What Country Has the Most NHL Players On Its 2026 Olympics Roster? It's a Three-Way Tie

After more than a decade without NHL players on the Olympic stage, men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Games will once again feature the sport’s top stars.

Every country except the host nation, Italy, will bring NHL talent to Milan-Cortina, setting up the deepest international field in recent memory.

Group play begins on Wednesday and continues through Feb. 15, with Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland considered the top contenders entering the tournament, with all four nations carrying more than 20 NHL players each.

Sweden enters with 25 NHL players, including superstars William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres) and Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks), boasting one of only three Olympic rosters made up entirely of NHL talent.

Finland, meanwhile, brings 24 and features a roster headlined by Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars), Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes) and Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators).

Czechia comes next with 13 players on their roster currently playing in the NHL, while Switzerland carries 10 of them. All other nations feature fewer than 10 NHL players.

Slovakia follows Switzerland with seven NHL players, while Germany has six — as well as a player currently playing in the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate team. Latvia and Denmark have five each, while France has a lone NHL representative.

Team Sweden forward William Nylander (88) plays the puck against Team Canada during a 4 Nations Face-Off game.David Kirouac-Imagn Images

(David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

The United States roster includes 25 NHL players, with a mix of elite scorers, mobile defenders and one of the tournament’s best goaltending trios.

Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) and Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers) headline the offense. On the blue line, Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks) and Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins) anchor a mobile unit. Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) and Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins) make up a formidable goaltending group.

But as good as the American roster is, no nation brings more NHL star power and Olympic experience than Canada.

Team Canada’s full 25-man roster is composed entirely of NHL players, some of them having already won gold at the Olympics.

Among the forwards are Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), supported by Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights) and Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning). Canada’s defense includes Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche), Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights) and Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings). In net, Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings) and Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals) round out the lineup.

While both the U.S. and Canada field the maximum number of NHL players allowed, Canada’s group includes more former gold medalists and Stanley Cup champions, with Crosby and Doughty each making their third Olympic appearance.

The tournament’s gold medal game is scheduled for Feb. 22 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Olympics section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

What Country Has the Most NHL Players On Its 2026 Olympics Roster? It’s a Three-Way Tie

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