Sure, we’re in the middle of the Stanley Cup Final, but lets have a quick sidebar about the Olympics.
Next year, the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Italy and NHL players will be participating in the hockey tournament.
It's the first time since 2014 in Sochi that the NHL will be allowing its players to represent their counties at the Winter Olympics.
On Monday, all 12 of the qualifying national teams announced the first six players added to their respective preliminary rosters.
Several Florida Panthers players were among them, and they are as follows:
Canada: Sam Reinhart
Finland: Sasha Barkov
Germany: Nico Sturm
Latvia: Uvis Balinskis
USA: Matthew Tkachuk
Additionally, Panthers General Manager Bill Zito is an assistant GM for Team USA’s Olympic roster.
For Reinhart, Tkachuk and Sturm, they will each be participating in their first ever Olympic Games.
Barkov previously represented Finland at the 2014 Winter Olympics, winning bronze, and Balinskis skated for Team Latvia during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Now keep in mind, those players are only among the first five named to each nation’s roster. Don’t be surprised to see guys like Anton Lundell, Gus Forsling, Brad Marchand, Niko Mikkola, Sam Bennett and Eetu Luostarinen receive nods to join their respective countries, as each of the aforementioned Panthers took part in the 4 Nations Face-Off back in February.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from Feb. 6, 2026 to Feb. 22, 2026 in different parts of Italy.
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Photo caption: Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) skates against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)