NHL, NHLPA, Olympic officials finalize agreement for players to participate in 2026 Winter Games
IIHF president Luc Tardif calls agreement 'a major step forward for our sport'
The NHL, NHLPA and international officials on Wednesday finalized a long-ago agreed-to deal to send players to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The league, union, International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee confirmed the participation of NHL players at the games for the first time since 2014. The groups negotiated the agreement and announced it initially last year.
IIHF president Luc Tardif called it "a major step forward for our sport."
The final touches took time to figure out after officials insisted for months they were not concerned about the lack of a signed document. The deal opens the door for NHL participation to continue in 2030, something that had also been agreed to in February 2024.
Last month, the 12 participating countries unveiled the first six players on their Olympic rosters. The men's hockey tournament at the 2026 Games is scheduled to run from Feb. 11-22.
WATCH | Canada GM announces initial 6 players for Olympic men's hockey squad:
Already six players have been named to each of the nations competing at the Olympics.
Early roster announcements were also used ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last winter.
The rest of the rosters will be finalized early in 2026.
2026 Olympic rosters
CANADA
- Sidney Crosby, F, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Connor McDavid, F, Edmonton Oilers
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, Colorado Avalanche
- Brayden Point, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Sam Reinhart, F, Florida Panthers
- Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
CZECH REPUBLIC
- Lukas Dostal, G, Anaheim Ducks
- Radko Gudas, D, Anaheim Ducks
- Martin Necas, F, Colorado Avalanche
- Ondrej Palat, F, New Jersey Devils
- David Pastrnak, F, Boston Bruins
- Pavel Zacha, F, Boston Bruins
DENMARK
- Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes
- Oliver Bjorkstrand, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nikolaj Ehlers, F, Winnipeg Jets
- Lars Eller, F, Washington Capitals
- Jesper Jensen Aabo, D
- Jonas Rondbjerg, F, Vegas Golden Knights
FINLAND
- Sebastian Aho, F, Carolina Hurricanes
- Aleksander Barkov, F, Florida Panthers
- Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars
- Esa Lindell, D, Dallas Stars
- Mikko Rantanen, F, Dallas Stars
- Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators
FRANCE
- Yohann Auvitu, D
- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, F
- Jules Boscq, D
- Hugo Gallet, D
- Jordann Peret, F
- Alexandre Texier, F, St. Louis Blues
GERMANY
- Leon Draisaitl, F, Edmonton Oilers
- Philipp Grubauer, G, Seattle Kraken
- Lukas Reichel, F, Chicago
- Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings
- Nico Sturm, F, Florida Panthers
- Tim Stutzle, F, Ottawa Senators
ITALY
- Diego Kostner, F
- Daniel Mantenuto, F
- Tommy Purdeller, F
- Thomas Larkin, D
- Luca Zanatta, D
- Damian Clara, G, Anaheim Ducks
LATVIA
- Rodrigo Abols, F, Philadelphia Flyers
- Uvis Balinskis, D, Florida Panthers
- Teddy Blueger, F, Vancouver Canucks
- Zemgus Girgensons, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Elvis Merzlikins, G, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Arturs Silovs, G, Vancouver Canucks
SLOVAKIA
- Erik Cernak, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Martin Fehervary, D, Washington Capitals
- Simon Nemec, D, New Jersey Devils
- Martin Pospisil, F, Calgary Flames
- Juraj Slafkovsky, F, Montreal Canadians
- Tomas Tatar, F
SWEDEN
- Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
- Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Adrian Kempe, F, Los Angeles Kings
- Gabriel Landeskog, F, Colorado Avalanche
- William Nylander, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Lucas Raymond, F, Detroit Red Wings
SWITZERLAND
- Kevin Fiala, F, Los Angeles Kings
- Nico Hischier, F, New Jersey Devils
- Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
- Timo Meier, F, New Jersey Devils
- Nino Niederreiter, F, Winnipeg Jets
- Jonas Siegenthaler, D, New Jersey Devils
UNITED STATES
- Jack Eichel, F, Vegas Golden Knights
- Auston Matthews, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Matthew Tkachuk, F, Florida Panthers
- Brady Tkachuk, F, Ottawa Senators
- Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks
- Charlie McAvoy, D, St. Louis Blues
With files from the Canadian Press
