Yes. NHL players are expected to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. The NHL, NHL Players’ Association, International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee reached an agreement in 2024 to allow NHL players to participate in the 2026 and 2030 Winter Games.
That means fans should see many of the world’s top professional hockey players represent their countries in 2026. However, it does not mean every NHL player will go: each national team will select its own roster, and player availability can depend on health and other circumstances. Here’s what to know about NHL participation, the Olympic tournament and how it differs from the league’s regular season.
Will NHL players be in the Olympics in 2026?
Yes. The agreement announced in 2024 provides for NHL players to participate in both the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2030 Winter Olympics. The 2026 Games are scheduled for Milano Cortina, Italy, with the Olympic period running from February 6 to February 22.
NHL participation is significant because the league had not sent its players to the Winter Olympics since 2014. After NHL players competed in Sochi, Russia, the league did not pause its schedule to allow them to take part in the 2018 or 2022 Games. The 2026 tournament is therefore set to bring NHL athletes back to Olympic ice for the first time in 12 years.
The agreement makes participation possible, but it does not determine which players will be chosen. National teams will name their rosters, and selections will reflect each country’s needs, player performance and availability.
Why NHL players did not compete in the 2018 and 2022 Olympics
NHL players participated in five consecutive Winter Olympics from 1998 through 2014. Their absence from the next two tournaments followed disagreements over the arrangements for league participation, including who would cover costs associated with sending players and pausing the NHL season.
For the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, the NHL did not stop its regular-season schedule. Players under NHL contracts were consequently unavailable to their national teams. The same basic outcome applied in 2022: NHL players did not participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The arrangement for 2026 was different. The organizations involved reached an agreement that includes NHL participation in the 2026 and 2030 tournaments. The NHL season is expected to accommodate the Olympic event, allowing selected players to leave their clubs temporarily to represent their countries.
How NHL players will join their Olympic teams
NHL players do not compete for their clubs at the Olympics. They are selected to national teams and play under their country’s name and colors. A player’s NHL team may include athletes from several countries, but Olympic rosters are organized by nationality.
National teams choose the rosters
Each participating country’s hockey organization is responsible for selecting its team. Coaches and selectors consider factors such as a player’s ability, position, experience, role and fit with the team. A strong NHL reputation alone does not guarantee a place on an Olympic roster.
Countries also have roster limits set by the tournament’s rules. That means selectors must build a balanced team rather than simply choosing the largest possible group of star players. A roster needs forwards, defensemen and goaltenders, along with players suited to different situations during a game.
Players represent their country, not the NHL
The Olympics are an international competition, not an NHL event. Players wear their national team uniforms and compete under their country’s flag. The league’s role is to make its contracted players available under the agreed arrangements; the NHL does not choose the Olympic teams.
Eligibility to represent a country is governed by international hockey rules. A player’s birthplace, citizenship and previous international appearances can be relevant, so the rules are more specific than simply choosing whichever country a player prefers.
Which NHL stars could be part of the 2026 Olympics?
With NHL players returning, national teams can draw on talent from the league when making their selections. Countries with many NHL players may have especially deep pools of candidates, while other teams may rely on a blend of NHL athletes and players from other professional leagues.
It is important to distinguish potential participants from confirmed selections. A player may be widely discussed as an Olympic candidate without having an official roster spot. Final team announcements, rather than predictions, confirm who will compete.
Injuries, recovery timelines and other availability issues can also affect a roster. Even after a player is selected, circumstances may change before the tournament begins. For that reason, fans should check announcements from the relevant national federation for the latest confirmed team information.
What NHL participation means for the Olympic hockey tournament
The return of NHL players is expected to raise the level of competition and add familiar stars to the men’s Olympic hockey tournament. Fans can compare players who usually face one another in the NHL as they compete on the same side for their country—or meet as opponents in an international setting.
Olympic hockey also has a different format and atmosphere from an NHL season. Teams compete in a short tournament, so each game can have major consequences. National pride, unfamiliar teammates and the pressure of representing a country give the event a distinct character, even when many of its players are NHL regulars.
NHL participation does not make the Olympics an NHL championship. The tournament is organized as an international event, and its rules, schedule and team structure are separate from the league’s competitions. The Olympic gold medal goes to the winning national team, not to an NHL club.
Will every NHL player be allowed to play?
No. The agreement allows NHL players to participate, but only a limited number can be selected for each national team. Countries must choose within the applicable roster rules, and they will select players based on what they believe gives the team the best chance to succeed.
Players also need to be available and eligible. A serious injury, a recovery setback or a change in eligibility status could keep someone out. As a result, “NHL players will be in the Olympics” means that NHL athletes are expected to be part of the tournament—not that every player in the league will participate.
Frequently asked questions about NHL players in the Olympics
Will NHL players be in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Yes. An agreement announced in 2024 provides for NHL players to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, subject to player selection and availability.
When was the last time NHL players competed in the Olympics?
The last Winter Olympics featuring NHL players was the 2014 Sochi Games. NHL players did not compete in the 2018 or 2022 tournaments.
Will NHL players be in the 2030 Winter Olympics?
The 2024 agreement also provides for NHL player participation in the 2030 Winter Olympics. As with 2026, individual players will still need to be selected and available.
Will the NHL pause its season for the 2026 Olympics?
The league’s participation arrangement is intended to accommodate the Olympic tournament during the NHL season. Check the official NHL schedule for the confirmed break and any updates to game dates.
Can NHL players choose which country they represent?
Players cannot simply choose any country. International eligibility rules determine which national team a player may represent, and each country’s federation selects its roster.
Does NHL participation mean every Olympic hockey team will have NHL players?
Not necessarily. The agreement makes NHL players available, but countries differ in the number of NHL athletes they can draw on. Final team composition depends on each federation’s selections and player availability.
Conclusion
NHL players are expected to return to the Winter Olympics in 2026 after missing the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. The agreement also includes the 2030 Games. While national teams—not the NHL—will choose the players, the return of NHL athletes should make Milano Cortina a major event for international hockey fans.