The five most intriguing men’s players to watch at 2026 Olympics
At international hockey tournaments, down is often up. Because of the short sample sizes, the absolute best worldwide players aren’t always the top contributors at a given event. The environment is so different, from the teammates to the venue, that it’s difficult to predict individual performances. Sometimes, the most pivotal players are the ones whose efforts have the widest range of outcomes entering the tournament.
Which players have the potential to swing the Winter Games one way or another depending on how they fare? I have my eye on these five in particular.
Jordan Binnington, G, Canada
When Binnington outduelled Connor Hellebuyck to help Canada top USA in overtime of the 4 Nations Final a year ago, it didn’t feel like Binnington would enter the Olympic tourney with so much to prove. But he’s simply played that poorly for the St. Louis Blues, grading out as the worst starter in the NHL. Not only will he face pressure to perform immediately if he wants to hold onto the starting job for Canada – assuming he even gets the first crack at the crease – but the Winter Games will give Binnington a chance to prove to other NHL GMs that he still has value with a strong team in front of him. If he shines in Milan, will the suitors start calling Doug Armstrong ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline? If he flops, Binnington’s already-plummeting value will bottom out.
Jack Hughes, C, USA
The superstar talent hasn’t gone anywhere. But he has a hell of a time staying healthy, enough to make one wonder if he’s still the New Jersey Devils‘ long-term savior. Hughes also looked overmatched by the fast and physical play at the 4 Nations last year. The Olympics offer him a chance to show he’s still one of the globe’s elite talents. The first step is cracking the lineup. He’s been battling a lower-body injury leading up to the Winter Games and last suited up for the Devils Jan. 29.
Philipp Grubauer, G, Germany
After a promising start to his NHL career with the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche, Grubauer has been a massive bust as the first big-ticket signing in Seattle Kraken history. Until this season, that is. He’s played some of his most dominant hockey in years; among goalies with at least 20 games, only Ilya Sorokin has performed better in saving goals above expected on a per-60 basis. If Grubauer can carry his heater to Milan…could he help the Germans pull some upsets? They already have some all-world players to anchor them in Leon Draisaitl and Moritz Seider, but a white-hot goalie could give them a real shot at a top-two finish in Group C.
Mikko Rantanen, RW, Finland
There’s no doubting Rantanen’s status as a world-class player. But with Aleksander Barkov missing the tournament recovering from his torn ACL and MCL, the Finns need someone to step up with an elite performance. Rantanen didn’t show much at the 2025 4 Nations and has just one goal in his last 11 international contests dating back to the 2024 Worlds. But remember what Rantanen did for the Dallas Stars in the playoffs last season. When he’s on, he can singlehandedly take over games, and he’s been excellent in 2025-26 for the Stars. Rantanen may not be a superstar every single game, but he has a superstar ceiling, and he’s capable of hitting it in a short tournament.
Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, Slovakia
Slafkovsky went first overall to the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, but we all had exposure to him earlier that year when he lit it up at the Beijing Olympics. He was a one-man army for Slovakia, burying seven goals in seven games and earning tournament MVP honors. He also had nine points in eight games at the Worlds that year and eight points in eight games at the 2024 Worlds. Slafkovsky seems to play his best when depended upon as a go-to star. That said: he’s only done it against inferior competition. The 2026 Olympics will expose us to best-on-best Slafkovsky for the first time. Will he elevate his game to match his opponents?
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