This week the NHL, National Hockey League Players Association and International Ice Hockey Federation agreed to allow players to participate in the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympic Games. For context, this will be the first time in over a decade that NHL players are allowed to partake in the Olympics which is a big deal. Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller talked about the possibility of representing the United States of America at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina. 240203 Keller All Star Post “It would be amazing,” Keller said. “Any time you can represent your country on a stage like that it’s everything you dream about. I remember watching the games way back, Oshi in the shootout, things like that, the rivalry, seeing the best on best. I'm super excited for that.” Keller has experience with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as he has played on two U.S. World Championship Teams, captured a gold medal with the U.S. National Junior Team and won two medals with the U.S. National Under-18 Team. If Keller were to play in the Olympics, he would most likely be one of many highly touted NHL players to represent the U.S. including Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Adam Fox and Johnny Gaudreau just to name a few. During the NHL All-Star Game festivities this weekend, Keller and Matthews talked about their unique friendship and training sessions during each summer, so they are a duo that USA hockey fans have to look out for. Through 48 games this season, Keller has 20 goals, 25 assists and 45 points for the Coyotes as he leads the team in all three statistical categories. Keller is really emerging into an NHL superstar. The 25-year-old may play a major factor in the 2026 Olympic Games if he indeed does decide to join Team USA.
