The Olympics are widely viewed as one of the greatest competitions in sports history, and anticipation for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games is building up as preparations for the event enter the final stages. This year’s Games will take place in Milan, Italy, from Feb. 6-22, and include many fan favorite winter sports such as skiing, bobsledding and hockey.

This time, the hockey tournament will look slightly different. For the first time since 2014, NHL players are allowed to compete again after the league settled disputes with the International Olympic Committee.

“Obviously, having the best players in the world playing in front of the entire world is great exposure for the league,” said Jay Zawaski, the Chicago-based host of the CHGO Blackhawks podcast. “I do believe the league gains new fans every time they appear in the Olympics.” 

Hockey fans worldwide, including Andrew Nolan, a video editor from Chicago, rejoiced at this news, believing this return is long overdue. He emphasized the importance and prestige that competing in the Games carries, and how every hockey player’s dream is to represent their country on the world’s biggest stage.

“Whenever a hockey player grows up, they want to win Olympic gold or the Stanley Cup, not IIHF gold,” he said, referring to the International Ice Hockey Federation, the governing body of hockey worldwide.

The Olympic hockey games will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with Team Slovakia taking on Team Finland. Fans can watch Team USA in action on Thursday, Feb. 12, on NBC.

As the new year approached, teams were busy holding tryouts and building medal-worthy rosters. Because the NHL has players from many different countries, it was easy to know who would make certain rosters for teams such as Sweden, Germany and Finland. Many international players who come overseas to play in the NHL often opt to play for their home countries during the Olympics and other international tournaments. But for the American and Canadian teams, who are longtime rivals, hockey insiders have noted that the decision was much harder. 

A majority of NHL players are from the United States or Canada, meaning coaches would have to make many tough choices. 

The U.S. roster includes big names such as Jack Eichel, of the Vegas Gold Knights, and New Jersey Devil Jack Hughes. Canada’s picks included Connor McDavid, of the Edmonton Oilers, and Colorado Avalanche standout Nathan MacKinnon. Record-holding players like these were all expected to make the cut. 

But some fans believe other players were chosen for their popularity, familiarity and reputation — not for their talent.

“Jason Robertson is the highest American scorer in the NHL, and I am dumbfounded Team USA passed on him,” Nolan said of the Dallas Stars’ left wing. 

For comparison, Robertson has 27 goals and 29 assists in 49 games played this season, whereas Jake Guentzel, a Tampa Bay Lightning player who made Team USA, has 21 goals and 28 assists in 47 games played.

“I think they leaned into familiarity,” said Malia Poblete, a writer for The Hockey News based in Eugene, Oregon. “A lot of the players had opportunities to connect in their careers earlier. However, there are no doubts these picks still have talent.”

One of the most surprising roster omissions was 2023 No. 1 draft pick Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, whom Team Canada did not choose.

“I think Bedard was snubbed for veteran players, and I do not agree with their decision to do that,” Zawaski said. “However, he does have some work to do when it comes to his on-ice reputation. 

“And some of the bad habits he has shown during his first two seasons still linger in the minds of those who don’t see him every game,” he said in reference to Bedard. 

Bedard suffered an upper-body injury at the beginning of December and was out for four weeks. That halted his play and statistics, which are an important consideration when determining rosters.

“He was top five in the NHL in points before his injury and improved his defensive game, no matter what the analytics say,” Nolan said. Before his injury, Bedard had 19 goals and 25 assists in 37 games played for a total of 44 points. Since returning on Jan. 9, he only has one goal and three assists. 

All snubs aside, hockey fans around the world are eagerly anticipating one of the biggest and most heated rivalries in the history of the sport. Canada, who is 10-4 in Olympic play, has won a majority of the games they have played against the U.S. and are expected to continue their hot streak at the Olympics. 

Many U.S. fans, however, believe that Canada is going to have some trouble.

“The U.S. had the talent to compete for a while now,” Zawaski said, noting that Team USA won the World Championships last year. “While Canada has more of the top players, the U.S. has a massive advantage in goal.

“I actually think the U.S. should be considered the favorite.”

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