(Photo Credit: @NHL on X/Twitter)
The 2026 Winter Olympics are here, and for the first time since the Golden Knights became a franchise, NHL players will participate for one of sports’ most coveted prizes. Here’s a little rundown of everything you need to know about the tournament and VGK’s participation.
Tournament Format
12 teams have been drawn into three groups of four.
Group A – Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
Group B – Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
Group C – USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark
The winner of each group, along with the best 2nd place finisher, will automatically advance to the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams will be ranked 5-12 based on position in the group, highest number of points, goal difference, number of goals scored, and 2020 IIHF ranking, in that order. These teams will play in the first round of the playoff with matchups of 5v12, 6v11, 7v10, and 8v9.
The four automatic qualifiers will be ranked 1-4 using the same criteria to determine who they will play in the quarterfinals. 1v8/9, 2v7/10, 3v6/11, 4v5/12.
In the semifinals, teams will be reseeded so that the highest remaining team plays the lowest and the middle two play each other.
The highest-seeded team is always designated as the home team.
The tournament uses a three-point system.
3 points = Regulation win
2 points = Overtime win
1 point = Overtime loss
0 points = Regulation loss
Group stage games that end tied will go to a 5-minute 3-on-3 followed by a shootout. Playoff games prior to the gold medal match, will go to a 10-minute 3-on-3 followed by a shootout. And the gold medal match is 3-on-3 until a goal is scored.
Schedule (only games involving VGK players)
Group Stage
2/11 – 12:10 PM – Sweden vs Italy
2/12 – 3:10 AM – Switzerland vs France
2/12 – 7:40 AM – Czechia vs Canada
2/12 – 12:10 PM – Latvia vs USA
2/13 – 3:10 AM – Finland vs Sweden
2/13 – 7:40 AM – France vs Czechia
2/13 – 12:10 PM – Canada vs Switzerland
2/14 – 3:10 AM – Sweden vs Slovakia
2/14 – 12:10 PM – USA vs Denmark
2/15 – 3:10 AM – Switzerland vs Czechia
2/15 – 7:40 AM – Canada vs France
2/15 – 12:10 PM – USA vs Germany
Playoffs
First Round – 2/17 – 3:10 AM, 3:10 AM, 7:40 AM, 12:10 PM
Second Round – 2/18 – 3:10 AM, 7:40 AM, 9:10 AM, 12:10 PM
Semifinals – 2/20 – 7:40 AM, 12:10 PM
Bronze Medal Match – 2/21 – 11:40 AM
Gold Medal Match – 2/22 – 5:10 AM
Participants
USA
Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin
Eichel is once again expected to center a line between the Tkachuk brothers. Jack will also be a prominent figure on the Team USA power play and may even see a bit of PK action. He posted four assists in four games at the 4 Nations Faceoff, averaging nearly 21 minutes per game. Hanifin is on bubble of the Team USA defense, clearly behind Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Zach Werenski, and Jaccob Slavin. Because the group stage is condensed (3 games in 4 days), expect to see some rotation on the defense, which will likely mean at least one healthy scratch for Hanifin. When in the lineup, Hanifin should see PK action.
Canada
Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore, Bruce Cassidy (assistant coach)
Stone bounced around the Team Canada lineup at 4 Nations before ultimately landing playing on his off side along with Connor McDavid and Brayden Point. Stone also spent time playing with Sidney Crosby, which could be used again. Marner was used in a more defensive-minded role for the most part, playing alongside Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel. Both Stone and Marner were used on the 2nd power play unit, and each killed penalties. Theodore was paired with Doughty in the opening game but left with an injury in the 1st period.
Sweden
Rasmus Andersson
Andersson played alongside Mattias Ekholm, but played just 13 minutes per game in Sweden’s three games at 4 Nations. He was used on the second penalty kill unit but did not see any power play action. Ekholm is not on the Olympic team and has been replaced by Philip Broberg and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, both left-handed defenseman that may work well with Andersson.
Czechia
Tomas Hertl
The Czechs were not involved in 4 Nations, so this will be the first opportunity we get to see what is an underrated team entering the Olympics. Hertl has a real chance to be the #1 center on the team, competing with Pavel Zacha, Radek Faksa, and David Kampf for the position. That would mean Hertl could be on a line with David Pastrnak and/or Martin Necas. He will absolutely be used in the bumper slot on the power play and is unlikely to serve as a penalty killer.
Switzerland
Akira Schmid
Despite being the only goalie currently playing in the NHL, Schmid is not necessarily the locked-in starter for the Swiss. Leonardo Genoni is a legend in Switzerland, leading the team to silver medals at each of the last two World Championships. Genoni was named MVP of the 2025 tournament. He has also participated in two prior Olympic games. Schmid should absolutely see at least one game, though as the Swiss take on France and Canada on back-to-back days to open the tournament. The performances in those games will likely determine who gets the start in the playoff game.
