It is now only six months until Milano Cortina 2026, which in 12 years is the first to record NHL players. The Winter Games will take place in Italy from 6 February to 22 February, with the men’s hockey tournament that runs from 11 February to 22 February.
NHL.com recently projected gratings for teams that will participate in men’s hockey at the 2026 Olympic Games, and five members of the Edmonton Oilers made the cut. Here is a look.
Evan Bouchard
Defender, Canada
Evan Bouchard was omitted from the Canadian selection for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and Team Canada did well without him and won the inaugural event last February.
But after another huge postseas version, to help Edmonton to help reach the Stanley Cup final for a second consecutive year, while he achieved 23 points in 22 Play -off matches, the Oakville seems to have played back in the Olympic photo. NHL.com is the second outlet valve in recent weeks to project that Bouchard fits for Team Canada, together with TSN.
As always with Bouchard, it will come down to a case of how much hockey canada is willing to trade his defensive shortcomings for his attacking output.
Leon Draisaitl
Forward, Germany
Since 2019, at the IIHF World Championship, Leon Draisaitl has had the opportunity to represent his country in international competition. At the time, the Cologne Product was only 23 years old and about to elevate its game to the level of the biggest players on the planet. Now he is fresh from winning his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, as the leading target scorer of the NHL in the 2024-25 season.
Although the Germans are a long chance of fighting for a medal, many think that with Draisaitl, they have the attacking firepower to surprise during the Winter Games of 2026.
Draisaitl was one of the six players named after his For the time being Olympic schedule. He will probably wear the ‘C’ of the captain for his national team in Milan.
Mattias Ekholm
Defender, Sweden
Mattias Ekholm, from Borlange, was suitable for Sweden during the 4 Nations face-off last February, who served as an assistant captain for his national team.
Ekholm has long been considered one of the upper layer of NHL defenders, but after he had put off game offside for almost two months, he struggled in the final of the Stanley Cup 2025, which speculated some to catch up with the 35-year-old. Moreover, Sweden has a huge defensive depth, so Ekholm should not be seen as a lock for the 2026 Olympic Games.
That said, nhl.com still sees a place for the smart, Rock-Solid veteran on Team Sweden. Ekholm brings important experience after he has caught gold at the IIHF World Championship in 2018.
Connor McDavid
Forward, Canada
Just like Draisaitl, Connor McDavid was one of the first six players named after the preliminary selection of his country for the 2026 Olympic Games. As if there was once any doubt that the best player on the planet would be part of Team Canada.
There is a huge excitement about the possibility of finally seeing McDavid fighting in the largest stage of sport. He has already written a classic Canadian hockey heritage moment, scoring the overtime winner Against Team USA in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
McDavid will center the top rule of Canada in Italy, but the captain of Edmonton will probably not wear the ‘C’ for Canada. That distinction will probably go to Pittsburgh Penguins-icon Sidney Crosby, who canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off and probably competes in his last Olympic Games.
Joshua Samanski
Forward, Germany
Edmonton fans have not really met Joshua Samanski. The 23-year-old center signed a contract at the entry level of two years With the oilers in April and will try to earn a place on the schedule of the NHL team during the upcoming training camp and the preseason.
However, he may have already secured a schedule in the German Olympic team, thanks to his impressive game at the IIHF World Championship last spring. In his debut of Worlds, Samanski finished third in Team Germany in both points (five, of two goals and three assists) and Plus/Min (Plus-2).
Samanski has played the last three seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (del). In 2024-25, the Erding-Product led the Straubing Tigers with 14 goals and 26 assists in 52 games.
Of course there is still a long way to go until the Olympic hockey rakes of 2026 are completed, and what happens in the first few months of the 2025-26 season will play an insignificant role in those decisions. Less than five oils can travel to Italy, and there may be more: Zach Hyman, for example, could very well say something about that. The race to Milan has just begun.
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