The NHL, NHLPA and international officials on Wednesday finalized a long-ago agreed-to deal to send players to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.IIHF president Luc Tardif calls agreement ‘a major step forward for our sport’The Associated Press · Posted: Jul 02, 2025 11:07 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours agoFrom left to right: IIHF President Luc Tarif, NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speak with the media on Feb. 2, 2024 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)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: Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong announces 1st 6 players on men’s Olympic hockey teamSidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart will all represent Canada at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.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 rostersCANADA 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
NHL, NHLPA, Olympic officials finalize agreement for players to participate in 2026 Winter Games
