Why the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament has fans bracing for chaos

The men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina is finally underway, and for the first time in more than a decade, National Hockey League players are back on Olympic ice.

It marks the NHL’s return to the Games after missing the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and withdrawing from Beijing 2022 due to Covid-19 disruptions, reigniting excitement around what many are calling a rare “best-on-best” tournament.

The league first began sending players to the Olympics in 1998, a move that coincided with Canada’s resurgence as a dominant force in international hockey. Canada last won Olympic gold in 2014, the most recent Games to feature NHL talent.

After years of disputes over scheduling, insurance and player safety, an agreement reached in 2024 cleared the way for players to return to the Winter Games this year.

Russia banned, top stars missing

Despite the NHL’s return, the tournament will not include Russia or Belarus, both of which remain banned from International Ice Hockey Federation events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The absence removes several of the NHL’s biggest stars from contention, including Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin and Alex Ovechkin, leading some to describe the event as “best-on-most-of-the-best”.

IIHF officials have signalled the restrictions could be revisited in future seasons, raising the possibility that this may be the last Olympic tournament played under the current ban.

USA vs Canada, again

Even with notable absences, anticipation is highest around a potential showdown between the United States and Canada, widely viewed as the deepest and most complete teams in the competition.

Canada’s roster is anchored by Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby, but questions remain around goaltending depth, an area where Team USA is considered stronger.

The Americans are chasing their first men’s hockey gold medal since the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice”, armed with a roster featuring the Tkachuk brothers, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel, alongside elite goaltending.

Placed in separate groups, the two rivals could meet in the knockout stages or a highly anticipated gold-medal final.

Smaller ice, higher intensity

The Olympic tournament will be played on a slightly smaller ice surface than standard NHL rinks, a change confirmed by the IIHF that is expected to increase speed and physicality.

Construction delays at the Milan venue had raised concerns late last year, but organisers have confirmed the arena is competition-ready, with players describing the ice as playable despite earlier issues.

What happens next

Group play begins this week, with knockout rounds starting on February 17. The gold medal match is scheduled for February 22.

With NHL stars back, rivalries reignited and political absences reshaping the field, the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.