With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina approaching, the 12 men’s hockey nations competing have begun building their rosters. Each team will carry a maximum of 25 players (22 skaters, three goaltenders), and many countries have already announced their first six selections.
This year marks the first Olympic appearance for NHL players since 2014. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the decision in a statement to NHL.com:
“We are pleased to confirm that NHL players will be participating in the 2026 Olympic Games,” Bettman said. “Olympic participation will showcase the skill and talent of NHL players on an international stage. We are proud to collaborate with the IIHF, NHLPA, and IOC to bring the best hockey players in the world to the Olympics and make this happen in a way that benefits the game globally.”
Among the countries preparing for the Games, Canada is hosting a 42-man orientation camp. Headlined by superstars Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Cale Makar, the list notably features no current or former New Jersey Devils players, despite nine Canadians on New Jersey’s roster.
Current Devils Nationality Breakdown:
- Canada – 36%
- USA – 20%
- Switzerland – 12%
- Finland – 8%
- Russia – 8% (Note: Russia remains banned from IIHF events due to military actions)
- Sweden – 8%
- Czech Republic – 4%
- Slovakia – 4%
For comparison, NHL-wide nationality representation is:
- Canada – 40.9%
- USA – 28.7%
- Sweden – 9.3%
- Russia – 6.5%
- Finland – 5.2%
- Czech Republic – 3.1%
- Switzerland – 1.4%
- Slovakia – 1.1%
- Germany – 1.0%
- Remaining ~3% split among 10 other countries
With nearly half of the NHL eligible to play for Team Canada, competition for roster spots is fierce. Still, one omission stands out: Dougie Hamilton.
Hamilton, 32, has never represented Canada at the Olympics, though both of his parents have competed in the Games. His father, Doug Hamilton, won a bronze medal in rowing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, while his mother played basketball for Team Canada that same year.
Despite a strong NHL resume, Hamilton was not among the 42 defensemen invited to camp. Since joining the Devils in 2021, he has posted four productive seasons and remains the team’s highest-paid player at $9 million per year. Even with injuries last season, Hamilton recorded 40 points in 64 games, matching his per-game production from his early career with the Boston Bruins in 2013–14.
Hockey Canada has passed over Hamilton before, most recently for the Four Nations tournament. This time, they chose the following defensemen instead:
- Evan Bouchard
- Noah Dobson
- Drew Doughty
- Aaron Ekblad
- Thomas Harley
- Cale Makar
- Brandon Montour
- Josh Morrissey
- Colton Parayko
- Travis Sanheim
- Shea Theodore
- Devon Toews
- MacKenzie Weegar
Whether all of these players are truly better options than Hamilton is open for debate. What is clear, however, is that Hockey Canada appears to have little interest in having Dougie Hamilton compete for them on the international stage.
Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images