The last time NHL players were able to compete in the Winter Olympics was back in 2014. Now with NHLers returning to the games in 2026, which members of the top-four teams from Sochi could return for the games in Italy?
The last time NHL players suited up for the Winter Olympics in 2014, Connor Bedard was still a year-and-a-half away from playing in Edmonton’s Brick Tournament as a nine-year-old.
It's been a while.
For further evidence, take a look at the 2014 tournament all-star team, named after Canada took down Sweden to win the gold medal while Finland captured bronze and the Americans landed in fourth place.
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Two of those all-stars have since retired, and Kessel now hasn't played in more than a year.
At 43, Selanne was in his final season when he closed out his career with a bronze medal and tournament MVP honors. Lundqvist played another six seasons before a heart condition forced him to hang up his skates at age 39.
There's roster churn in a normal four-year Olympic cycle, but this 12-year gap between tournaments could leave some veteran stalwarts on the bubble when the final rosters are announced.
Here’s a first look at which players from those top four teams from 2014 are still active, and whether or not they could make the cut in 2026.
Canada
Eight players remain active from Canada’s championship roster. The oldest is Corey Perry, at 39, while 33-year-old Matt Duchene and John Tavares are the youngest.
As always, the Canadians have an embarrassment of riches to choose from at forward. And while offense isn’t the be-all, end-all for Olympic selection, the only 2014 Olympian to finish among the top 20 Canadian forwards in scoring last season was the team captain, Sidney Crosby — tied for third at 94 points.
Crosby has already been named to the roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and should also be a lock for Italy. Perry, Duchene, Tavares and Jamie Benn are unlikely to return as part of the forward group.
One other player from that age group worth noting is Steven Stamkos. The 34-year-old was a lock for 2014 before suffering a broken leg three months before Sochi but is still going strong in the NHL.
Stamkos finished eighth in scoring among Canadian forwards last season. He'd be a popular sentimental choice to finally experience his first Olympic opportunity.
On defense, three of Canada’s 2014 blueliners are still playing. Drew Doughty and Alex Pietrangelo, both 34, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 37.
Doughty has always been fiercely proud of playing for his country and continues to log huge minutes on one of the NHL’s best defensive teams while popping in 50 points a year. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him claim a roster spot on Canada's right side.
Sweden
Just five Swedes remain active from the silver-medal-winning squad of 2014, three forwards and two defensemen. They range in age from Gabriel Landeskog, at 31, to Gustav Nyquist at 34.
Landeskog, of course, is a massive question mark, as we wait to see if he’s able to successfully return to the ice with the Colorado Avalanche this fall.
Nyquist’s career-high 75 points last season ranked him sixth among all Swedish forwards, so he should be in the conversation. Marcus Johansson, with 30 points last year in Minnesota, will be on the bubble at best.
Both defenders could very well return. Erik Karlsson, age 34, was named to the tournament all-star team in 2014 and has already claimed a roster spot at the 4 Nations Face-Off, while 33-year-old Oliver Ekman-Larsson is enjoying a career resurgence after his Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers.
Finland
Just three players from Finland’s squad that claimed bronze are still in the NHL. All-star team member, Mikael Granlund put up 60 points with San Jose last season, ranking him fifth among all Finnish forwards. He’s 32 now, so he should be a lock to return.
So should the other forward, who could end up being named Finland's captain.
You’re forgiven if you don’t remember Aleksander Barkov from Sochi. At the time, he was an 18-year-old NHL rookie and suited up for just two games in the tournament.
On defense, Olli Maatta was in the midst of a promising rookie season when he suited up for his country in 2014. He has bounced around since then but has carved out a steady career and he's still young, turning 30 later in August.
Only eight Finnish defensemen played more than 40 NHL games last season, and Maatta was one of them. That should earn him a ticket to Italy.
USA
Like the Canadians, eight members of Team USA are still in the NHL. That includes Jonathan Quick — and while he served as the starter in 2014 and had a fine campaign with the Rangers last season, there’s no chance that he’ll beat out the likes of Connor Hellebuyck, Thatcher Demko, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman for an Olympic roster spot.
Up front, T.J. Oshie was one of the biggest stars of the 2014 Games thanks to his shootout heroics. But the U.S. forward group is also stacked, making it unlikely that he’ll get a return invitation.
Don’t rule out Patrick Kane though. He flirted with a point-per-game pace last season, which tied him for 10th among American forwards with at least 40 games played.
Kane has also been fiercely loyal to USA Hockey over the years, even travelling overseas for two men’s world championships in the late 2010s. If his body holds up, he’ll be back.
For the most part, the older American defensemen will also be in tough to return, with plenty of 30-and-under options on the blueline available including Norris winners Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox plus Charlie McAvoy, Zach Werenski and up-and-comer Brock Faber.
Of the five American rearguards who are still active, John Carlson has the best crack at returning. Now 34, he has been impressive at maintaining his level of play. Ryan McDonagh’s veteran smarts could also make him valuable as a depth piece in a mentorship role.
At 32, it seems unlikely that Cam Fowler or Justin Faulk would be able to steal a spot away from their younger countrymen. And after wearing an ‘A’ in both 2010 and 2014, Ryan Suter will turn 41 not long before the Olympic Cauldron is lit in 2026.