NHL players are returning to the Olympics.
League and IIHF finalized a deal on Wednesday to allow NHL players to play at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The agreement was seen as a formality as NHL Commissioner Gary Betman has been saying for months that the players will participate in the Games.
In addition, all 12 men’s hockey teams named their first six players last month.
The players of NHL have not participated in the last two Olympics – PyeongChang in 2018, South Korea in 2018 and Beijing in 2022. NHL and IIHF could not come on a deal on a deal for 2018, and then NHL excluded Beijing due to Kovid -19, which affects its regular -season schedule.
Canada won the last two Olympics with NHL players – in 2014 in Sochi, Russia and 2010 in Vancouver.
Sydney Crossbie, Nathan Macinon, Kaili Makar, Connor McDavid, Breeden Point and Sam Renehart have been named the first six players from Canada for the Olympic tournament, which runs on 11-22 February 2026.
