With the 2024 Olympic games going on, what a better time to look ahead at the 2026 Winter Olympics and trying to project which QMJHL alumni may get to represent their country at the biggest stage of them all.
So far, nine teams of the 12 teams have secured their spot for the 2026 Olympics, with the Olympic qualifications starting on August 29th, 2024. The following teams will battle for a spot in Italy.
- Group D:
- Group E:
- Group F:
Since these 12 teams are not guaranteed spots in the Olympics, they won't be covered below. As for Finland... there aren't any notable QMJHL alumni that could realistically represent the team in 2026. Nevertheless, here is a breakdown of the potential former QMJHL players who may represent their country in 2026.
Canada
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado AvalancheGuarantees:
- Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh)
- Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado)
Hopefuls:
- Brad Marchand (Boston)
- Thomas Chabot (Ottawa)
- Noah Dobson (Islanders)
- Alexis Lafreniere (Rangers)
Long Shots:
- Jonathan Huberdeau (Calgary)
- Mackenzie Weegar (Calgary)
- Philipp Danault (Los Angeles)
- Drake Batherson (Ottawa)
- Kris Letang (Pittsburgh)
- Jonathan Marchessault (Nashville)
Czechia
Ondrej Palat of the New Jersey DevilsGuarantees:
- Ondrej Palat (New Jersey)
Hopefuls:
- Filip Zadina (Free Agent)
- Lukas Sedlak (Dynamo Pardubice)
- Jakub Lauko (Minnesota Wild)
Long Shots:
- Jakub Zboril (Free Agent)
- Filip Chlapik (Sparta Praha)
Germany
Leon Gawanke as a member of the San Jose SharksGuarantees:
- Leon Gawanke (Mannheim)
Hopefuls:
- Konrad Abeltshauser (Munchen)
Long Shots:
- Manuel Wiederer (Berlin)
Italy
Guarantees:
- Phil Pietroniero (Kladno)
Hopefuls:
- Jason Seed (Bolzano)
Long Shots:
- Angelo Miceli (Free Agent)
- Giordano Finoro (Bolzano)
Russia
Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay LightningGuarantees:
- Nikita Kucherov (Tampa)
- Ivan Barbashev (Vegas)
Hopefuls:
- Vladimir Tkachev (Omsk)
- Yakov Trenin (Minnesota)
- Mikhail Grigorenko (St. Petersburg)
Long Shots:
- Alexander Radulov (Yaroslavl)
- Daniil Miromanov (Calgary)
- Valentin Zykov (St. Petersburg)
- Vasili Glotov (St. Petersburg)
- Artemi Sergeyev (Dynamo Moscow)
- Dmitry Kulikov (Florida)
Sweden
Dmytro Timashov as a member of the Detroit Red WingsLong Shots:
- Dmytro Timashov (Sochi)
Switzerland
Nico Hischier of the New Jersey DevilsGuarantees:
- Nico Hischier (New Jersey)
- Timo Meier (New Jersey)
- Philipp Kurashev (Chicago)
Hopefuls:
- Sven Andrighetto (Zurich)
- Theo Rochette (Lausanne)
Long Shots:
- Axel Simic (Lugano)
- Fabrice Herzog (Zug)
- David Aebischer (Lugano)
- Valentin Nussbaumer (Davos)
The United States
Charlie Coyle of the Boston BruinsLong Shots:
- Charlie Coyle (Boston)