastian Aho riding shotgun ain’t too shabby either.
Germany is a hockey nation on the rise, and they finally have a superstar to rally around with Leon Draisaitl. Add Tim Stützle to the mix, and the Germans may be a dark horse.
Czechia has an elite scorer in David Pastrňák and a young goalie with plenty to prove with plenty to prove in Lukáš Dostál. However, will the lack of top-end defencemen hurt them?
Three New Jersey Devils players highlight Switzerland’s initial six players. They’re shaping up to be a well-rounded squad with Nico Hischier and Kevin Fiala up front, while Roman Josi and Jonas Siegenthaler patrol the blueline.
The Slovaks opt for a good mix of youth and veteran leadership in their first six. Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec have the potential to be game-changers.
Hot off the heels of its best World Junior finish back in January, Latvia is looking to continue making history in 2026. Teddy Blueger and Elvis Merzlikins highlight their first six.
The Danes shocked Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Do they have another big upset in them? Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand will look to anchor the offence.
Alexandre Texier is the lone active NHLer to be named, though Yohann Auvitu and Pierre-Édouard Bellemare are ex-NHL players. They will join Italy as the other de facto underdog.
The host nation will boast a squad of relative unknowns for the 2026 Olympic Games. The definition of an underdog team.
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