Ranking 23 best NHL players in 2026 Olympics, from Connor McDavid to Juraj Slafkovsky

NHL players are back in the Olympics for the first time since 2014, raising the excitement level surrounding the tournament and ensuring each country can bring its top talent to Milan.

A few teams have rosters that resemble NHL All-Star squads. The United States, Canada and Sweden are loaded with NHL talent, while Germany, Finland and Czechia are among teams blending NHL star power with players from outside the league.

From MVPs to Conn Smythe Trophy winners, the NHL's best players are coming together for what should be a thrilling tournament,

Here's a look at the top 20 NHL players at the 2026 Winter Olympics, from Connor McDavid to Juraj Slafkovsky.

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule

1. Connor McDavid, Oilers

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

• Country: United States

McDavid is the slam-dunk top player in the Olympics as he closes in on a sixth consecutive 100-point season for the Oilers -- a streak that would span 10 seasons if not for the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign. 

The three-time Hart Trophy winner leads the NHL in assists this season with 62, and he posted a career-high 153 points three seasons ago before leading the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in both 2024 and 2025. While a Stanley Cup still eludes McDavid, a gold medal for Canada would be a nice addition to his trophy case. 

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche

• Country: Canada

MacKinnon is another piece of Canada's embarrassment of riches in Milan, as he has accomplished just about all there is to accomplish in his 13 NHL seasons. A Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion, MacKinnon has the Avalanche in championship contention again this season behind his 93 points on 40 goals and 53 assists.

MORE: Ranking Olympic hockey teams on chances to win gold

3. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers 

• Country: Germany

It takes a special player to not be totally overshadowed by McDavid, but Leon Draisaitl continues to leave no doubt he is a star in his own right. A former Hart Trophy winner himself, Draisaitl is the only player to debut after 2010 to rank top-10 among active players in goals -- he didn't debut until 2014. Draisaitl has six 100-point seasons under his belt, is on pace for a seventh, and is coming off a Stanley Cup Playoff run in which he put up 33 points in 22 goals.

Germany likely doesn't have the NHL-caliber depth to rival the top teams in Milan, but Draisaitl could keep his team in just about any game. 

4. Macklin Celebrini, Sharks

• Country: Canada

It's been a dream season for Macklin Celebrini, who has positioned himself as an MVP contender at just 19 years old and is now scoring goals in the Olympics for Canada.

Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, has 81 points through 55 games for the Sharks, helping keep a flawed team in playoff contention and cementing himself as not just one of the NHL's best young players, but one of the NHL's best players in general. Whether Canada wins gold in Milan or not, Celebrini figures to wear the maple leaf for his country for a long time.

MORE: Complete Olympic men's hockey schedule

5. Cale Makar, Avalanche

• Country: Canada

The NHL's best defenseman, Cale Makar could be just as critical as anyone else on the Canadian roster as he anchors the blue line. Makar has lived up to the high expectations that followed him into the NHL when he debuted in the 2019 playoffs, winning two Norris Trophies, a Stanley Cup and even a Conn Smythe Trophy in Colorado. With 57 points in 55 games this season, Makar is again a Norris Trophy contender.

6. David Pastrnak, Bruins

• Country: Czechia

David Pastrnak is the heart of the Bruins' offense, and he is the heart of Czechia's offense alongside Martin Necas at the Olympics. Pastrnak is coming off three consecutive 100-point seasons in Boston, including a 61-goal campaign in 2022-23. While the goal-scoring hasn't been quite as strong this season, Pastrnak is still on pace for more than 100 points. 

MORE: Olympic hockey standings

7. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

• Country: United States

Auston Matthews is just two years removed from a historic 69-goal season, and he has a Hart Trophy under his belt. The Maple Leafs haven't quite seen that same production over the last two seasons, with Matthews averaging less than a point per game this season, but his goal-scoring ability is still among the NHL's very best when he is at his best. The United States is hoping the 2021-22 or 2023-24 version of Matthews shows up in Milan as it sets its sights on gold.

8. Mikko Rantanen, Stars

• Country: Finland

Undeterred by two trades in a span of six weeks last season, Mikko Rantanen still looks every bit like a star in a Stars uniform. The 2022 Stanley Cup champion isn't going to score 55 goals like he did in 2022-23, but he has 69 points through 54 games and has a chance to secure his third career 100-point campaign. In Milan, Rantanen is the engine that drives Finland's offense as the Finns look to medal. 

MORE: Is Russia in the 2026 Olympics?

9. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets

• Country: United States

Connor Hellebuyck was the NHL's MVP last season, the first goaltender to win the award in a decade, which speaks for itself. While he hasn't been as effective this season and struggled on the road in the playoffs last year, Hellebuyck gives the United States a serious advantage in net. Hellebuyck led the NHL with a 2.00 GAA last season and has a .917 career save percentage, winning three Vezina Trophies along the way.

10. Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers

• Country: United States

Americans have seen Matthew Tkachuk rise to the occasion in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cups. Now, they need him to be Captain America even with the "A" on his chest. Tkachuk has played sparingly this season due to an injury that kept him off the ice until January, but he has two 100-point seasons in his career and has averaged better than a point per game in each of the last four seasons between Florida and Calgary.

