With 100 days until the Opening Ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, several key narratives are emerging for the men's ice hockey tournament. NHL players will return to Olympic competition for the first time since 2014 in Sochi. Topics include player injuries, goaltending battles and young stars pushing for roster spots.
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will feature NHL players in the men's hockey tournament, starting with preliminary-round games on Feb. 11 and concluding with the gold-medal game on Feb. 22. Each team will carry 25 players, including 14 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies.
Health concerns for U.S. Tkachuk brothers
Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers has not played this season after August surgery for a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia; the team hopes for a December return. His brother Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators underwent thumb ligament surgery on Oct. 16 and faces a 6-8 week timeline, also targeting December. Both were among the first six named to the U.S. preliminary roster in June, but their availability remains a concern for general manager Bill Guerin.
Canada's goaltending competition
Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, the favorite after the 4 Nations Face-Off, has struggled with a 2-4-1 record, 3.27 goals-against average and .863 save percentage in eight games. Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, while Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens has a slow start. Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson, with a 5-2-0 record, 1.44 GAA and .939 save percentage in seven starts, is emerging as a contender.
Finland's adjustments without Barkov
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is out for the regular season following knee surgery, leaving Finland to replace their top center and captain from the 4 Nations. Options include Roope Hintz and Sebastian Aho of the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes, Anton Lundell of the Panthers and Mikael Granlund of the Anaheim Ducks. Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine, out 3-4 months with a core muscle injury, adds uncertainty. Finland has experience adapting, having managed defensemen injuries like those to Miro Heiskanen and Rasmus Ristolainen before the 4 Nations.
Macklin Celebrini's case for Canada
San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 10 games, tied for fourth in NHL scoring. His six-game point streak includes 11 points and a five-point game with a hat trick against the New York Rangers on Thursday. At 19, he could become the first teenager on Canada's Olympic roster since 1998.
Patrick Kane's Olympic pursuit
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, aiming for a third Olympics after 2010 and 2014, recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in his first five games but has missed six with an upper-body injury. The 37-year-old needs 27 points to surpass Mike Modano as the top U.S.-born NHL scorer and six goals for 500 career goals.
Other notable storylines include Gabriel Landeskog building his game for Sweden after knee surgeries, Chicago Blackhawks duo Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar impressing for Canada and the U.S., Mark Stone's injury impact on Canada's roster, Czechia goaltending battles featuring Karel Vejmelka and Jakub Dobes, and Sweden monitoring centers Mika Zibanejad and Elias Pettersson.