On Friday, a few Pittsburgh Penguins' players got some news that they've been waiting on for quite a while. 

And it looks like they'll be spending most of February in Milan, Italy.

It was announced that defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Rickard Rakell made the cut for the final 2026 Swedish Olympic roster, which will mark the second time Karlsson has represented his country in the Olympics and the first time for Rakell.

Forward Bryan Rust - who was invited to Team USA's Olympic camp over the summer - did not make the final cut for Team USA.

For Karlsson, the chance to compete again at the highest-level international tournament in the world is something that he's been anticipating for a decade. And - for Rakell - it's a childhood aspiration finally realized.

"Super excited," Rakell said. "It's a dream come true for me to get the chance to play in the Olympics and represent my country. I couldn't be more excited."

As much as there was a degree of certainty for Karlsson making the final roster despite not being named as one of the First Six - he said he was a "lock" back in training camp - it was not the same situation with Rakell, especially given his longer-term injury this season and the breadth of competition for few spots on the forward front.

And there was also the fact that, for the 4 Nations Face-off last February, he was left off the initial roster despite being in the midst of a career season. He was eventually named as an injury replacement, he competed in the tournament, and he finished his NHL season with career-highs in goals (35) and points (70). 

So, for those reasons, he wasn't entirely sure that he would make the cut. But he's glad that he did. 

"Yeah, obviously, that's all you want," Rakell said. "You never know if it's the last chance you get to play in a tournament like that, and you're thinking about it pretty much all of last year, all of summer, and coming into this year, and you never know with the injuries and all that happens, what's going to happen to you.

"Ultimately, it's coaches' decision to make the team, so even though you don't want to think about it too much, you just try to focus on your game here and try to give your best every night. I was really excited to get the call."

Sweden Announces Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Roster: Full ListSweden named the 25 players representing the men's national hockey team at the 2026 Olympics, including both Minnesota Wild goaltenders.

Rakell is also excited to have the opportunity to share his first Olympic experience with his teammate in Karlsson, who Rakell has become close friends with since the blueliner's arrival in Pittsburgh during the summer of 2023.

"I'm very happy to go with him and just share that moment together," Rakell said. "Obviously, since the day he got here, we didn't really know each other before, but we've become really good friends, and I'm super excited to see him [there]. He's going to be a top player on our team there, and just watching him here every day and get to see him, get to learn from him... it's a lot of fun."

Karlsson also sees the value in having someone like Rakell on the roster because of his situational versatility and ability to perform on big stages. 

"I think he’s shown over the last couple of years that he’s a capable player in situations like that," Karlsson said. "I think he had a good 4 Nations. He’s a guy that can play up and down the lineup and a reliable guy. So, I’m happy that he got the recognition for it, and very well-deserved.”

USA Hockey Reveals Men's 2026 Olympic Roster: Full ListUSA Hockey named the 25 players representing the men's national team at the 2026 Olympics.

Karlsson competed in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, when the Swedes lost to Sidney Crosby and Team Canada in the gold medal game. Although he joked about having "not very good memories" about losing to Crosby and company, he also recalled the experience as being one of the best of his playing career. 

And for the NHL to be back in the Olympics for the first time in 12 years - and for him to be a part of that - means a lot to him. 

“It’s weird," Karlsson said. "Obviously, I missed two of them in the time that [we] could have played, which is very frustrating at one point. But at the same time, there’s nothing you can do about it. So, I’m just happy that it’s back on, and hopefully, it stays this way for the younger generation and we don’t get to miss another one because it’s a very special thing to be a part of.”

He added: "Very happy that we get the chance to be back and experience it again. And, you know, hopefully, it’s not my last one.”

The Swedish Olympic roster will largely feature the same players that made the 4 Nations cut, even if there are a few alterations. Gustav Nyquist, William Karlsson, Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm were players on the 4 Nations roster that were left off, while Gabriel Landeskog, Alexander Wennberg, Pontus Holmberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Philip Broberg.

Representing Sweden at the #MilanoCortina2026#WinterOlympics... 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/4zkB5heEgs

— NHL (@NHL) January 2, 2026

During 4 Nations, Rakell spent some time playing with Mika Zibanejad, William Nylander, and Elias Pettersson - all of whom made the cut - while Karlsson was paired with Ekholm, meaning he will have a new defense partner for the Olympics. 

Regardless, both players feel good about the group that's headed to Milan.

"I feel really good about it," Rakell said. "As a group, we learned some things at the 4 Nations, and going to the Olympics, I think we have a better view of what we can improve and learn from our mistakes there to just try to give our best effort at the Olympics."

Finland Announces Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Roster: Full ListFinland named the 25 players representing the men's national hockey team at the 2026 Olympics. All but one of the players are in the NHL.

While the Olympics were, obviously, a heavy emphasis Friday, Rakell and Karlsson remain focused on what is right in front of them in Pittsburgh, where the team has won four of its last five games. The team plays a lot of games between now and the Olympics - 17, to be exact - and they are in the midst of a playoff race.

