NHL Stars Return to Olympic Ice as Men's Hockey Tournament Begins at Milano Cortina 2026

The National Hockey League's best players have returned to the Olympic stage at Milano Cortina 2026, marking the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games that NHL athletes are competing for their countries at the Winter Olympics. Following an agreement reached between the IIHF and NHL in February 2024, the league paused its regular season after games concluded on February 5, allowing its stars to travel to Italy for what promises to be the most competitive international hockey tournament in over a decade. The men's ice hockey tournament features 12 nations divided into three preliminary groups, with all teams playing three round-robin games before advancing to a single-elimination playoff bracket. The format ensures maximum drama, as even preliminary round results could determine crucial seeding for the medal rounds. The gold medal game is scheduled for February 22, after which NHL players will return to North America to resume the regular season on February 25. Team Canada enters as the favorite, bolstered by generational talents Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Cale Makar, all of whom are at the peak of their powers. McDavid and MacKinnon, considered two of the three best players in the world, give Canada an unmatched one-two punch down the middle. When both centers are operating at their elite level, hockey analysts agree that no team can match Canada's offensive firepower. The addition of Makar, the NHL's premier offensive defenseman, provides Canada with game-breaking ability from the blue line. Team USA counters with its own impressive roster featuring brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, defenseman Quinn Hughes, center Jack Eichel, and two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck in goal. The American squad also includes Auston Matthews, the league's premier goal scorer, giving them multiple lines capable of scoring against any opponent. Hellebuyck's presence is particularly crucial, as Olympic tournaments often hinge on goaltending performances during high-pressure elimination games. Notably absent from the tournament are Russia and Belarus, both banned from competing through the IIHF's 2026 program due to Russia's military aggression in Ukraine. The absence of Russian stars like Alex Ovechkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy removes one of the traditional hockey powerhouses from medal contention and opens opportunities for other nations. Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic all field competitive rosters capable of challenging for medals. The return of NHL players transforms the Olympic hockey tournament from a showcase of amateur and European professional players into the pinnacle of international competition. The 2014 Sochi Olympics, the last time NHL players participated, saw Canada claim gold in a dramatic 3-0 victory over Sweden. Between 2018 and 2022, Olympic men's hockey featured rosters without NHL talent due to scheduling and business disagreements between the league and Olympic organizers. For many NHL stars, this represents their only chance to win Olympic gold, as the next Winter Olympics won't occur until 2030 and there's no guarantee the NHL will participate then. The tournament has already generated massive global interest, with ticket sales exceeding expectations and television networks securing record viewership numbers for preliminary round broadcasts. Hockey fans worldwide are celebrating the return of best-on-best international competition, knowing that moments like these are rare and precious in the modern sports landscape.