Dan Treacy
Eric Bolte
Olympic hockey always entertains, but men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan has renewed energy this year as the best players in the world compete.
NHL players are on Olympic hockey rosters for the first time since 2014, after scheduling issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to abandon its plans for an Olympic break in 2022.
The rivalry between the USA and Canada that reignited during the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off will renew once again in Milan, but a group of other contenders are going into the tournament believing they can take the top of the podium when all is said and done.
The Sporting News ranked all 12 men’s hockey teams at the 2026 Winter Olympics based on their chances to win gold. Here’s a look at the field, from Canada to Italy.
MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule
The gap between Canada and the United States when both teams are at their best hasn’t necessarily been significant, but there has been a gap. With Canada’s roster largely resembling the one that won the 4 Nations Face-Off, they will go into the Olympics as the rightful favorite to win gold.
Veteran Sidney Crosby remains one of the faces of Canada hockey, but Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Mitch Marner rank among the best players in the world and should make this offense a monumental challenge for any defense, while Cale Makar anchors the blueline with two Norris Trophies in his back pocket.
Goaltending could be the issue that dooms Canada if the path to gold proves to be more difficult than expected. While the Canadians were able to survive those issues in the 4 Nations Face-Off, the trio of Jordan Binnington, Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper remains unsteady.
A group of defensemen that became very familiar with each other last year could and perhaps should mitigate those issues, while the emergence of young San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini, in the midst of a dominant season, gives Canada yet another offensive weapon that can help this team overpower its opponents.
That gap between Canada and the United States exists, but it absolutely isn’t wide enough for the Americans to go to Milan without hope of winning gold. After coming painfully close to knocking off Canada and winning the 4 Nations Face-Off, the USA is bringing a loaded roster overseas and has what it takes to give the Canadians a legitimate run for their money.
The U.S. has a goaltending advantage over Canada with Connor Hellebuyck in net, and a healthy Quinn Hughes upgrades the defense after he missed the 4 Nations. There are some concerns about the roster construction among the forwards, but a team with Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, the Tkachuk brothers and an emerging Matt Boldy can certainly score. Canada may have the advantage among forwards, but the U.S. still has enough skill up front and a likely advantage in net to seriously compete for gold.
MORE: Inside USA's Olympic hockey roster
Sweden remains the team most likely to give Canada and the USA a run for gold, even after injuries to Leo Carlsson and Jonas Brodin.
While the loss of Carlsson leaves the Swedes thinner than they would like to be at the center position, Sweden has a strong group of defensemen that can contend with the skilled forwards of Canada and the U.S., and William Nylander gives the team a strong offensive focal point to work around.
Goaltending could be the X-factor for Sweden as they look for one of Filip Gustavsson, Jesper Wallstedt, and Jacob Markstrom to step up. If one member of that trio can rise to the occasion, Sweden can compete with Canada and the U.S. despite some offensive questions.
Finland has a fairly deep roster and should be Sweden’s toughest competition for bronze, if it comes down to the two, but a lack of star power outside of Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho and Miro Heiskanen is the biggest question. There is enough experience on this Finnish roster to make a run at the podium, particularly if Rantanen has a tournament to remember.
Goal prevention will be a concern against the top teams in the tournament, as Finland is down one goaltender (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen) and isn’t loaded defensively.
Czechia hasn’t medaled at the Olympics since 2006, but the possibility is at least on the table in 2026. David Pastrnak is one of the best players in the tournament, while Tomas Hertl and Martin Necas provide the Czechs with some more offensive firepower.
The Czech blueline is limited in regard to NHL talent, but they have three NHL goaltenders in Lukas Dostal, Karel Vejmelka and Dan Vladar who can help limit some of the tournament’s better offenses in a group that is headlined by Canada.
MORE: Complete Olympic men's hockey schedule
Germany is on the rise in terms of star power and has a fairly favorable group in the preliminary round outside of the United States. It’s entirely possible the Germans are closer to the tier just outside the top trio than the tier that includes Slovakia and others.
Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stutzle and JJ Peterka give Germany’s offense some real firepower that can compete with the tournament’s best, while Moritz Seider is an excellent blueliner in front of a goaltending group that includes Philipp Grubauer.
Depth is likely to be what ultimately does Germany in, but the stars on this team should at least make it an exciting watch against the U.S. and other contenders.
Switzerland is right there with Germany and even potentially Czechia as an outside contender to reach the podium. The Swiss have some talented forwards who play well together in Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Kevin Fiala, while Roman Josi and Jonas Siegenthaler a blue line whose depth might become an issue against the tournament’s top contenders.
The path to a medal is likely difficult for Switzerland, but just playing for the bronze would be a nice showing for this group.
Slovakia doesn’t have the NHL-caliber talent at this point to be a serious medal contender, despite earning a medal when NHL players weren’t part of the equation in 2022.
While Juraj Slafkovsky is back on the roster after a strong showing as a teenager in 2022, the offense doesn’t have nearly enough NHL-caliber firepower. A more stable blue line will help keep certain games within reach, but Slovakia will, in all likelihood, have to hope for a talent surge in the years ahead to get back to where the team once was.
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Latvia boasts two NHL goaltenders and has a fun, young defender in NHL Draft prospect Alberts Smits, but it’s tough to see a path to contention considering the skill level of the teams ranked ahead after this team failed to qualify in 2018 and went 0-4 at the Olympics in 2022 without NHL players involved. Goaltending, at least, should allow Latvia to play a competitive game or two.
Denmark has the star power advantage over Latvia with Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand up front, though depth and defensemen might not stack up as well. Frederik Andersen’s play in net will be critical to Denmark’s chances of leaving Milan with something to feel proud of, even if medaling is almost certainly off the table.
France hasn’t finished better than eighth at the Winter Olympics since 1928, and the French again face a tough path to wins in Milan. The talent and depth just aren’t up to the level of even some of the teams directly ahead of them, and France only boasts one active NHL player.
Italy, making its first appearance at the Olympics since 2006, is an automatic qualifier as the host nation. The Italians have held their own in the women’s hockey tournament, but the men will have a hard time escaping last place even on home ice. With no current NHL talent and a world ranking that places them behind a few teams that didn’t qualify, Italy will simply look to put maximum effort in and tread water as they try to make their country proud.
Dan Treacy is a content producer for Sporting News, joining in 2022 after graduating from Boston University. He founded @allsportsnews on Instagram in 2012 and has written for Lineups and Yardbarker.