Not only are the NHL games in front of them important, but playing well going into the Olympics does help ensure that both players will be at the height of their game when the time comes to play in the highest level of best-on-best possible.

“Obviously, right now, I think we’re all very excited to go to Milan and compete for your nation," Karlsson said. "But at the same time, we're also very excited for the upcoming games in between with the Pittsburgh Penguins. I think that we have something good going on. We got off to a good start after the break, and that’s what we’re focusing on right now.

"So, whatever needs to be done here for this team to be successful, we’ve got to deal with. Then, when we get to Milan, we’re going to deal with what we have to do there to be successful.”

'You Can Never Be Satisfied In This League': McGroarty Taking Strides At NHL Level With PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins' forward Rutger McGroarty is learning every day at the NHL level - and he only figures to get even better with more experience at the highest level of hockey.

---

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The Edmonton Oilers are taking a bit of a risk if the lines at practice on Friday are any indication of what's to be expected in Saturday's afternoon game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Both Ike Howard and Quinn Hutson were recalled from the AHL an on the ice. Both were on the third line, with fellow rookie Matt Savoie. 

Three rookies on the third line? It's a gamble, with some serious potential for offense. 

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Quinn Hutson recorded three straight multi-point outings in the AHL before making his way back to the big club.

Goals in four straight (6G, 2A — 8 PTS).

Took reps with Howard & Savoie at Friday’s practice. #Oilerspic.twitter.com/A7HuTuGnQQ

— Tony Brar 🚀 (@TonyBrarOTV) January 2, 2026

Edmonton has struggled to find any offense from their third line of late. They wanted to create a spark so badly, they took Jack Roslovic off a successful second line and put him at center on the third line. It didn't work and Roslovic was almost immediately put back in the top six, with head coach Kris Knoblauch saying, "We made that switch putting Roslovic there. Obviously, we feel that Roslovic is a better player, but I thought Andrew [Mangiapane] did some things that helped us."

Perhaps Mangiapane did some things, but it wasn't enough. He's now an asterisk on the second line, and might be a healthy scratch. Vasily Podkolzin was under the weather and not on the ice Friday. 

Back to the third line...

Having three rookies on the ice is asking a lot of that trio. It's clear that Huston and Howard can light it up at the AHL level. Howard scored 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 16 games with the Condors. Hutson has tallied 19 goals and 13 assists for 32 points in 26 games this season. Asking them to translate that over in the NHL won't be easy. And, while Savoie is a responsible two-way player, he's still fresh in the NHL, with only 46 total NHL games on his resume. 

The problems might come defensively. As sound as Savoie is, Hutson and Howard are question marks. Can the Oilers deploy that line in advantageous situations? On home ice, that's a bit easier to do. However, not always. These three will need to stay above water if they're going to see any minutes at all. The Flyers and any future opponents will try to isolate that line if they can get their top stars on the ice. 

Knoblauch wouldn't commit to the trio as a line for Saturday. He noted that there are some positives and negatives to the idea. Without an "NHL center," there is a risk. It is three smaller players, too. The positive is that they are skilled and have experience together. He noted that if he does go this route, he'll look at offensive zone starts and beneficial matchups. "There'll be some coaching," he said. 

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While the Detroit Red Wings picked up a valuable point in the standings during their 4-3 overtime setback against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening, they'll lament the fact that they only converted on two of eight power-play opportunities. 

Both James van Riemsdyk and Alex DeBrincat tallied with the man-advantage, the former coming during a four-minute double-minor opportunity, with the latter coming late in the third period to knot the score at 3-3. 

However, six other chances went for naught despite coming into the contest with the NHL's fourth-ranked power-play efficiency rate. 

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Head coach Todd McLellan did point to the positive of the statistical reality that they finished with a 25 percent conversion rate during the contest.

“At the end of the night, it was 25 percent, which isn’t too bad," McLellan said of Detroit's power-play. "It got us two goals and probably got us a point. Anytime you start a game on the power-play 20 seconds in, that’s a tough thing.”

Despite staying in the first place position in the Atlantic Division standings by picking up a point, the Red Wings feel that they could have played better as a whole 

"It’s a huge point to get," said DeBrincat, who picked up his 21st goal of the campaign. "Still a little disappointed in how we played, but some nights, good teams win those games. We feel like we should’ve won that game, but we can go win on Saturday and make it back." 

The Red Wings will once again face the Penguins on Saturday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. 

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The Colorado Avalanche are having a fantastic 2025-26 season. At the time of this writing, they have a ridiculous 30-2-7 record and are 10 points ahead of the second-place Dallas Stars in the NHL standings. The Avalanche have also won each of their last nine games, so they are showing no signs of slowing down. 

