NHL Stars at Milan 2026 Will Hockey’s Best Shine on Olympic Ice
NHL Players 2026 Olympics?
The Winter Olympics have long been a grand stage for the world’s best hockey players to showcase their talent. But since the NHL last participated in the 2014 Sochi Games, fans have been left wondering with each Olympic cycle: will NHL stars suit up for their countries once again?
After the league chose to skip both the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Olympics, hope is rekindled for 2026 in Milan-Cortina. So, will Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon finally get their Olympic moment? Let’s break it all down.
Will NHL Players Be in the 2026 Olympics?
The short answer: most likely, yes. The NHL and its players’ association, the NHLPA, have reached a preliminary agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that would allow NHL players to participate.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed in a February 2024 press conference that an agreement is in place for 2026 and 2030 Olympic participation. While agreements have fallen apart before, all involved parties seem firmly committed this time around. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, NHL stars will be lacing up for their respective nations in Milan.
Why Did NHL Players Miss the Last Two Olympics?
Hockey fans have spent nearly a decade watching Olympic teams built without NHL talent, and there were a few key reasons for the league’s absence in 2018 and 2022.
- 2018 – PyeongChang: The NHL and IOC failed to reach a financial agreement, particularly regarding travel and insurance costs for NHL players. The league also disliked the idea of pausing its regular season for more than two weeks.
- 2022 – Beijing: Originally, NHL participation was included in the league’s collective bargaining agreement. However, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the NHL schedule, leading to the league’s withdrawal due to concerns over quarantines and disruptions.
How NHL Players Feel About the Olympics
If you ask most hockey superstars, playing for their country at the Olympics is as big as it gets. Players like McDavid and MacKinnon, despite their numerous NHL accolades, have never had the chance to play in a best-on-best international tournament at the senior level.
Sidney Crosby, whose legendary “Golden Goal” in 2010 secured Canada’s gold medal in Vancouver, has openly advocated for NHL participation, saying,
“For hockey, having the best players in the world compete at the Olympics is important.”
It’s no surprise then that the NHLPA has pushed for inclusion at the 2026 Olympics, and it appears those efforts have finally paid off.
Which NHL Stars Could We See in Milan?
If everything proceeds as planned, Milan-Cortina 2026 could feature some of the greatest talent to ever step onto Olympic ice. Here’s a look at potential players who could headline their respective teams:
- Canada: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, Cale Makar
- USA: Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, Adam Fox, Jason Robertson
- Sweden: Victor Hedman, Elias Pettersson, William Nylander
- Finland: Aleksander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen
- Czech Republic: David Pastrnak
- Russia (if eligible): Nikita Kucherov, Alex Ovechkin
This would mark the first time since 2014 that the NHL’s top talent goes head-to-head in a true global best-on-best tournament.
What’s Next for the NHL and the Olympics?
Despite the excitement, there’s still work to be done to finalize the details. The NHL and the IOC must iron out specifics regarding player insurance, travel logistics, and how the league’s schedule will accommodate a lengthy Olympic break.
But for now, hockey fans can finally start dreaming about what a McDavid vs. Matthews Olympic showdown might look like. The world’s best players are (almost) officially heading back to the biggest stage, and the 2026 Winter Olympics just got a whole lot more exciting.