Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon will be giving their best to win the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andre Ringuette
Six names, 12 countries, lots of opinion
It may be early in summer, but hockey is a 365/24/7 sport now, so there’s always something going on. And that includes looking at the announcement of the first six players named to each of the 12 men’s teams for the Milano Cortina Olympics that begin in less than six months.
IIHF.com has asked its team of writers for some feedback, so here are the insights of Lucas Aykroyd, Risto Pakarinen, Andrew Podnieks, and Andy Potts.
Q: What’s your immediate reaction when you hear the names?
APod: Excitement, especially when you see the names of Crosby and McDavid side by side. We had a bit of a teaser this past February for what to expect next year, but Milano Cortina should be a different level. It has been a long 12 years—too long—but I can’t wait!
LA: At times like these, I harken back to big international tournaments I either watched avidly as a kid or remember as standouts from my hockey journalism career. The 1987 Canada Cup with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux duelling with the KLM Line. The 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City with Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla leading Canada to an historic final victory over an outstanding American team. Or the 2008 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Quebec City and Halifax with the dramatic Russian comeback over a stacked Canadian roster. Point is, Milano Cortina looks to fit right into that lineage. We’ll be watching a host of electrifying future Hall of Famers. It could be – on pure hockey merit – the best Olympics ever played.
RP: I realized how short a player’s career really is. There are several accomplished, even veteran players who will be playing in their first Olympics. Fortunately for them, and for hockey fans, they will get their chance now.
APot: A bit of relief, really. After the frustration of two NHL-free Games, it’s reassuring that we’re lined up for best-on-best again without a round of “will-they-won’t-they” dominating the start of next season. I think everyone benefits from putting the best possible hockey show onto the biggest possible stage, and it’s great to be able to start that hype this week.
Q: Any surprises? Players who are on the first list who you didn’t think would be, or names not on the list you thought would be?
LA: Sweden’s listing Gabriel Landeskog over Filip Forsberg or Mika Zibanejad is a tribute to the Colorado Avalanche star’s history of grit and leadership, given that he’s just come back after rehabbing a serious knee injury that kept him off ice for three years. USA Hockey obviously sees Charlie McAvoy as a core member of their leadership group, as you could easily name five or six other worthy U.S. blueliners who could also have stood alongside Quinn Hughes. It’s a bit odd to not see JJ Peterka’s name, given that he’s scored 22 points in 24 WM career games and had more goals (27) last season than any German NHLer not named Leon Draisaitl.
RP: Mostly, my thoughts went back to Captain Louis Renault from “Casablanca”, the 1942 classic movie, and his “Round up the usual suspects” line. In fact, Team Finland’s six is identical to the six they had to name last June for the February tournament. Having said that, Gabriel Landeskog on Team Sweden was a surprise. Not only is it further proof that the Avalanche captain has recovered from his knee injury, it’s also a testament to the respect he commands.
APot: I don’t know if “surprise” is the right word, but it’s fascinating to see which nations have gone with the established veterans, and which are picking out guys who are hot right now. It’s hard to imagine, for example, that a healthy Roman Cervenka won’t be there for Czechia. But it’s not exactly a shock that the Czechs – and others – are flexing their NHL credentials at this stage in the process.
APod: Am I missing something? No Kaspars Daugavins for Latvia? There were rumours of his imminent retirement, but he told me directly at the end of the World Championship those rumours were false. He is their leader and inspiration. Not sure I get that one. And Swiss goalie Leonardo Genoni had four shutouts and set a modern-day record with a shutout streak of 243:27 at the recently-completed WM. Which leads to the bigger surprise for me—so few goalies named among the 72 players. Not exciting enough? Not their best players? Not sure I’d agree with either hypothesis.
Q: You know the really young players aren’t going to be on the list of the first six, but who are some teenagers or young players you’d like to see in Milan?
APot: USA Hockey has some big choices to make, given the youthful roster that just ended that long, long wait for World Championship gold. Calling on guys like Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier or Logan Cooley would reward players who have worked through the national program but would mean sacrificing more established NHL stars. I’ll also just mention Italy’s 21-year-old forward Tommy Purdeller. He’s not exactly a household name, but the Brunico, Italy, youngster was second in team scoring as the Italians won promotion from Division I-A last month and now has a fantastic chance to show his skills on a big stage.
APod: You would think Macklin Celebrini has at least a decent chance to join Canada. He didn’t look out of place at the World Championship, playing alongside Crosby. And ditto for American Logan Cooley, who will still be only 21 by the time the Olympics rolls around. He was sensational in bringing the gold to the U.S. for the first time since 1933.