One of the many reasons for the Avalanche's dominant first half of the season has been the play of former San Jose Sharks goalie MacKenzie Blackwood. The 29-year-old is having himself an incredible 2025-26 campaign and is only getting better as the year rolls on. 

In 16 games so far this season with the Avalanche, Blackwood has recorded a 13-1-1 record, a .924 save percentage, a 2.07 goals-against average, and two shutouts. He has also won all seven of his last starts and has had a .920 save percentage or better in each of them. With this, there is no question that the former Sharks goalie is on fire right now. 

Yet, as awesome as Blackwood has been playing this season, he was snubbed from Team Canada's Olympics roster. This has naturally made some hockey fans surprised, as Blackwood has been simply marvelous in 2025-26. 

When Gary Bettman took command of the National Hockey League 33 years ago, the idea of major league hockey succeeding in The Sunshine State was iffy, to say the least.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had just been born and from one season to another the Bolts' players couldn't tell whether they'd be playing in a makeshift arena or a baseball field or – with

cockamamee ownership – if they'd wind up playing at all.

Flash forward to January 2, 2026 and the Lightning have become one of the league's most successful franchises artistically, monetarily and ownership-wise.

Drive across Alligator Alley to beautiful Downtown Sunrise and there you'll find yet another Floridian success story, the two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers.

But tonight, the title-holders will take a sentimental journey of sorts to Miami, the Panthers original home, and face the Rangers on, of all places, a baseball field – LoanDepot Park.

Bettman, Inc. is pulling off what once was considered an impossibility, an outdoor NHL game surrounded by the sheltering palms of the Florida Marlins home field. So, how amazing is this?

Floridian author-beat writer for Florida Hockey Now – who grew up at old Madison Square Garden – Alan Greenberg, puts it best:

"This game is a tribute to how hockey has grown in Florida in recent years," says Big Al. "With the Panthers or the Lightning having been in the Stanley Cup Final for six straight years, hockey interest has grown exponentially, especially on the Panthers side which had lagged for years."

If it takes Two to Tango, the franchise also needed player support to make this work.

Greenberg: "The players love it. Even guys like Brad Marchand and Jeff Petry, plus head coach Paul Maurice, have been here twice before. This Winter Classic is unique because of the Florida venue."

The NHL creative geniuses showed their worth, dividing the stadium into a winter wonderland right out of Northern Ontario on one side and, as for the Floridians, I'll let Greenberg explain:

"On the other side, the decor simulates the Tropics with beach chairs and a mural of the ocean. It's a perfect contrast to the fake snow and  simulated ice for the Canadian sport of curling on the cold side." 

Credit for this amazing event goes to the league's leaders, Commissioner Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and their make-the-seemingly-impossible-happen, NHL President of Content and Events, Steve Mayer.

Let this most astonishing Winter Classic begin!

The 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic comes at a critical point in the New York Rangers’ season. 

As the Rangers stepped onto the ice at LoanDepot Park on Thursday afternoon ahead of their Friday night Winter Classic matchup against the Florida Panthers, a vibrant, joyous mood was evident among the team. 

The Winter Classic only happens once a year, so the opportunity to play in an event of this magnitude is certainly not taken for granted. 

“There's a certain level of excitement around these events that I think brings out the very best in our sport,” Mike Sullivan said. “I think it's such a privilege to have the opportunity to participate in these types of events. I think the league does a tremendous job in making each one of these unique in their own way… All of these events in my experience over the years are so unique, and I think the league does a great job in just embracing each venue and making each one of them different in how they play themselves out.

“I think for the players and their families, I think it's an opportunity to create lifelong memories. I think these types of events, players and coaches and all of us that have the privilege to participate in these types of events, we'll talk about these events 20 years from now.”

Players were laughing and smiling with one another as they got onto the ice with excitement and curiosity. 

While the Rangers did partake in a practice, it was no ordinary one. A mixture of family members, media people, and fans surrounded the ice in what was more of a spectacle as opposed to a practice. 

After the practice, the players were embraced by their family on the ice, some of whom got the special opportunity to skate with their kids, partners, and parents.

“It’s special,” Zibanejad said on being able to share the ice with his family. “I’ve been lucky enough to play a few of these events before. Each one of them is special in its own way. When you get to share those moments and share moments with your family and the ones close to you, it means a lot. It becomes a bigger thing than if you would. I’m just happy I get the opportunity to do so.”

Friday night’s matchup will also mark the first time the NHL is hosting an outdoor game in Florida. 

When you think of any outdoor game and specifically the Winter Classic, the Sunshine State isn’t exactly the destination that likely comes to mind. 

It’s truly a unique set of circumstances, which the Rangers seem to be embracing.

“I was pleasantly surprised maybe because just the perception of playing hockey outdoors in Florida at this time of year would suggest it's hard to keep ice,” Sullivan emphasized. “I thought it (the ice) was actually in pretty good condition given the circumstances. It's always a challenge in this type of an event. I thought it was pretty good today.”

