Getty
Team Germany will have the leadership of a notable Edmonton Oilers star as they look to make history at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 2026 Olympics will feature a dangerous Team Germany in its best-on-best hockey tournament. The German side is stacked and top-heavy. The club has some clear star power with one notable NHL superstar leading the way.
That superstar, the Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, got the nod as captain for the German squad.
Draisaitl will wear the “C” with alternates Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings and Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators rounding out the leadership core.
For Draisaitl, it’s a significant honor to bear the “C” for his country. The decision was pretty much a no-brainer, though Team Germany could have tapped Seider to lead the charge, among other German veterans.
That’s why Draisaitl relishes the role.
“It means a lot to me,” Draisaitl said. “We have a lot of great athletes in our country. There’s many picks that could have got it, and I don’t take it lightly. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Draisaitl is the best German-born NHLer in history by leaps and bounds. But he might not necessarily be the most famous player in Team Germany history. That’s a distinction Draisaitl shares with his father, Peter.
Senior Draisaitl Starred for Team Germany in 1992
Leon Draisaitl comes from a tradition of German hockey stars. His father, Peter, played in three Olympic cycles for a Team Germany that was in transition. The Senior Draisaitl represented West Germany at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, then represented the unified German team at the 1992 and 1998 Olympics.
It was the 1992 Olympic tourney that made Draisaitl one of the most recognizable names in German hockey history.
The tourney saw Team Germany reach the quarterfinals to face a dominant Team Canada. Despite being the underdogs, the European side pushed the Canadians to a shootout to decide the pass to the next round.
Peter Draisaitl had a shot to put Canada away, and nearly did it. He beat Canadian goalie Sean Burke. But the pick landed just outside the goal line, sitting there motionless. Burke thought he had the puck, but only later realized it had squeezed through.
The goal nearly meant a historic upset for a Team Germany that finished sixth in the standings.
Junior Draisaitl Looking to Make History
This iteration of Team Germany could make history at the 2026 Olympics. The Junior Draisaitl will have a chance to lead a highly talented and seasoned team. The Germans also have two winnable games in their group against Latvia and Denmark.
The real test will come against the United States in their final game of the group stage on February 15. Two wins could help Team Germany position itself among the top four seeds to qualify directly to the semifinals. Three wins, including one against the US, would most assuredly land them with a direct pass to the quarterfinals.
Even if Team Germany goes to the playoff round, they’ll have a chance to earn a pass to the medal round. With the way the field is shaping up, that’s certainly doable. The German side will just need some timely goaltending and scoring. If that’s the case, anything can happen.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
More Heavy on Oilers
Loading more stories