LA: The U.S.’s Lane Hutson isn’t just the first Montreal Canadien to win the Calder Trophy since Ken Dryden in 1972. He’s also already one of the NHL’s most entertaining defencemen with his shifty skating, puck-rushing skills, and ability to create chances out of nothing. After a stellar rookie season with 66 points, he’s in that conversation with Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar. If Hutson can convince the USA Hockey brass next season that his two-way game is up to snuff, he’ll be so much fun to watch. For a virtual shoo-in, barring illness or injury, see Denmark’s Oscar Moelgaard. At last month’s Worlds, the Seattle Kraken prospect made an incredible pass to set up a Nikolaj Ehlers goal in the 2-1 shootout win over Germany that sent the Danes to the quarter-finals in Herning. Moelgaard, 20, will be a key piece if Denmark hopes to fashion another upset in February.
RP: I hope Macklin Celebrini makes it as well, although the competition’s tough. William Eklund has a shot of making Team Sweden … but he’ll be 23 by the time the Olympics open, so not a teenager anymore.
It may be early in summer, but hockey is a 365/24/7 sport now, so there’s always something going on. And that includes looking at the announcement of the first six players named to each of the 12 men’s teams for the Milano Cortina Olympics that begin in less than six months.
IIHF.com has asked its team of writers for some feedback, so here are the insights of Lucas Aykroyd, Risto Pakarinen, Andrew Podnieks, and Andy Potts.
Q: What’s your immediate reaction when you hear the names?
APod: Excitement, especially when you see the names of Crosby and McDavid side by side. We had a bit of a teaser this past February for what to expect next year, but Milano Cortina should be a different level. It has been a long 12 years—too long—but I can’t wait!
LA: At times like these, I harken back to big international tournaments I either watched avidly as a kid or remember as standouts from my hockey journalism career. The 1987 Canada Cup with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux duelling with the KLM Line. The 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City with Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla leading Canada to an historic final victory over an outstanding American team. Or the 2008 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Quebec City and Halifax with the dramatic Russian comeback over a stacked Canadian roster. Point is, Milano Cortina looks to fit right into that lineage. We’ll be watching a host of electrifying future Hall of Famers. It could be – on pure hockey merit – the best Olympics ever played.
RP: I realized how short a player’s career really is. There are several accomplished, even veteran players who will be playing in their first Olympics. Fortunately for them, and for hockey fans, they will get their chance now.
APot: A bit of relief, really. After the frustration of two NHL-free Games, it’s reassuring that we’re lined up for best-on-best again without a round of “will-they-won’t-they” dominating the start of next season. I think everyone benefits from putting the best possible hockey show onto the biggest possible stage, and it’s great to be able to start that hype this week.
Q: Any surprises? Players who are on the first list who you didn’t think would be, or names not on the list you thought would be?
LA: Sweden’s listing Gabriel Landeskog over Filip Forsberg or Mika Zibanejad is a tribute to the Colorado Avalanche star’s history of grit and leadership, given that he’s just come back after rehabbing a serious knee injury that kept him off ice for three years. USA Hockey obviously sees Charlie McAvoy as a core member of their leadership group, as you could easily name five or six other worthy U.S. blueliners who could also have stood alongside Quinn Hughes. It’s a bit odd to not see JJ Peterka’s name, given that he’s scored 22 points in 24 WM career games and had more goals (27) last season than any German NHLer not named Leon Draisaitl.
RP: Mostly, my thoughts went back to Captain Louis Renault from “Casablanca”, the 1942 classic movie, and his “Round up the usual suspects” line. In fact, Team Finland’s six is identical to the six they had to name last June for the February tournament. Having said that, Gabriel Landeskog on Team Sweden was a surprise. Not only is it further proof that the Avalanche captain has recovered from his knee injury, it’s also a testament to the respect he commands.
APot: I don’t know if “surprise” is the right word, but it’s fascinating to see which nations have gone with the established veterans, and which are picking out guys who are hot right now. It’s hard to imagine, for example, that a healthy Roman Cervenka won’t be there for Czechia. But it’s not exactly a shock that the Czechs – and others – are flexing their NHL credentials at this stage in the process.
APod: Am I missing something? No Kaspars Daugavins for Latvia? There were rumours of his imminent retirement, but he told me directly at the end of the World Championship those rumours were false. He is their leader and inspiration. Not sure I get that one. And Swiss goalie Leonardo Genoni had four shutouts and set a modern-day record with a shutout streak of 243:27 at the recently-completed WM. Which leads to the bigger surprise for me—so few goalies named among the 72 players. Not exciting enough? Not their best players? Not sure I’d agree with either hypothesis.
Q: You know the really young players aren’t going to be on the list of the first six, but who are some teenagers or young players you’d like to see in Milan?
APot: USA Hockey has some big choices to make, given the youthful roster that just ended that long, long wait for World Championship gold. Calling on guys like Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier or Logan Cooley would reward players who have worked through the national program but would mean sacrificing more established NHL stars. I’ll also just mention Italy’s 21-year-old forward Tommy Purdeller. He’s not exactly a household name, but the Brunico, Italy, youngster was second in team scoring as the Italians won promotion from Division I-A last month and now has a fantastic chance to show his skills on a big stage.