Through all of the hoopla and spotlight that the Winter Classic presents, it’s hard to remember that there are still two points on the line that come from this game.  

For the Rangers, this event couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. We are now just past the midpoint of the 2025-26 season, and New York’s play has been sporadic to say the least. 

They currently sit with a 19-18-5 record and find themselves on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. Going into this matchup, they've also lost three consecutive games. 

At this point in the season, every game and every point is so important. 

If the Blueshirts continue to go down this rabbit hole of inconsistent play and if the playoffs are out of their reach by around the time of the trade deadline in March, Rangers general manager Chris Drury may be forced to take a selling approach and focus on accumulating assets for the future.

The Rangers are viewing the Winter Classic as an opportunity to reset and hope that it will be a turning point in their season.

“Obviously, against the two-time defending cup champions in a big stage, I think maybe it could help us get that ship going in the right direction,” said Adam Fox. “There's only so many games before the (Olympic) break, and then maybe the standings start to sort out a little bit. Some teams have to make decisions on which direction they're looking to go, so I think a good opportunity for us to get going here a little bit and have a good finish before the break.”

Adam Fox Expresses Disappointment Regarding U.S. Olympic SnubThe 2026 U.S. Olympic Team will not include New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> defenseman Adam Fox.&nbsp;

The entirety of 2025 was a difficult year to fathom for all involved with the Rangers. The team missed the playoffs during the 2024-25 campaign and despite making a substantial move during the offseason by hiring Mike Sullivan to be the team’s head coach, New York hasn’t shown signs that they could get back to Stanley Cup contending status. 

However, 2026 is a new year, and it all starts with the Winter Classic. 

“It’s opportunities like this. I think, looking back at how it's been, how it ended last season, how it's been this season so far, I think definitely,” Zibanejad said of whether the Rangers are using the Winter Classic as a way to change their perspective as a team. “Obviously, you don't want to be in that position to have that as a moment, but we're, we're in it now. 

“Having this opportunity to play an outdoor game with all the families here, and a special game like this, obviously the two points mean a lot, but I think the two points add a lot more to the experience too.”

St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg has been named to Team Sweden's 2026 Men's Olympic roster. 

This will be Broberg's first time competing for Sweden at the senior level, as he previously represented Sweden at the U-17s, U-18s, Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, and World Juniors Championship. He won gold at the U-18s, silver at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and bronze at the world juniors.

Broberg is in his second season with the Blues, and he's taken another step forward in his development. The 24-year-old has scored two goals and 13 points in 41 games while skating on the Blues' top pairing and averaging 23:12 of ice time. His 23:12 is nearly three minutes more than he played in his first season with the Blues. His ice time also leads the Blues and ranks 31st in the NHL.

The 6-foot-4 defender has become a defensive stalwart while being a potent puck mover. The offensive numbers have translated; Sweden won't need Broberg to be a driving force offensively. With defenders like Rasmus Dahlin, Erik Karlsson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Sweden needs defenders they trust to play a stout defensive game against teams like Canada and the USA. 

Broberg isn't a lock to be in the lineup from day one, but he'll have every opportunity to fight for a bottom pairing role. His size, skating and defensive capabilities should keep him in contention.

Sweden's roster:

Forwards:
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Pontus Holmberg, Tampa Bay Lightning
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
Alexander Wennberg, San Jose Sharks
Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers

Defenseman:
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
Philip Broberg, St. Louis Blues
Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins

Goaltenders:
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils
Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

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Just as he was for the highly successful Four Nations Face-Off tournament, Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has been officially chosen to represent the United States in the Olympics next month. 

THAT'S OUR CAP 🇺🇸

Congrats to Dylan Larkin on being named to the @usahockey roster for #MilanoCortina2026! pic.twitter.com/0LjyagBALi

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 2, 2026

However, his teammate Alex DeBrincat was not among the names chosen by Team U.S.A. general manager Bill Guerin, who also manages the Minnesota Wild. 

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Additionally, forward Patrick Kane, who is only two goals shy of 500 in his Hall of Fame career and is considered arguably the greatest American-born player in NHL history, also wasn't selected. 

DeBrincat has enjoyed a torrid scoring pace, having already tallied 21 goals; he's on pace to reach 41 if he continues his current trajectory.

Meanwhile, Kane has experienced multiple injuries this season that have limited his availablility, a likely factor in Guerin's decision not to extend an invitation to him. 

Larkin was a force for Team U.S.A. during the Four Nations Face-Off, scoring the game-winning goal against Team Canada in the preliminary-round. 

