The 12 national men's hockey teams competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan all announced the first six players on the roster on Monday. Here's a look at each squad's first players with reaction. TEAM CANADA C: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] C: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers] C: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] D: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche C: Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers] C: Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning] Canada is looking to win their 10th gold medal at the Olympics and third straight in tournaments that allowed NHL players. As usual, the team is littered with superstars and Stanley Cup Champions. Among the six players, there are eight Cups and counting. Reinhart is the only new player from the 4 Nations preliminary roster. Instead of him, it was Marchand who was among the first six players listed. TEAM USA C: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs] D: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] D: Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins] C: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights] LW: Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators] LW: Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers Team USA is looking for revenge after the way the 4 Nations Face-Off final ended, with them losing in overtime. They’ve also had no luck in the Olympics for quite some time. The men's last gold medal in ice hockey at the Olympics was in 1980. The last time they earned a medal at the Olympics was in 2010 when they got silver after Sidney Crosby’s golden goal for Canada. However, the personnel is different for the U.S. this time around. The roster is filled with all-stars and award-winners like Matthews and Quinn Hughes, along with Cup champions in Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk. TEAM FINLAND RW: Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars] C: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes] C: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers G: Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] D: Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars D: Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars Team Finland’s preliminary roster for these upcoming Olympics is identical to the initial roster they listed for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Aside from Saros, all the players on this list played in the conference final of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Dallas Stars own the most Finnish players, and not just on this preliminary roster. If Roope Hintz and Mikael Granlund are picked later in the year to go to the Olympics, they’ll have a reunion with their teammates from their club. (Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1288d6c4-5fc8-4f22-926b-6cd8cd7cce7d.jpeg] (Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images) TEAM SWEDEN RW: William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs LW: Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] D: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning RW: Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings] D: Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres] LW: Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche Team Sweden made a few changes to their preliminary roster from the 4 Nations team. One name that stands out is Colorado Avalanche captain, Landeskog. He made a dramatic return to hockey during this past post-season after being sidelined with a severe knee injury for nearly three years. Kempe, Raymond and Dahlin weren’t among the first names announced for the 4 Nations tournament. However, all three players featured for Sweden in the tournament last February. TEAM LATVIA G: Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets] D: Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers C: Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] G: Arturs Silovs, Vancouver Canucks C: Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks C: Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning In the 2023 World Championship, Latvia defeated the U.S. in the bronze medal game to earn the first top-three finish in the country’s history. Defenseman Kristians Rubins scored the overtime-winner to seal a 4-3 win over Team USA. Team Latvia is the only nation that has listed two goaltenders on their preliminary roster. Merzlikins and Silovs have some NHL playoff experience, with Silovs taking the reigns for the Canucks with Thatcher Demko injured. The Latvians will need both of their goaltenders to step up and hold off the elite offenses of the opposition. TEAM ITALY D: Luca Zanatta, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL) D: Thomas Larkin, Schwenninger Wild Wings (Ger.) C: Diego Kostner, HC Ambri-Piotta (Sui.) C: Daniel Mantenuto, HC Bolzano (ICEHL) G: Damian Clara, Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks] C: Tommy Purdeller, Pustertal/Val Pusteria (ICEHL) Team Italy is the host nation and home team as the Winter Games are held in Milan. They have one player on this list who is associated with an NHL team. Goaltender Clara is in the Anaheim Ducks system. He hasn’t played an NHL game up to this point, but he has made appearances with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Ducks. Clara played two games for them in this past season, recording a 3.15 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. TEAM CZECHIA RW: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins C: Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche C: Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins D: Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks G: Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks LW: Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils] The Czechs have had success in international tournaments before. Just last year, Team Czechia won gold at the 2024 World Championship. It was a big deal for the nation as fans filled the streets of Prague in celebration. After they won the tournament, Pastrnak posted a picture of himself with the trophy with a caption [https://www.instagram.com/davidpastrnak/p/C7ct_mzCv_I/] that read, “Maybe Four Nation invite now?" Czechia is more than capable of upsetting some of the big teams in this tournament. They could even be considered a big team themselves skilled players like Necas and Dostal to shut the door in goal. TEAM SWITZERLAND D: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators C: Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils D: Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils LW: Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils LW: Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings RW: Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets] Team Switzerland is another team capable of upsets. There is plenty of leadership sprinkled around in this team, especially with the captains of the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils on this team. It won’t only be on former Norris Trophy winner Josi and former Selke Trophy finalist Hischier to lead this team. Players like Niederreiter and Fiala have the experience and skill with a combined 1,620 regular-season games between them. TEAM GERMANY C: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers C: Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators D: Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings G: Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken] C: Nico Sturm, Florida Panthers LW: Lukas Reichel, Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks] Hockey in Germany has grown drastically over the years. When they played in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, the roster had a handful of players who had played in the NHL. Now, the Germans can say they have star players on their team, beginning with Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers center has six 100-point seasons, a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, a Rocket Richard Trophy and more. Don’t forget the supporting cast of the talented Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators and the physical Seider of the Detroit Red Wings, who captained Germany in the 2025 World Championship. TEAM SLOVAKIA D: Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals LW: Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] LW: Tomas Tatar, Zug (Sui.) D: Erik Cernak, Tampa Bay Lightning D: Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils C: Martin Pospisil, Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames] Slovakia’s preliminary roster has a great mix of veteran and young players. However, these players have one theme seasoned into all of them, and that is grit. Calgary Flames’ Pospisil leads the way in that aspect of the game. In this past regular season, the center finished the campaign with 301 hits, third in the league. Even the Montreal Canadiens’ Slafkovsky joined Pospisil on the list of top hitters, recording 194 hits. However, it doesn’t end there, as D-man Fehervary blocked shots consistently for the Washington Capitals this season. He averaged 1.85 blocks per game, totalling 150 over 81 games. TEAM DENMARK RW: Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets] G: Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes] C: Lars Eller, Washington Capitals RW: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning LW: Jonas Rondbjerg, Vegas Golden Knights D: Jesper Jensen Abo, EC-KAC (ICEHL) Denmark’s preliminary roster is highlighted by goaltender Andersen, who is coming off a solid playoff campaign for the Carolina Hurricanes. He led the team to the Eastern Conference final with stellar performances in the first two rounds against the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals. Ehlers and Bjorkstrand are skilled wingers with excellent offensive skill for the Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively. The Danish wingers have had multiple 20-goal seasons in the NHL and will look to bring their best for their nation in February 2026. TEAM FRANCE D: Yohann Auvitu, Vitkovice (Cze.) C: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ajoie (Sui.) D: Jules Boscq, HPK (Fin.) D: Hugo Gallet, Tappara (Fin.) RW: Jordann Perret, Mountfield (Cze.) LW: Alexandre Texier, St. Louis Blues France doesn't have as much NHL experience as other squads, but there are some notables. Auvitu, Bellemare and Texier have made appearances in the NHL. St. Louis Blues’ Texier is the only player who currently plays in the NHL. He scored six goals and 11 points in 31 games this past regular season. Bellemare played 700 games in the NHL for five teams. He played his final season with the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24. Auvitu played 58 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