APod: You would think Macklin Celebrini has at least a decent chance to join Canada. He didn’t look out of place at the World Championship, playing alongside Crosby. And ditto for American Logan Cooley, who will still be only 21 by the time the Olympics rolls around. He was sensational in bringing the gold to the U.S. for the first time since 1933.
LA: The U.S.’s Lane Hutson isn’t just the first Montreal Canadien to win the Calder Trophy since Ken Dryden in 1972. He’s also already one of the NHL’s most entertaining defencemen with his shifty skating, puck-rushing skills, and ability to create chances out of nothing. After a stellar rookie season with 66 points, he’s in that conversation with Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar. If Hutson can convince the USA Hockey brass next season that his two-way game is up to snuff, he’ll be so much fun to watch. For a virtual shoo-in, barring illness or injury, see Denmark’s Oscar Moelgaard. At last month’s Worlds, the Seattle Kraken prospect made an incredible pass to set up a Nikolaj Ehlers goal in the 2-1 shootout win over Germany that sent the Danes to the quarter-finals in Herning. Moelgaard, 20, will be a key piece if Denmark hopes to fashion another upset in February.
RP: I hope Macklin Celebrini makes it as well, although the competition’s tough. William Eklund has a shot of making Team Sweden … but he’ll be 23 by the time the Olympics open, so not a teenager anymore.
Finns celebrating their win during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andre Ringuette
Q: Canada has won 3 of 5 NHL-Olympics. The Americans just won the World Championship, and the Finns are defending Olympic champions. Are these nations the favourites? Other options?
RP: Oh, Canada is always the favourite in a best-on-best tournament, but I don’t think you can count out the Swedes, even if they lost the semi-final in the 2025 World Championship on home ice, and even though their latest gold medal is from 2018. Not even the last-place finish in the NHL tournament in February is enough to make me doubt them, simply because it was such as short, round-robin tournament. Unfortunately for them, some of their stars may have aged out.
APot: You’d have to have them in the conversation, along with the Czechs and the Swedes. All of these countries have the depth to ensure they can bring strong rosters to any event. But in international play, I’m a great believer in developing a core of players who know each other and have grown up playing together. We’ve seen Switzerland ride that to make huge strides in recent World Championships. Patrick Fischer doesn’t suddenly get to play with a new collection of NHLers who are only intermittently available at the Worlds, but he will bring a team with enviable continuity, A-list talent and a genuine, albeit outside, chance of getting a first Olympic medal since 1948.
APod: Ignoring the unique circumstances that went into Great Britain’s 1936 Olympics gold, only six countries have ever reached the top of the podium at the five-ringed circus—Canada and the United States, Sweden and Finland, the Czechs and Russians. And the Czechs and Finns have won only once. Canada has been in every best-on-best final since the 1976 Canada Cup started it all, and to me it’s them, the Swedes, or the Americans. If one of these teams don’t win, I’d be pretty surprised.
LA: The Swedes and Czechs are in the mix, too, and for what it’s worth, they have a nice historical legacy from the last time the Olympics took place in Italy. In 2006, Tre Kronor won the gold and the Czechs earned bronze in Turin. Still, on paper, a Canada-U.S. final looks likely, provided the U.S. has truly kicked its habit of struggling in Olympic men’s tournaments outside North America.
RP: Oh, Canada is always the favourite in a best-on-best tournament, but I don’t think you can count out the Swedes, even if they lost the semi-final in the 2025 World Championship on home ice, and even though their latest gold medal is from 2018. Not even the last-place finish in the NHL tournament in February is enough to make me doubt them, simply because it was such as short, round-robin tournament. Unfortunately for them, some of their stars may have aged out.
APot: You’d have to have them in the conversation, along with the Czechs and the Swedes. All of these countries have the depth to ensure they can bring strong rosters to any event. But in international play, I’m a great believer in developing a core of players who know each other and have grown up playing together. We’ve seen Switzerland ride that to make huge strides in recent World Championships. Patrick Fischer doesn’t suddenly get to play with a new collection of NHLers who are only intermittently available at the Worlds, but he will bring a team with enviable continuity, A-list talent and a genuine, albeit outside, chance of getting a first Olympic medal since 1948.
APod: Ignoring the unique circumstances that went into Great Britain’s 1936 Olympics gold, only six countries have ever reached the top of the podium at the five-ringed circus—Canada and the United States, Sweden and Finland, the Czechs and Russians. And the Czechs and Finns have won only once. Canada has been in every best-on-best final since the 1976 Canada Cup started it all, and to me it’s them, the Swedes, or the Americans. If one of these teams don’t win, I’d be pretty surprised.
LA: The Swedes and Czechs are in the mix, too, and for what it’s worth, they have a nice historical legacy from the last time the Olympics took place in Italy. In 2006, Tre Kronor won the gold and the Czechs earned bronze in Turin. Still, on paper, a Canada-U.S. final looks likely, provided the U.S. has truly kicked its habit of struggling in Olympic men’s tournaments outside North America.