For the first time since 2014, NHL players will have the chance to suit up and put take ice and represent their home countries for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and for team Canada, that is shaping up to give them their most dangerous lineup to date as the NHL on Monday began announcing the first six players who will be representing their counties in 2026.
Team Canada will be led by Tampa Lightning center, Brayden Point and Colorado Avalanche center, Nathan MacKinnon.
Point has represented Canada six times in international tournaments since 2013. Those appearances include serving as an alternate captain for Canada Pacific in the 2013 World-U17 Hockey Challenge; he also represented his home country in the 2013 Inan Hlinka Memorial Tournament with the U18 team; the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships as a U18, 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships, 2017 IIHF World Championships, and the 4 Nations Face-Off 2025.
MacKinnon has represented Canada in numerous international tournaments as well, including the 2013 World Junior Championships, the 2014, 2015, and 2017 World Championships, the 2025 4 Nationals Face-Off, and the 2026 World Cup of Hockey.
This will be the first Olympic appearance for both centers, however, both are known for their speed on the ice, their ability to score, and creating scoring chances.
In 2025, Point had 42 goals for Tampa Bay, 40 assists, 82 points, and earned a +17 rating in 19:29 on the ice.
As for MacKinnon, in 79 games with the Avalanche in 2025, he had 32 goals, 84 assists, 116 points, and a +25 rating in 22:47 time on ice.
Joining Point and MacKinnon in Milano Cortina in 2026 will be the 2022 Stanley Cup champion forward, Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins); teammate of MacKinnon and Colorado Avalanche defenseman, Cale Makar; Edmonton Oilers forward and 2025 Stanley Cup runner up, Connor McDavid; and the 2025 Stanley Cup champion forward from the Florida Panthers, Sam Reinhart.
All six of these players were on the roster that led Canada to the Gold Medal in the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year with their win over the United States. With these first six players returning, it’s no secret that Team Canada will be coming out with momentum and looking to build on their 4 Nations Face-Off win.
Team Canada has won the Olympic 14 times and has won a total of 23 medals since participating in the Olympics. They will be looking to make it 15 golds when the Olympics come around again next winter.