Preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics are well underway and Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] defenseman Brady Skeji [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/predators-skjei-mccarron-help-united-states-to-1st-iihf-world-championship-in-92-years]https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/predators-skjei-mccarron-help-united-states-to-1st-iihf-world-championship-in-92-yearsis trying to crack the United States' roster. Tuesday, it was announced that Skjei was one of 44 players invited to the United States' Men's Olympic Orientation Camp [https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1344220], which will be held from Aug. 26-27 in Plymouth, Michigan. If selected, this would be the first time in his career that the Lakeville, Minnesota native would be chosen for a best-on-best tournament. Skjei has represented the United States seven times in his career, four times at the IIHF World Championship and three times at under-20 tournaments (World Juniors, U18 and U17). He's won the Gold Medal twice: the 2012 U18 World Championship and the 2025 World Championship [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/predators-skjei-mccarron-help-united-states-to-1st-iihf-world-championship-in-92-years]. This past season, Skjei scored 33 points in 82 games in his first season with the Predators. His contract, a 7-year contract for $49 million, has faced scrutiny lately [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/nVg1ijLvmEdQBQlnqc5l] due to its length and Skjei's age. The 2026 Milano Cortana games would likely be Skjei's last opportunity to play in the Olympics, as he would be 35 by the time the 2030 French Alps Olympics had arrived. Skjei was also not in the league the last time NHL players were allowed to compete in the Olympics, which was the 2014 Sochi games. If Skjei were selected, he'd be the likely fifth Nashville Predator to compete in the games. Roman Josi (Switzerland) [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/predators-defenseman-roman-josi-named-to-switzerland-s-preliminary-olympic-roster] and Juuse Saros (Finland) [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/predators-goalie-juuse-saros-named-to-finland-s-preliminary-olympic-roster] have already been named to preliminary rosters, and Filip Forsberg (Sweden) and Erik Haula (Finland) [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/here-s-which-nashville-predators-players-we-will-could-see-at-2026-winter-olympics] are likely to join their respective national teams. Skjei will be competing for a roster spot against some of the best defensive talent in the NHL, which includes Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Adam Fox and a dozen others. Men's ice hockey kicks off at the Winter Olympics on Feb. 11 with the gold medal game taking place on Feb. 22. The teams competing include the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, Denmark, France and Italy.
