The long wait is over—NHL players are officially returning to the Winter Olympics! Teams will soon start shaping their rosters for their highly anticipated return to the Games. After a hiatus that has now lasted over 10 years, the excitement to see the likes of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews on the biggest stage is palpable, after the 4 Nations Face-Off offered a sampler. But when will we know who makes the team? Well, the wait will be shorter than expected.
In a significant update, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that each participating nation will name six players for their Olympic hockey team in June, with the remainder of the roster finalized in December. With this being the NHL’s first Olympic appearance since 2014, the news has sparked excitement among fans eager to see international hockey at its highest level.
Italy NHL Olympic update:
The plan as of now regarding Olympic rosters is for each country to name 6 players in June and the rest of their rosters end of December.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 18, 2025
The NHL last participated in Olympic hockey in 2014, when Canada secured gold with a dominant 3-0 win over Sweden. Since then, the league has opted out of the Games due to scheduling conflicts and COVID-19-related concerns, leaving fans without the world’s top players competing on the biggest international stage.
This roster selection format mirrors the approach used for the 4 Nations Face-Off, where teams announced a partial squad before finalizing selections closer to the event. It gives managers flexibility while also building anticipation among fans.
What to expect from the NHL returning to the Olympics
Canada’s roster is sure to feature superstars Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, and Nathan MacKinnon, barring any injury. And the United States will surely counter with Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, and Adam Fox. The lineup is likely to not be too different from what we saw at the 4 Nations Face-Off, with a few changes here and there.
For example, Alex Pietrangelo is likely to return, while Connor Bedard and Nick Suzuki could also be intriguing selections for Canada. For the U.S., Calder Trophy hopeful Lane Hutson could provide a fresh new spark to the team.
Finland, the reigning Olympic champions, will be seeking to hold on to its title and is sending its best NHL players to bolster its roster. Their lineup is projected to look similar to how they geared up at the Face-Off, with captain Sasha Barkov saying, “A lot of guys from this room will be there.”
Sweden will look to bounce back from their disappointing showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off and hope to improve upon their silver medal in Sochi, when NHL players last competed. They finished 4th in Beijing and will look to return to medal-winning ways. “Moving forward, the Three Crowns can look forward to the World Championships at home and the Olympics next year moving forward,” said captain Victor Hedman after their victory over the U.S. in February.
One of the teams facing a difficult journey at the Olympics is the host country, Italy. Unlike the rest, however, Italy has zero active NHL players, so their lineup will be based on European league players. One player to watch is Anaheim Ducks prospect Damian Clara, a 20-year-old goalie who is the first Italian-born player to sign an NHL contract.
The NHL’s highly anticipated return to the Olympics will finally give the fans the high level of competition and international hockey that they’ve been craving. Now with the first round of roster announcements in June, anticipation is already building on what should be an electrifying tournament. One thing is certain: the world’s best players will be on the ice in Milan and Cortina, and hockey fans will be treated to a sight not witnessed in over a decade.
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