Top NHL prospects to watch at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature best-on-best competition for the first time since 2014 – so people are rightfully excited.
But for the diehards, this event also offers an opportunity for some notable prospects to prove themselves on the world stage. For the most part, we’re talking about young players playing big roles on non-medal contenders. But with the global spotlight on this tournament, it’s a perfect opportunity for a young gun to step up and become a difference-maker.
There’s only one true draft-eligible prospect this year: Alberts Šmits. You might remember him from nearly helping Latvia beat Canada again at the World Juniors last month. He’ll be very important for Latvia, even on a team with a bunch of veterans on the point. Don’t be surprised if he’s the most notable prospect out of this bunch.
Here’s a breakdown of all the prospects you’ll see in Italy throughout February:
Damian Clara, G, Italy (Anaheim Ducks)
Clara is the lone NHL-affiliated player on Italy, but that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed the starting gig. The 6-foot-6 keeper is one of the more promising young goalie prospects in the game right now, and he’s currently in the midst of his first true starting gig in the SHL with Brynäs. Internationally, Clara has always been quite solid. The only thing standing in his way might be Davide Fadani, who was Italy’s No. 1 at the Division IA World Championship last spring, and he has been excellent with EHC Kloten in Switzerland’s top league.
Dans Ločmelis, C, Latvia (Boston Bruins)
There’s a good chance Ločmelis ends up being the most important player on this list in Italy. The former UMass standout has come a long way over the past few years, which included an outstanding performance at the World Championship last spring. Many scouts wondered if Ločmelis’s NCAA numbers would translate to AHL success, and he’s on track for just fewer than 50 points. So far, so good – and Latvia is going to love him as a multi-faceted scoring threat.
Adam Gajan, G, Slovakia (Chicago Blackhawks)
It’s unlikely we’ll see Gajan in action unless Samuel Hlavaj falls apart. The Blackhawks’ goaltending prospect has had a resurgence this season, putting up excellent numbers with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He even represented the U.S. Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup, nearly winning the championship as an underdog. Gajan will be most remembered for his two World Junior performances, which marked the last time he wore the blue, red and white for his country. Don’t be surprised if he lands the starting gig in 2030.
Sandis Vilmanis, RW, Latvia (Florida Panthers)
Vilmanis is more of a support player, forcing turnovers and blocking shots. On a team like this, Vilmanis can be a jack-of-all-trades – someone who can be a trigger man or who could kill penalties. Vilmanis has seen a bit of NHL action this year, primarily in a fourth-line role. The 22-year-old has only played a single game with the men’s team, but he was always a decent producer with the U-20 squad whenever called upon. His work ethic will definitely be useful, and he has some decent speed to boot.
David Špaček, D, Czechia (Minnesota Wild)
Špaček recently made his long-awaited NHL debut for Minnesota, and while playing time has been hard to come by, his AHL tenure proved he’s ready for more action with the big club. Špaček has been excellent internationally throughout his career, especially during the 2024 IIHF World Championship, when he helped the team win gold. The son of former Olympian Jaroslav Špaček, David has continued to improve his offensive play year after year, and he’s quite physically strong as well. Špaček isn’t expected to play a ton, at least to start, but many are excited to see what he can do at this level.
Samuel Hlavaj, G, Slovakia (Minnesota Wild)
Sure, he’s no prime Jaroslav Halak. But Hlavaj has always been great internationally, which included some of the best numbers at both the Olympic qualification tournament and the World Championship last season. Hlavaj has had a tough season with the Iowa Wild – the whole team has, really – but, fortunately, he’s used to facing a boatload of shots consistently. The 6-foot-4 goaltender should give the Slovaks a fighting chance, but it’s not going to be an easy tournament for the group.
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, C, Denmark (Seattle Kraken)
If the Danes are going to do some serious damage, they’ll need Fisker Mølgaard to step up like he did at the World Championship. The two-way forward is strong, smart and does an excellent job of distributing the puck. He’s tracking for more than 40 points as an AHL rookie, which is nothing to sneeze at. He even has a bit of NHL experience this year, as well.
Antoine Keller, G, France (Washington Capitals)
With Quentin Papillon not getting named to the team (he was injured for most of the first half of the season), it’s Keller’s net to lose for France. The 2023 seventh-round pick started the year in the ECHL before flying back to Switzerland to tend goal for HC Ajoie. He’s been fine, and he routinely faces 40-plus shots a night. Keller had some good efforts at his first World Championship a year ago, and he’s bound to be the country’s No. 1 goalie for the next 10-plus years. The Olympics will be a whole other animal, though.
Alberts Šmits, D, Latvia (2026 NHL Draft)
Šmits confirmed his Olympic participation while still playing at the World Juniors. With Latvia lacking true high-end talent, Šmits was tasked with heavy minutes – and he didn’t disappoint. He was excellent at both ends of the ice, and he often was tasked with leading the team’s offense when things were looking dire. Šmits’ mix of hockey sense, mobility and disruption potential should allow him to become a top-four defenseman in the NHL. There’s still room to grow in his decision-making and in whether his offensive prowess will carry over. Šmits might be the youngest player on the team, but don’t be surprised if he plays 20-plus minutes a night.
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