NHL stars return to Olympics as US and Canada reveal Milano‑Cortina rosters

The return of NHL players to the Winter Games is set to reshape Olympic hockey as the United States and Canada unveiled star‑studded rosters for Milano‑Cortina. The NHL did not permit its athletes to play at the Olympics after 2014, keeping the world’s best players out of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

That pause ends in 2026, with celebrity names back on the ice. The US 25‑man roster includes Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes, while Canada’s squad features Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. NBC executive producer Molly Solomon said: “NHL players bring a level of star power that elevates everything.

It’s not just hockey - it’s hockey with the best players in the world.” Broadcasters are buoyed by the recent 4 Nations Face‑Off final between the US and Canada, which drew a record 9.3m viewers on ESPN. USA Hockey general manager Bill Guerin said selecting the final roster was “incredibly difficult” and praised the depth of talent in the country.

USA Hockey kept the same three goaltenders — Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman — and added contributions from players such as Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller and Seth Jones. Some high scorers were left off, including Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat.

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Sports, United States, Olympics, Ice Hockey, Nhl, Usa, Canada