The NHL Returns to the Winter Olympics
Allison Bennett
Communications Liaison
The 2014 Sochi Olympics, a personal project of Russian President Vladimir Putin, are known for being the most expensive Olympic Games, as well as the most controversial. Teams Canada, USA, and above all, Russia, had their heart set on winning men’s ice hockey gold. Since the Cold War ended, ice hockey has remained one of the greatest fundamental tests of strength between the nations, reports BBC. Twelve international teams participated with players from the National Hockey League (NHL), and after 12 days of intense ice hockey, Team Canada, led by captain Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL, took home gold.
This marks the last time NHL players were allowed to compete in the Winter Olympic Games. Until now. For 12 years, the NHL did not send players to participate.
After the NHL failed to come to an agreement with the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA), the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), no NHL players participated in PyeongChang in 2018.
Two years later, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, resulting in the NHL and the NHLPA having to work together more than ever. It was agreed that as long as they could reach agreements with the IIHF and the IOC, NHL players would be sent to Beijing in 2022 and Milan in 2026.
Ultimately, the NHL had to pull out of Beijing in 2022 due to the pandemic, but the door was left open for 2026 and beyond.
The men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 begins on February 11. Twelve international teams of a 25-man roster, will play three preliminary games before all 12 move on to a single-elimination playoff that concludes with the gold medal game on February 22. Russia will not be permitted to participate at Milano Cortina.
Each of the 32 NHL teams has at least one representative heading to the Milano Cortina games. In total, 146 NHL players were added to Olympic Rosters across the 12 international teams, with Teams Canada, USA, and Sweden being composed solely of NHL players, and Team Italy being the only team without an NHL representative.
ESPN says that the stakes are high for the NHL. The NHL is just a guest at Milano Cortina, meaning the league has no control over any aspect of the Olympics, though NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has made it clear that “if the players believe that ice isn’t safe, then we’re not going to play. It’s as simple as that.”
By allowing its players to participate in the Olympics, the NHL is shutting down its $7 billion corporation for three weeks while they take what they call their “Olympic Break.”
In June 2025, Team USA and Team Canada named the first six players to their rosters. Forwards Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk, and Matthew Tkachuk were selected beside defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Quinn Hughes for Team USA. Team Canada named forwards Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point, Sam Reinhart, and defenseman Cale Makar.
In tournaments like these, where players transition from rivals to teammates, there is little time to develop chemistry before the games, which is one of the most crucial aspects of the sport. Luckily, for Team USA, one of the top defense pairs in the entire NHL, Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes, made it onto their roster.
Faber and Hughes have been teammates since mid-December, when the Minnesota Wild acquired Hughes in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks. Bill Gueri, General Manager for the Wild and Team USA, has watched the Faber-Hughes duo become more dynamic with every game, resulting in high optimism heading into the Olympics.
“For sure, familiarity is important in an event like this,” Faber told the NHL. “I mean, when you’re playing with elite defensemen like the ones on Team USA, it’s a pretty seamless transition, no matter who you play with. But obviously, for me with Quinn, it’s pretty extra seamless.”
People are also excited to see Quinn Hughes team up with his younger brother, Jack Hughes, at the Olympics. Jack Hughes plays for the New Jersey Devils alongside Luke Hughes, the youngest of the three brothers.
When Bleacher Report asked about getting added to the Olympic roster, Jack Hughes said, “You talk about it when you’re a kid, but it’s so unrealistic when you’re kids. Now it’s pretty ridiculous we get to do that and live out our dreams. Not only am I playing in the Olympics, I’m doing it with my older brother. Super lucky and I’m just looking forward to being with him for a couple of weeks and being on the same team as him.”
“We have a really good group of young, hungry Americans that haven’t played in the Olympics before,” Hughes said on NBC’s Today Show. “So we’re lucky that NHLers are back in the Olympics, first time in 12 years. Guys are pumped up, and we should be really excited.”
Brothers Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers, and Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators, also get the chance to unite on Team USA.
The United States has not won a gold medal in men’s ice hockey since 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, and Team Canada is not planning on making it any easier for them this year.
In February, Crosby will find himself sharing the ice with the NHL’s number one and two skaters, McDavid and MacKinnon, as well as number four, 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini.
Celebrini is the youngest player to make Team Canada’s Olympic roster in a year with NHL players.
“It’s a great opportunity anytime you get to be involved in the Olympics. And with it being a while, I know that there are a lot of guys from all the countries that are excited that haven’t been able to participate in it. So, it’s a unique experience and something everyone’s looking forward to,” Crosby told the NHL. “I think for a lot of guys, knowing it’s an Olympic year and the opportunity that could be there, I think that you could tell that guys are really motivated in the first half of the season to prove themselves.”
Image courtesy of Getty Images.