The full USA roster is as follows: 

Team U.S.A. forwards

Jack Eichel, Golden Knights

Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

Brady Tkachuk, Senators

Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers

Matt Boldy, Wild

Kyle Connor, Jets

Jake Guentzel, Lightning

Jack Hughes, Devils

Clayton Keller, Mammoth

Dylan Larkin, Red Wings

J.T. Miller, Rangers

Brock Nelson, Avalanche

Tage Thompson, Sabres

Vincent Trocheck, Rangers

Team U.S.A. defensemen

Brock Faber, Wild

Noah Hanifin, Golden Knights

Seth Jones, Panthers

Jake Sanderson, Senators

Jaccob Slavin, Hurricanes

Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets

D Quinn Hughes, Wild

D Charlie McAvoy, Bruins

Team U.S.A. goaltenders

Connor Hellebuyck, Jets

Jake Oettinger, Stars

Jeremy Swayman, Bruins

The Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place between Feb. 6-22 in Milano and Cortina, Italy. There will also be a lengthy break in the NHL schedule in February to accommodate the return of NHL players to Olympic competition. 

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Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling has been named to Team Sweden's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. 

This will be the first time the 26-year-old has competed at the Olympics, but he has previously represented Sweden at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the World Junior Championship. Last season at the 4 Nations, Forsling played in all three games but failed to record a point. 

Forsling's 2025-26 campaign has gone as smoothly as his previous seasons with the Panthers. He's on pace to score just two goals and 29 points, but he and his defense partner, Aaron Ekblad, have had their fair share of issues. 

Recently, Forsling and Ekblad's play has improved, and they are trending in the right direction. Forsling will, without a doubt, play in all of Sweden's games and play a critical role defensively at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. 

Sweden isn't considered in the same tier as favorites Canada and the USA, but it's still considered one of the favorites to win a medal and challenge for gold. The last time NHL players played in the Olympics, Sweden won a silver medal, losing to Canada in the 2014 final. 

Sweden's roster

Forwards:
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Pontus Holmberg, Tampa Bay Lightning
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
Alexander Wennberg, San Jose Sharks
Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers

Defenseman:
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
Philip Broberg, St. Louis Blues
Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins

Goaltenders:
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils
Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

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Seattle Kraken wingers Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen have been named to Team Finland's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster.

Kakko played on Team Finland's 2025 4 Nations Face-Off roster, skating in two games and notching one assist. Now in his second season with the Kraken, Kakko is beginning to find his game again, but injuries have hampered the campaign. In 22 games, the 24-year-old has scored just two goals and nine points.

His spot on the roster is determined by what he's done previously for Finland, while Tolvanen's selection is based on his stellar play.

The 26-year-old ranks second on the team in points, recording seven goals and 25 points in 38 games. His shooting percentage is lower than it has been in recent years, but his playmaking has hit a new level, on pace for a career high in assists (39) and points (54). 

Tolvanen was a surprise omission from Finland's 4 Nations Face-Off roster, but he put the work in to earn a spot on their Olympic team. He joined Finland's 2025 World Championship roster, where he recorded seven goals and nine points in eight games, ranking second in goals among all players. 

Finland will be hard-pressed to win a medal at this tournament without superstar center Aleksander Barkov, their captain. The Florida Panther is out with an ACL injury and won't be ready in time for the Olympics.

Finland's roster:

Forwards:
Joel Armia, Los Angeles Kings
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Mikael Granlund, Anaheim Ducks
Erik Haula, Nashville Predators
Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken
Oliver Kapanen, Montreal Canadiens
Joel Kiviranta, Colorado Avalanche
Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche
Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers
Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers
Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks
Eeli Tolvanen, Seattle Kraken

Defenseman:
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
Henri Jokiharju, Boston Bruins
Mikko Lehtonen, ZSC Lions (NLA)
Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
Olli Maatta, Utah Mammoth
Nikolas Matinpalo, Ottawa Senators
Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers
Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers

Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

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Team Finland has unveiled their 2026 men's Olympic roster, which features Florida Panthers forwards Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, as well as defenseman Niko Mikkola.

All three represented Finland at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, and now they'll play pivotal roles as Finland attempts to bring home an Olympic medal.

It won't be an easy task, and the mission is even more challenging now that Aleksander Barkov won't participate. The Panthers' captain was also Finland's captain, playing a critical role in the team's success. He's resumed skating in a minor way, but there is no chance he'll be ready for the Olympics, and he hasn't been named to the roster.

With Barkov's absence, Finland, like the current Panthers, will depend on Lundell to step up. The 24-year-old has done so for the Panthers, scoring 13 goals and 31 points in 39 games while averaging a career high 19:08 of ice time. At the 4 Nations Face-Off, Lundell scored one goal in three games. 

Likely riding shotgun with Lundell will be Luostarinen. Like Lundell, Luostarinen is averaging a career high in ice time (16:50). The 27-year-old has notched four goals and 18 points this season, on pace to equal his career high in points. 

The final Panthers player named to Finland's roster is defenseman Niko Mikkola. The 29-year-old has been stellar on the Panthers' blueline, scoring one goal and six points in 39 games while playing just over 20:00 a game. Mikkola, alongside Seth Jones, has been heavily relied on by coach Paul Maurice in both the offensive and defensive zones, starting the most shifts in each zone among Panthers defenders.

