The world of ice hockey is on the cusp of a seismic shift as National Hockey League (NHL) stars are set to return to the Olympic stage for the first time in over a decade. The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, will mark the end of a 12-year absence for the league’s brightest talents, reigniting dreams of best-on-best international competition and stirring memories of legendary moments past.
This landmark announcement, made official on October 12, 2025, is the result of painstaking negotiations between the NHL, the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), and international hockey organizations. For fans, the news is nothing short of electrifying. The chance to see the likes of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, and the Tkachuk brothers—Matthew and Brady—compete for Olympic gold has sent anticipation soaring. The return of NHL players to the Olympics is about more than just medals; it’s about legacy, inspiration, and the global growth of the sport.
The path back to the Olympics was anything but straightforward. For years, NHL team owners hesitated to halt their lucrative season and risk the health of their star players without adequate financial safeguards. This time around, those hurdles have been cleared. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has agreed to cover the substantial costs associated with player insurance and travel, a move that removes a major stumbling block and ensures teams can send their very best without fear of financial fallout. In addition, the NHL has secured enhanced commercial rights, granting the league greater ability to leverage Olympic content for its own promotional efforts—a crucial win in today’s media landscape.
But the agreement’s impact doesn’t stop at a single tournament. It ushers in a new era for international hockey, establishing a consistent rhythm of elite competition that alternates every two years between the Olympics and a revamped World Cup of Hockey. The schedule kicks off with the 2026 Olympics, followed by an eight-nation World Cup in 2028, and then a return to Olympic glory in 2030 in the French Alps. This predictable cadence is a game-changer for fans and players alike, ensuring that the world’s best will regularly clash on the grandest stages.
As the NHL prepares to pause its 2025-26 season for 19 days in February 2026, the focus is already shifting to the details that will make this Olympic tournament unique. Unlike previous editions played on wider international rinks, the Milano Cortina games will unfold on standard NHL-sized ice (200 by 85 feet). This decision is expected to produce a brand of hockey that’s fast, physical, and high-scoring—a true showcase of the modern NHL’s speed and skill.
The men’s tournament will feature twelve nations, each eager to etch their name into Olympic lore. The teams are split into three preliminary groups: Group A includes Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, and France; Group B features Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, and host nation Italy; Group C brings together the United States, Germany, Latvia, and Denmark. With a mix of perennial powerhouses and hungry underdogs, the stage is set for drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments.
For American hockey, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Keith Tkachuk, a four-time U.S. Olympian and proud father of Matthew and Brady—both among the first six players selected for Team USA in June 2025—knows firsthand the transformative power of Olympic success. Reflecting on the impact of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” and the 1996 World Cup, Tkachuk told NHL.com, “Only one team can win gold so take advantage of it. Have fun with it. And this might set up generational players, because these guys are role models. You want to keep building the game.”
Tkachuk’s own journey through four Olympic Games, from a 19-year-old hopeful in Albertville in 1992 to a silver medalist on home ice in Salt Lake City in 2002, is a testament to the enduring significance of representing one’s country. He vividly recalls the thrill and stress of making that first Olympic roster, the heartbreak of falling short in Nagano in 1998, and the bittersweet pride of winning silver but missing gold in Salt Lake City. “It was devastating, to be honest. I mean, it’s still a success. You’re getting a medal, but you have missed out on the big one, and we were playing so good going into that. We just ran out of steam. Obviously we’re a little disappointed coming short of our goal, but Canada was a great team. They played well in that game, and they deserve to win,” Tkachuk said.
The upcoming Olympics offer a special twist for the Tkachuk family. Matthew and Brady, both NHL stars in their own right, will have the chance to play together for Team USA on the sport’s biggest stage. “They’re playing together, which they love to do and, before 4 Nations, they never had the chance to do. So that'll be a whole new thing. I think the thing you’re going to realize is you’re in a village with the other athletes. All the athletes are together, and you’ve got to kind of just enjoy the moment of going through what all these other athletes go through. These athletes have been training their whole life for this one moment, so you have to enjoy that. At the same time, you’re on a mission to win a gold medal. They can’t lose sight of the fact of that. But I want them to join the overall experience, not just them finally playing together, but just to be around the village, with guys you don’t normally play with, mingling in with other U.S. athletes and athletes across the world. It’s something to see. It really is.”
The excitement isn’t limited to the American side. Canada, always a favorite, faces tough roster decisions as veterans like Mark Scheifele make strong cases for inclusion with hot starts to the NHL season. Across the Atlantic, European powers like Finland, Sweden, and Czechia are sharpening their blades, eager to upset the North American giants. The tournament’s format and the NHL-sized rink may tilt the style of play, but every nation is bringing its best, both on the ice and behind the bench, with top NHL coaches and management at the helm.
Recent tournaments have set the bar high. The 4 Nations tournament earlier in 2025 was hailed by Keith Tkachuk as “the best, fastest, hardest tournament I’ve ever watched in hockey.” That intensity is expected to carry over, with players and fans alike hungry for Olympic glory. “Everybody across the world is watching this, the Olympics. It’s such big event. It’s the biggest. So they’ll take it seriously,” Tkachuk emphasized.
As the countdown to Milano Cortina continues, the hockey world is abuzz with speculation, hope, and a sense of renewal. By overcoming past obstacles and forging a new path for international competition, the NHL and its partners have ensured that the 2026 Olympics will be more than just a tournament—it will be a celebration of the sport’s global reach and a showcase for the next generation of hockey heroes.
With the world’s eyes turning to Italy and a galaxy of stars preparing to write the next chapter of Olympic history, one thing is certain: the return of NHL players promises to make Milano Cortina 2026 an unmissable spectacle for hockey fans everywhere.
