With 100 days until the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, NHL.com has released projected rosters for Team USA, Team Canada, Team Finland and Team Sweden. The predictions, based on recent performances and the 4 Nations Face-Off, highlight key NHL stars expected to represent their nations in the first Olympics with NHL participation since 2014. Rosters will be officially named around January 1.
The men's ice hockey tournament at Milano Cortina 2026 begins with preliminary games on February 11, culminating in the gold-medal game on February 22. Each team will carry 25 players: 14 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies.
For Team USA, NHL.com writers Dan Rosen and Nicholas J. Cotsonika project forwards including Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild), Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights, asterisk for preliminary roster), Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs, asterisk) and Patrick Kane (Detroit Red Wings). Defensemen feature Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Adam Fox (New York Rangers), Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks, asterisk) and Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins, asterisk). Goalies are Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) and Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins). Cotsonika noted Kane's inclusion for his leadership: "The 37-year-old could add leadership and playmaking ability, especially on the power play."
Team Canada's projection by Derek Van Diest and Mike Zeisberger includes forwards Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins, asterisk), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers, asterisk), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche, asterisk) and Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights). Defensemen: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche, asterisk), Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets) and Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche). Goalies: Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Adin Hill (Vegas Golden Knights) and Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals). Van Diest highlighted additions like Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets) based on their 2025-26 starts.
Team Finland's roster, per Shawn P. Roarke, Tracey Myers and Sami Haapasalo, features forwards Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes, asterisk), Roope Hintz (Dallas Stars) and Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars, asterisk), but notes Aleksander Barkov's absence due to ACL and MCL surgery on September 26. Defensemen include Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars, asterisk) and Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars, asterisk). Goalies: Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators, asterisk), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres) and Kevin Lankinen (Vancouver Canucks).
For Team Sweden, Amalie Benjamin, Tom Gulitti and Janne Bengtsson project forwards Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils), Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators) and Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks). Defensemen: Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres, asterisk), Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning, asterisk) and Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins). Goalies: Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild), Jacob Markstrom (New Jersey Devils) and Linus Ullmark (Ottawa Senators). These projections build on the 4 Nations Face-Off, where the U.S. lost 3-2 in overtime to Canada in the final.
U.S. players express high expectations. "We’re going over there to win gold," said Charlie McAvoy at the August orientation camp. The U.S. won gold at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, fueling momentum.
