SportsFebruary 5, 2026
Confirmed: NHL Stars Return to the Winter Olympics in 2026 & 2030
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Confirmed: NHL Stars Return to the Winter Olympics in 2026 & 2030
TL;DR: The wait is finally over. The NHL, NHLPA, and IIHF have officially reached an agreement to send the world's best hockey players back to the Olympic Games, starting with Milano Cortina 2026.
Best-on-Best is Back
For the first time since Sochi 2014, we will see a true "best-on-best" international tournament. Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the deal, ensuring that superstars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Cale Makar will finally get their chance to chase Olympic gold.
Official Announcement
The Rosters
While official rosters won't be finalized until late 2025, the projected lineups are staggering. Team Canada looks to defend their 2014 title with a center depth chart of McDavid, MacKinnon, and Crosby. Team USA, led by Matthews and the Hughes brothers, enters as the betting favorite for the first time in modern history.
Impact on the 2026 Season
The 2025-26 NHL season will include a two-week pause in February to accommodate the tournament. "This is what the players wanted," said NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh. "To represent their countries on the biggest stage."
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