MORE: Inside USA's Olympic hockey roster

11. Jack Eichel, Golden Knights

Bob Frid

• Country: United States

Like Tkachuk, Jack Eichel brings Stanley Cup experience to the Olympics. Will it give the United States an edge against some loaded teams?

The former No. 2 pick posted a career-high 94 points with the Golden Knights last season and is on pace for the best statistical season of his career with 68 points in only 50 games. Eichel may not be a prolific goal-scorer, but he's a playmaker and can set the table for the Americans in Milan.

12. Quinn Hughes, Wild

• Country: United States

Quinn Hughes missed the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago but has a chance at redemption in Milan as he anchors the USA's blue line. Traded to the Wild just two months ago, Hughes is one of the NHL's top defensemen and already has 34 points in only 26 games in Minnesota. Hughes won the Norris Trophy with 92 points in 2023-24 and is on track to average better than a point per game for the third consecutive season.

MORE: Russian mock hockey roster for 2026 Olympics

13. Mitch Marner, Golden Knights

• Country: Canada

Marner parlayed his first career 102-point season into a big contract with the Golden Knights last summer after starting his career in Toronto, and his ridiculous skill level has been on full display in Las Vegas. Marner has 58 points through 57 games with the Golden Knights, and he has two seasons of at least 30 goals to his name. Marner may not be the kind of star McDavid or MacKinnon are, but he is critical to Canada's chances in Milan.

14. Sidney Crosby, Penguins

• Country: Canada

Sidney Crosby is the elder statesman for Canada, but he can still play. The Penguins legend has remained steady with 59 points in 56 games this season, including 27 goals, and he is coming off three consecutive 90-point seasons despite approaching his 39th birthday in the offseason. As he proved in Canada's Olympic opener, Crosby remains a focal point of the nation's gold medal hopes.

MORE: Ducks goalie prospect makes an eye-popping 46 saves for Italy in Olympic debut

15. William Nylander, Maple Leafs

• Country: Sweden

William Nylander is the centerpiece for a Swedish team with medal expectations, and it's easy to see why. The Maple Leafs star has 52 points through 40 games this season, his fourth consecutive season averaging more than a point per game. Nylander won't reach the 40-goal mark this season, but he scored at least 40 in each of the previous three seasons as a leader of some very good Toronto teams. 

16. Jake Guentzel, Lightning

• Country: United States

Jake Guentzel has rather quietly been a star for the Lightning since joining the team in 2024, following up an 80-point campaign last season with 60 points through 55 games this season. A Stanley Cup winner in Pittsburgh, Guentzel has scored at least 30 goals on five occasions and is still only 31; he could make a sneaky impact for the United States, which has some bigger names on its roster.

MORE: Follow Olympic men's hockey scores

17. Kyle Connor, Jets

• Country: United States

Kyle Connor has seven seasons of at least 30-goals for the Jets, and he set a new high-water mark with 97 points for Winnipeg last season. Averaging better than a point per game again this season, Connor can easily be one of the United States' top goal-scorers in Milan.

18. Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes

• Country: Finland

Sebastian Aho has long been a centerpiece of some great Hurricanes teams, and at 28, he still has plenty left in the tank. Aho has five 30-goal seasons to his name, along with three 80-point campaigns. He has 57 point through 57 games this season and gives Rantanen another legitimate star to work with as Finland aims for a medal

19. Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres

• Country: Sweden

It took a little bit of time for Rasmus Dahlin to reach his full potential after he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Sabres in 2018, but he has arrived. Dahlin not only has 48 points through 53 games this season, but he has Buffalo dreaming of snapping its long playoff drought. Dahlin might not be at the level of Makar or Hughes, but he is undoubtedly one of the better defensemen in these Olympics.

20. Martin Necas, Avalanche 

• Country: Czechia

One reason the Avalanche were comfortable trading Rantanen was the return, particularly the headliner: Martin Necas. The 27-year-old Czechian has steadily improved since breaking in with the Hurricanes, posting a career-high 83 points last season and putting himself on pace for more than 90 points this season with 62 on 22 goals and 40 assists for a highly successful Avalanche team. Necas and Pastrnak are the heartbeat of Czechia's offense in these Olympics.

21. Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets

• Country: United States

Werenski put together a career year with 82 points for the Blue Jackets last season, and he is giving Makar a serious challenge for the Norris Trophy this season with 62 points on 20 goals and 42 assists. An unusually gifted goal-scorer for a defenseman, Werenski isn't as complete as Makar when both are at their best, but he gives the United States another high-level defenseman next to Hughes.

22. Tim Stutzle, Senators

• Country: Germany

Tim Stutzle has been a focal point with the Senators from day one, posting a 90-point campaign in his third NHL season and putting himself on track for one of his best statistical seasons this year with 61 points through 58 games. Alongside Draisaitl, Stutzle is hoping to power Germany to medal contention in Milan.

23. Juraj Slafkovsky, Canadiens

• Country: Slovakia

Juraj Slafkovsy was a controversial No. 1 overall pick in 2022, but he continues to emerge as a star for the Canadiens. Slovakia's top player starred in the Olympics before he even broke into the NHL, and he is now in the midst of the best season of his young career with 21 goals and 24 assists through 57 games. Slafkovsky doesn't turn 22 until March.