Finland's roster:

Forwards:
Joel Armia, Los Angeles Kings
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Mikael Granlund, Anaheim Ducks
Erik Haula, Nashville Predators
Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken
Oliver Kapanen, Montreal Canadiens
Joel Kiviranta, Colorado Avalanche
Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche
Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers
Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers
Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks
Eeli Tolvanen, Seattle Kraken

Defenseman
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
Henri Jokiharju, Boston Bruins
Mikko Lehtonen, ZSC Lions (NLA)
Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
Olli Maatta, Utah Mammoth
Nikolas Matinpalo, Ottawa Senators
Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers
Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers

Goaltenders
Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

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It had been nearly 10 years (April 2016) since the Montreal Canadiens were able to win a game on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes, and Martin St-Louis’ men decided it was time to break the curse. It certainly wasn’t easy, however, as the young Habs took their fans on yet another rollercoaster ride.

When he was asked about his team’s resolution for the New Year, the bench boss said they wanted to continue with good starts and score early, thereby avoiding playing catch-up hockey. The Sainte-Flanelle seemed determined to stick to its resolution with a fast and furious start that saw it score twice in less than a minute, barely four minutes into the game, but they couldn’t keep up the pace. Before the end of the first frame, the Canes had stormed back to a 3-2 lead, which they improved on early in the second.

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Taming A Demon

The Habs have struggled mightily in the second frame this season, but this time, they actually had a strong middle stanza. After conceding a fourth goal, the Canadiens shook it off and scored three unanswered goals to roar back to a 5-4 lead.

Interestingly, this three-goal effort in the middle frame came against the team that had allowed the fewest goals in the second frame this season. Before Thursday night’s tilt, the Canes had only allowed 29 goals in that period while generating 34 for a plus-five differential, much better than Montreal’s minus-13.

If the Habs have finally tamed their second-period demons, St-Louis could be in for some much easier third frames for the rest of the season.

Tough Night on Defense

While Mike Matheson was meant to play, it was announced shortly before the game that he wouldn’t suit up due to an upper-body injury. That was hardly surprising considering the elbow he took to the head from Brad Marchand in the 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers, but it was nonetheless a big blow.

As always, when Matheson is missing, the Canadiens’ defence struggled mightily. Through 60 minutes of hockey, Noah Dobson had six giveaways, Jayden Struble had two, and Lane Hutson had two as well. The Hurricanes are the kind of team against whom it’s dangerous to do that. Their transition game is insanely fast, and they always have plenty of players near the opponent’s net to screen the goalie and tip some shots.

In the defeat, Sebastian Aho put up five points and was an absolute poison to deal with for the Habs’ defence corps.

A Real Team Effort

While St-Louis won’t like the fact that his team committed 23 giveaways, he will surely appreciate the fact that each line produced at least a goal tonight. Captain Nick Suzuki got the Habs rolling before Olympics hopeful Oliver Kapanen scored the second goal. In the second frame, Samuel Blais and the fourth line produced the third lamplighter (the grinder had two points and seven hits on the night), before Cole Caufield tied up the game and Josh Anderson gave the Habs the lead. Juraj Slafkovsky doubled the lead in the third, and Hutson put the icing on the cake with an empty-netter.

While the scoring came from everywhere, it’s worth noting that it was Caufield’s first career goal against the Hurricanes, the only team he hasn’t scored on now is the Winnipeg Jets. After scoring the go-ahead goal late in the second frame, Anderson left the game and didn’t return. While the power forward isn’t the Canadiens’ most productive forward, his physical impact will surely be missed if he has to miss some time.

Kirby Dach was initially set to miss four to six weeks, and it’s been six weeks, but there’s still no set date for his return. Given his injury history, it’s understandable that Montreal is being cautious; still, with the injuries piling up, he can’t come back soon enough.

Even though the game was far from a masterpiece by the Tricolore, they’ll gladly take the two points, which help them consolidate their third place in the Atlantic Division. With the Buffalo Sabres being on a fantastic 10-game winning streak, they are fast approaching the Habs’ rearview mirror. With 46 points, they are now in the second wild-card spot, and they do have a game in hand on the Canadiens. Needless to say, the two duels between the two sides coming up this month will be pivotal in the playoff race.

Montreal will now need to get ready for a couple of back-to-back matinees this weekend against the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars. While the former are 29th in the league right now, the latter are second in the standings and will present quite a challenge.

---

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U.S. men's ice hockey roster revealed for 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Team USA announced its roster for the men’s ice hockey competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday, and it features the return of NHL stars to the Olympic stage.

Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Jack Hughes headline the 25-player roster, which includes 22 skaters and three goaltenders:

Forwards

• Jack Eichel, center, Vegas Golden Knights
• Auston Matthews, center, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Matthew Tkachuk, winger, Florida Panthers
• Brady Tkachuk, winger, Ottawa Senators
• Matt Boldy, forward, Minnesota Wild 
• Kyle Connor, winger, Winnipeg Jets 
• Jake Guentzel, winger, Tampa Bay Lightning 
• Jack Hughes, center, New Jersey Devils
• Clayton Keller, forward, Utah Mammoth
• Dylan Larkin, center, Detroit Red Wings
• J.T. Miller, forward, New York Rangers
• Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche
• Tage Thompson, center, Buffalo Sabres
• Vincent Trocheck, center,  New York Rangers

Defensemen

• Charlie McAvoy, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• Quinn Hughes, defenseman, Vancouver Canucks
• Brock Faber, defenseman, Minnesota Wild 
• Noah Hanifin, defenseman, Vegas Golden Knights
• Seth Jones, defenseman, Florida Panthers
• Jake Sanderson, defenseman, Ottawa Senators
• Jaccob Slavin, defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes
• Zach Werenski, defenseman, Columbus Blue Jackets

Goalies

• Connor Hellebuyck, goaltender, Winnipeg Jets 
• Jake Oettinger, goaltender, Dallas Stars
• Jeremy Swayman, goaltender, Boston Bruins

Matthews wore the “C” as Team USA’s captain during the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off last year. McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk were the team’s alternate captains during the competition, where Team USA fell to Canada in overtime of the championship tilt.

Sanderson and Faber are the only Team USA players with any prior Olympic experience, both of whom competed in the Winter Games in Beijing 2022. 

Team USA will compete in Group C, along with Latvia, Denmark and Germany. Here is the team’s group play schedule:

• Team USA vs. Latvia: Thursday, Feb. 12, 3:10 p.m. ET
• Team USA vs. Denmark: Saturday, Feb. 14, 3:10 p.m. ET
• Team USA vs. Germany: Sunday, Feb. 15, 3:10 p.m. ET

Group A will feature Canada, Switzerland, France and the Czech Republic. Reigning gold medalist Finland will play in Group B alongside Sweden, Slovakia and host Italy.

The gold medal will be awarded on Sunday, Feb. 22, the same day as the Closing Ceremony.

Team USA has 11 men’s hockey medals in its Olympic history. It earned its two gold medals on home ice, winning it all at the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics and 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

The U.S. collected its most recent Olympic medal in Vancouver in 2010, when it fell to host Canada in overtime of the gold medal game. The team failed to medal at each of the next three Olympics without NHL players on the roster, placing fourth at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, seventh at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and fifth at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

U.S. men's ice hockey roster revealed for 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Team USA announced its roster for the men’s ice hockey competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday, and it features the return of NHL stars to the Olympic stage.

Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Jack Hughes headline the 25-player roster, which includes 22 skaters and three goaltenders:

Forwards

• Jack Eichel, center, Vegas Golden Knights
• Auston Matthews, center, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Matthew Tkachuk, winger, Florida Panthers
• Brady Tkachuk, winger, Ottawa Senators
• Matt Boldy, forward, Minnesota Wild 
• Kyle Connor, winger, Winnipeg Jets 
• Jake Guentzel, winger, Tampa Bay Lightning 
• Jack Hughes, center, New Jersey Devils
• Clayton Keller, forward, Utah Mammoth
• Dylan Larkin, center, Detroit Red Wings
• J.T. Miller, forward, New York Rangers
• Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche
• Tage Thompson, center, Buffalo Sabres
• Vincent Trocheck, center,  New York Rangers

Defensemen

• Charlie McAvoy, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• Quinn Hughes, defenseman, Vancouver Canucks
• Brock Faber, defenseman, Minnesota Wild 
• Noah Hanifin, defenseman, Vegas Golden Knights
• Seth Jones, defenseman, Florida Panthers
• Jake Sanderson, defenseman, Ottawa Senators
• Jaccob Slavin, defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes
• Zach Werenski, defenseman, Columbus Blue Jackets

Goalies

• Connor Hellebuyck, goaltender, Winnipeg Jets 
• Jake Oettinger, goaltender, Dallas Stars
• Jeremy Swayman, goaltender, Boston Bruins

Matthews wore the “C” as Team USA’s captain during the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off last year. McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk were the team’s alternate captains during the competition, where Team USA fell to Canada in overtime of the championship tilt.

Sanderson and Faber are the only Team USA players with any prior Olympic experience, both of whom competed in the Winter Games in Beijing 2022. 

Team USA will compete in Group C, along with Latvia, Denmark and Germany. Here is the team’s group play schedule:

• Team USA vs. Latvia: Thursday, Feb. 12, 3:10 p.m. ET
• Team USA vs. Denmark: Saturday, Feb. 14, 3:10 p.m. ET
• Team USA vs. Germany: Sunday, Feb. 15, 3:10 p.m. ET

Group A will feature Canada, Switzerland, France and the Czech Republic. Reigning gold medalist Finland will play in Group B alongside Sweden, Slovakia and host Italy.

