The 2026 Olympics drop the puck in Milano Cortina in February. Canada and USA return as heavy favorites with Finland and Czechia the prime contenders for bronze.
But there are other storylines beyond the medal chart to follow ahead of the tournament. As Cee Benwell, Ian Kennedy, and Chris Sinclair of The Hockey News discuss, the impact of Natalie Spooner, defensive experiment with Laila Edwards, and emergence of Eve Gascon in Canada's crease are three to follow.
Here's the discussion: