NHL, NHLPA, Olympic officials finalize agreement for players to participate in 2026 Winter Games
The NHL, NHLPA and international officials on Wednesday finalized a long-ago agreed-to deal to send players to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The league, union, International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee confirmed the participation of NHL players at the games for the first time since 2014. The groups negotiated the agreement and announced it initially last year.
IIHF president Luc Tardif called it "a major step forward for our sport."
The final touches took time to figure out after officials insisted for months they were not concerned about the lack of a signed document. The deal opens the door for NHL participation to continue in 2030, something that had also been agreed to in February 2024.
Last month, the 12 participating countries unveiled the first six players on their Olympic rosters. The men's hockey tournament at the 2026 Games is scheduled to run from Feb. 11-22.
Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong announces 1st 6 players on men's Olympic hockey team
16 days ago
Duration 9:55
Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart will all represent Canada at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Already six players have been named to each of the nations competing at the Olympics.
Early roster announcements were also used ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last winter.
The rest of the rosters will be finalized early in 2026.
2026 Olympic rosters
CANADA
Sidney Crosby, F, Pittsburgh Penguins
Connor McDavid, F, Edmonton Oilers
Nathan MacKinnon, F, Colorado Avalanche
Brayden Point, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
Sam Reinhart, F, Florida Panthers
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
CZECH REPUBLIC
Lukas Dostal, G, Anaheim Ducks
Radko Gudas, D, Anaheim Ducks
Martin Necas, F, Colorado Avalanche
Ondrej Palat, F, New Jersey Devils
David Pastrnak, F, Boston Bruins
Pavel Zacha, F, Boston Bruins
DENMARK
Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes
Oliver Bjorkstrand, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikolaj Ehlers, F, Winnipeg Jets
Lars Eller, F, Washington Capitals
Jesper Jensen Aabo, D
Jonas Rondbjerg, F, Vegas Golden Knights
FINLAND
Sebastian Aho, F, Carolina Hurricanes
Aleksander Barkov, F, Florida Panthers
Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars
Esa Lindell, D, Dallas Stars
Mikko Rantanen, F, Dallas Stars
Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators
FRANCE
Yohann Auvitu, D
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, F
Jules Boscq, D
Hugo Gallet, D
Jordann Peret, F
Alexandre Texier, F, St. Louis Blues
GERMANY
Leon Draisaitl, F, Edmonton Oilers
Philipp Grubauer, G, Seattle Kraken
Lukas Reichel, F, Chicago
Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings
Nico Sturm, F, Florida Panthers
Tim Stutzle, F, Ottawa Senators
ITALY
Diego Kostner, F
Daniel Mantenuto, F
Tommy Purdeller, F
Thomas Larkin, D
Luca Zanatta, D
Damian Clara, G, Anaheim Ducks
LATVIA
Rodrigo Abols, F, Philadelphia Flyers
Uvis Balinskis, D, Florida Panthers
Teddy Blueger, F, Vancouver Canucks
Zemgus Girgensons, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
Elvis Merzlikins, G, Columbus Blue Jackets
Arturs Silovs, G, Vancouver Canucks
SLOVAKIA
Erik Cernak, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
Martin Fehervary, D, Washington Capitals
Simon Nemec, D, New Jersey Devils
Martin Pospisil, F, Calgary Flames
Juraj Slafkovsky, F, Montreal Canadians
Tomas Tatar, F
SWEDEN
Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
Adrian Kempe, F, Los Angeles Kings
Gabriel Landeskog, F, Colorado Avalanche
William Nylander, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
Lucas Raymond, F, Detroit Red Wings
SWITZERLAND
Kevin Fiala, F, Los Angeles Kings
Nico Hischier, F, New Jersey Devils
Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
Timo Meier, F, New Jersey Devils
Nino Niederreiter, F, Winnipeg Jets
Jonas Siegenthaler, D, New Jersey Devils
UNITED STATES
Jack Eichel, F, Vegas Golden Knights
Auston Matthews, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthew Tkachuk, F, Florida Panthers
Brady Tkachuk, F, Ottawa Senators
Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks
Charlie McAvoy, D, St. Louis Blues
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