Winter Olympics 2026: NHL Stars Headline, Early Rosters Olympic Men’s Hockey

For the first time in over a decade, NHL players are officially returning to the Olympic stage. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), in coordination with the NHL, NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced the first six players from each of the 12 participating countries for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.

The Return of Best-on-Best Competition

After a 12-year absence, NHL players will compete at the Olympics again, a move that is set to electrify the ice hockey tournament at Milano Cortina. This return comes after successful recent international showcases like the Four Nations Face-Off, setting the stage for an eagerly awaited showdown of global hockey powers.

We are thrilled to welcome NHL players back to the Winter Olympics,” said IIHF President Luc Tardif. “This is a major step in showcasing ice hockey at its highest level on the world stage.

Few competitions in all of international sports can match the passion and spectacle of NHL players representing their countries, added NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

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Preliminary Selections: Star Power from All 12 Nations

Each national federation has unveiled six core players to lead their squads. These names are early cornerstones of what promise to be dynamic, talent-stacked final rosters.

Group A:

• Canada: Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point, Sam Reinhart
• Czechia: David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, Ondrej Palat, Pavel Zacha, Radko Gudas, Lukas Dostal
• Switzerland: Roman Josi, Nico Hischier, Kevin Fiala, Timo Meier, Nino Niederreiter, Jonas Siegenthaler
• France: Alexandre Texier, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Jordann Perret, Hugo Gallet, Jules Boscq, Yohann Auvitu

Group B:

• Finland: Aleksander Barkov, Sebastian Aho, Mikko Rantanen, Juuse Saros, Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen
• Sweden: William Nylander, Gabriel Landeskog, Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin, Lucas Raymond, Adrian Kempe
• Slovakia: Juraj Slafkovsky, Tomas Tatar, Simon Nemec, Martin Fehervary, Erik Cernak, Martin Pospisil
• Italy: Damian Clara, Thomas Larkin, Luca Zanatta, Diego Kostner, Tommy Purdeller, Daniel Mantenuto

Group C:

• USA: Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy
• Germany: Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider, Tim Stutzle, Lukas Reichel, Philipp Grubauer, Nico Sturm
• Latvia: Elvis Merzlikins, Zemgus Girgensons, Arturs Silovs, Rodrigo Abols, Uvis Balinskis, Teodors Blugers
• Denmark: Frederik Andersen, Nikolaj Ehlers, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Lars Eller, Jonas Rondbjerg, Jesper Jensen Aabo

Venues & Format

The 12-team men’s hockey tournament runs from 11–22 February 2026, with games played at two newly developed venues:

• Milano SantaGiulia Arena (Main Venue – 14,000 capacity)
• Milano Rho Arena (Secondary Venue – 5,700 capacity)

Each group will play a round-robin format before advancing to the knockout rounds. Full rosters will be finalized and announced in early 2026, with confirmation from each country’s National Olympic Committee.

This is a powerful return to Olympic competition, something our players have long championed, said NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh.

Looking Ahead

Expectations are sky-high as some of the sport’s biggest stars prepare to represent their countries. With legends like Sidney Crosby and newcomers like Quinn Hughes on the same ice, the 2026 Olympic men’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and entertaining in recent memory.