NHL Players Head to Milan-Cortina as League Takes Olympic Break

The National Hockey League begins its highly anticipated Olympic break on Sunday, February 8, as the world's best hockey players shift their focus from NHL arenas to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy. The pause in the regular season, which will last through February 25, marks the first time NHL players will participate in the Olympic Games since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, ending a 12-year absence that disappointed hockey fans worldwide.

The agreement between the NHL, IIHF, and International Olympic Committee represents a landmark moment for international hockey competition. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh worked extensively to reach terms that satisfied all parties, including arrangements for insurance coverage, travel logistics, and the league schedule. The break required careful planning to minimize disruption to the NHL season while ensuring players could arrive in Italy with adequate preparation time.

Men's preliminary round action has already begun at the Olympics, with non-NHL players competing in early round-robin matches. However, the marquee tournament phase begins February 11, when NHL stars will take the ice representing their countries in what promises to be the highest level of international hockey competition in over a decade. Powerhouse nations including Canada, United States, Sweden, Finland, and Russia have assembled rosters featuring multiple NHL All-Stars and future Hall of Famers.

The Olympic break comes at a crucial juncture in the NHL season, with playoff races tight across both conferences. Teams had to navigate carefully constructed schedules to accommodate the 17-day hiatus, playing compressed schedules in January and early February. The break will give injured players valuable recovery time while allowing contending teams to reset mentally for the season's final push. However, it also risks disrupting momentum for teams on winning streaks.

For hockey purists, the return of NHL players to Olympic competition represents a celebration of the sport at its highest level. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2014 Sochi Games produced unforgettable moments, including Sidney Crosby's golden goal and the intense Canada-USA rivalries. The Milan-Cortina tournament is expected to deliver similar drama, with best-on-best competition showcasing the speed, skill, and intensity that makes Olympic hockey so compelling.

NHL play will resume February 25 following the conclusion of the men's hockey tournament and the coronation of the Olympic champion on February 22. Teams will face grueling schedules down the stretch, playing games nearly every other night to complete the regular season before playoffs begin in April. The Olympic experience could prove galvanizing or exhausting for players, potentially influencing which teams emerge as Stanley Cup contenders. For now, however, the hockey world turns its attention to Milan-Cortina and the return of NHL stars to Olympic glory.