Predators’ Roman Josi named MVP of 2026 IIHF World Championship
Switzerland’s Roman Josi has been named MVP of the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship after leading his country to a silver medal.
The 35-year-old has taken home second place four times at the World Championship, with the veteran losing 1-0 to Finland on Sunday in the gold medal game.
The Nashville Predators blueliner finished fourth in tournament scoring with five goals and 12 points. He was the only defender to crack the double-digit point mark, and the only one to score five goals. Josi had three three-plus point performances in Zurich, including a three-goal, four-point night against Hungary on May 23.
Josi, who was also named top defenseman this year, completed his 10th World Championship appearance, and currently sits at 17 goals and 57 points in 74 games. Josi previously took home top defender and MVP honors back in 2013 after leading all blueliners with four goals and nine points.
Josi won the Norris Trophy in 2020 as the NHL’s top defenseman, and was a finalist in 2022 and 2024. The Predators captain had 13 goals and 55 points in 68 games this season.
Joining Josi on the IIHF’s tournament all-star team were Swiss teammates Leonardo Genoni (goaltender) and Sven Andrighetto (forward). Finland’s Henrik Jokiharju (defenseman) and Aleksander Barkov (forward), as we as Canada’s Macklin Celebrini (forward) rounded out the awards.
On the IIHF directorate front, Norway’s Henrik Haukeland was named top goaltender, while Celebrini took home top forward honors.
Switzerland finished the tournament with a 9-1 record, with the lone loss coming in the final. Earlier in the day, Norway beat Canada for the team’s first medal in a IIHF competition.
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