The Summer time Olympics in Paris at the moment are within the rearview mirror. Subsequent time the Olympic torch is lit, it’ll be in Milan for the 2026 Winter Video games. It’ll even be the primary time for the reason that 2014 Video games in Sochi, Russia that NHL gamers will take part.
The NHL was anticipated to take part within the 2022 Beijing Olympics, however COVID led to a late determination to withdraw NHL gamers from competitors. In 2026, Tampa Bay Lightning followers will get to see a few of their favourite gamers take the ice. Listed here are some sturdy candidates to characterize the Bolts and their dwelling nations.
Brayden Level – Workforce Canada
The Calgary-born ahead’s final look at a world event was the 2017 IIHF World Championship when he was simply breaking into the NHL. Level is confirmed to characterize Canada in the course of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NHL’s substitute for the All-Star Sport this season when NHL gamers will characterize their nations in a event.
Maybe that shall be a sneak peek of what’s to return. If Jon Cooper is Workforce Canada’s coach on the Olympics, which he was imagined to be in 2022, it’s practically assured that he shall be certain for Milan. In 2023-24, Level scored 46 targets and 44 assists. It was his third season of scoring 40 targets or extra and 90 factors or extra.
Brandon Hagel – Workforce Canada
Brandon Hagel is coming off a career-best season within the NHL and a robust efficiency on the 2024 IIHF World Championship. Through the common season, he scored 26 targets and 49 assists for 75 factors – the latter have been each profession highs, and he had his second-best season for targets.
On the World Championship in Could, he scored three targets and 4 assists in 10 video games. He’s already proven he’ll step up for Canada. The Olympic staff may very well be calling him up for his companies in an effort to win the gold.
Victor Hedman – Sweden
Victor Hedman is a lock to play for Sweden on the Olympics. He’s nonetheless one of many high defensemen within the league, ending sixth in Norris Trophy voting final season. In 78 video games in 2023-24, he had 13 targets and 63 assists – the second-highest level whole of his profession at 33 years outdated. He’s additionally confirmed to play for Sweden in the course of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Hedman additionally performed for Sweden within the 2024 IIHF World Championship and gained the bronze medal. Now, within the later years of his profession, he’ll stay a key participant in Sweden’s efforts to take dwelling the gold in 2026.
Mikey Eyssimont – Workforce USA
Mikey Eyssimont may very well be a bottom-six contributor for Workforce USA. He would supply the muscle as he does for the Lightning. Nevertheless, he took the ice for Workforce USA on the final two IIHF World Championships. In 17 video games, he had two targets and 4 factors. That’s not removed from his 25-point tempo from final season. He has been requested to characterize America a number of occasions, so it’s possible he’ll get to do it once more.
Jake Guentzel – Workforce USA
The most recent member of the Lightning might, and certain will, be Eyssimont’s teammate in Milan. Jake Guentzel has by no means taken the ice for a world event, however the 2026 Olympics may very well be his debut. He’s coming off a career-best season, averaging 1.15 factors per sport or 77 factors over 67 video games. That’s a 94-point tempo.
He’s a really sturdy candidate to make the Olympic staff. It’ll merely be a matter of whether or not or not he’s wholesome in February 2026. After lacking time final season and having by no means performed in a world competitors, it may be the most important issue.
Nikita Kucherov & Andrei Vasilevskiy – Russia or To Be Decided Classification
This one is sophisticated. Ahead Nikita Kucherov and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy are apparent Olympic picks. Kucherov is coming off a historic season, with 100 assists, the Artwork Ross Trophy and was a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist. Vasilevskiy is a Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Award winner and remains to be thought of one of many high goalies within the league.
Nevertheless, Russia’s standing for the 2026 Winter Olympics remains to be undetermined as a result of battle with Ukraine. Russia has not technically participated within the Olympics because it hosted the Video games in Sochi in 2014. In 2018, Russian hockey gamers competed underneath the title “Olympic Athletes From Russia” and the “Russian Olympic Committee” in 2022 as a result of a doping scandal. In 2024 in Paris, they participated as impartial athletes underneath the Worldwide Olympic Committee’s coverage to order the fitting to deal with particular person Russian athletes.
We’ll have to attend to see how this shall be dealt with. Nevertheless, each gamers are a lock if they’re eligible to take part.
The Lightning haven’t any scarcity of Olympic candidates representing a number of nations. Followers may have somebody to cheer for in nearly each matchup, and there’s a great probability that no less than one in all them will convey the gold medal dwelling to Amalie Area.