The gold medal will be awarded on Sunday, Feb. 22, the same day as the Closing Ceremony.

Team USA has 11 men’s hockey medals in its Olympic history. It earned its two gold medals on home ice, winning it all at the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics and 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

The U.S. collected its most recent Olympic medal in Vancouver in 2010, when it fell to host Canada in overtime of the gold medal game. The team failed to medal at each of the next three Olympics without NHL players on the roster, placing fourth at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, seventh at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and fifth at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

At around the midpoint of the first episode of Heated Rivalry, just after Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov – one Canadian, the other Russian, both hockey’s top prospects – have had their first tryst, Hollander sits at the side of his hotel bed and says: “So. You’re not going to tell anyone about this, are you?” Rozanov, lying naked beside him, replies sarcastically: “Me? Yes, Hollander, I’m going to tell everyone.” Hollander reinforces the point: “Because no one can know,” he says. Rozanov utters something under his breath in Russian, then: “Hollander. Look, I’m not going to tell anyone, OK?” Hollander replies: “OK.”

No one can know. If hockey were to have an unofficial slogan, this might be it. Heated Rivalry, the surprise 2025 hit series from Crave and HBO, is layered drama, prompting timely questions about the barriers to acceptance that persist within sport even as they are lowered elsewhere across society. But it may be that hockey’s existential battle with its culture of silence is the show’s deepest target.

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Hockey culture presents a paradox, simultaneously welcoming yet exclusive. When the NHL launched its Hockey Is For Everyone initiative in 2017, the league was making a point about attracting new fans from groups that did not typically see themselves reflected on the ice, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. It was a savvy business move, if nothing else. “Diverse representation within inclusive environments is proven to advance innovation, creativity, and decision-making – all of which are important to the growth of the sport and our business,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wrote in his introduction to the league’s first report on diversity and inclusion in 2022. Inclusion, Bettman wrote, is a “driver for performance … individuals and organizations grow stronger from uniting across differences”. Times were changing, lessons were being learned. Briefly, anyway. The 2022 “annual” report has since been scrubbed from the NHL’s website (it remains available elsewhere). And while the league continues to work on inclusivity initiatives and claims it is attracting more women fans, there has not been another report since.

Just a few months after that diversity report’s release, in January 2023, Ivan Provorov, then a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers, refused to wear a Pride-themed jersey during a pre-game warm-up, saying it conflicted with his religious beliefs. The jerseys had been introduced as part of the Hockey Is For Everyone initiative and were typically auctioned afterwards to raise money for local charities. In the weeks that followed, more players refused to wear their team’s Pride jersey. Rather than push back or make the jerseys a requirement like any other aspect of a team’s uniform, the NHL officially walked away from it all, eliminating the jerseys. The whole thing had “just become more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are,” Bettman said that summer.

In hockey, nobody wants to be a distraction. “[The players told me] it doesn’t matter if you’re gay, or concussed, or you’ve been sexually abused or have mental health issues, none of those are OK because you are a distraction,” Cheryl MacDonald, former co-chair of the western Canadian board of You Can Play, said of her interviews with a handful of gay hockey players in 2019. MacDonald had wondered why more gay players did not choose to come out. “You don’t want to risk it not being OK, because the perception is someone who is just as good at your job but isn’t gay is going to take your spot,” she said at the time. Better to say nothing at all.”

In the penultimate episode of Heated Rivalry, another gay player unexpectedly invites his boyfriend on to the ice to help celebrate a championship win. They kiss in front of tens of thousands of fans and, presumably, millions of viewers at home. It is a public coming out. The show pivots immediately to how this impacts Hollander and Rozanov and offers very little sense of how the kiss was received more broadly, but amid the on-ice embrace, the crowd appears enraptured, not appalled. The TV announcer simply says: “You don’t see that every day.” Well, no. But if we did?

In the same 2019 study, MacDonald also found that once gay players did come out, their teammates generally reacted positively – and the typical homophobic jibes that persist in hockey locker rooms were muted. Moreover, the banter eventually incorporated their orientation, with straight players more respectfully making light of the gay players’ sexuality. “The gay players said the acknowledgement was nice … it seems there is room for consensual humor,” MacDonald noted. Likely, few in the hockey world would find that surprising either; just part of the frustrating paradox at the heart of its culture.

Heated Rivalry’s popularity has prompted plenty of speculation about whether it will attract new fans to hockey and to the NHL. But they are already here – watching, spending, supporting. Playing. And learning, often from a young age, what part of themselves they should keep quiet because, y’know, no one can know. As for the NHL, in December, a spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter that “there are so many ways to get hooked on hockey and, in the NHL’s 108-year history, this might be the most unique driver for creating new fans. See you at the rink.” The line is cheerful, harmless and, in typical fashion, empty. Even when the conversation is unavoidable, the NHL still has little to say. It seems that for the league, this is not about hockey. It is still just a distraction.