Canada announces the top 6 names for the 2026 Winter Olympics – Hockey Writer – NHL News

The game will be composed of 12 teams. As expected, Russia will not have a team. The 12 teams will be divided into groups as follows: Group A functions Canada, Jebia, France and Switzerland. Group B includes Finland, Italy, Sweden and Slovakia. Finally, Group C has Denmark, Germany, Latvia and the United States. The hockey game will be held on February 11 until the 22nd.

Now in the top six players in Canada’s initial roster.

Sidney Crosby

It’s no surprise – it’s probably Sidney Crosby’s last Olympics, which just means he’s going to be on the show. Crosby has been one of the best ever in 1,352 games in more than 20 NHL seasons. He scored 625 goals and 1,062 assists with 1,687 career points. He also earned 201 playoff points in 180 games, including three Stanley Cup games in 2009, 2016 and 2017. He is a two-time Conn Smythe trophy champion (2015, 2016), two-time Hart Trophy winner, two-time Maurice’s “Rocket” Richard Trophy Winner, and won the Ted Lindsay Award. He is also his ninth place in NHL history. Crosby won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, which brought us the infamous “Golden Target” call. He is a member of the IIHF Triple Gold Club and also won the 2016 World Cup hockey.

Nathan McKinnon

Mackinnon spent 12 seasons in the NHL and represented Canada in the Olympics for his first chance. He has been dominating in the NHL, exceeding 110 points for three consecutive seasons. In 79 games against the Colorado Avalanche, he scored 32 goals and 84 assists and scored 119 points. In 870 professional games, he has 367 goals and 648 assists, scoring 1,015 points. McKinnon was appointed MVP for the 4 National Confrontation Championships, and he helped Canada win.

Cale Makar

Makar, Mackinnon’s teammate and good friend, is also preparing for his first Olympic appearance. He is one of the most dynamic defenders in the NHL and he definitely won one of the top six players. This season, he had 30 goals and 62 assists and scored 92 points, which helped him win the Norris Trophy. The 26-year-old has played in Canada in various competitions, but nothing like playing in the Olympics.

Connor McDavid

There is no better player in the NHL than Connor McDavid. He has been in the league for only 10 years and has solidified his position in hockey history. Over the past decade, he has scored 1,082 points, the most any player has in that leap. This season, he scored 26 goals and 74 assists in 67 games. He is currently trying to help the Edmonton Oilers avoid elimination and win the Stanley Cup. Like many top players of his age (28), this will be his first appearance in Canada.

Braden Point

Next is the point of lightning in Tampa Bay. He is one of the most underrated players in the NHL and definitely deserves to be one of the top six players. He has 42 goals and 40 assists in 77 games, scoring 82 points, and he scored 40 goals for his third straight season. He has 306 goals and 329 assists in his career and has scored 635 points. Not only has he won gold for Canada on every level, he has also won two Stanley Cup titles in back-to-back seasons.

Sam Reinhart

Finally, Reinhardt from the Florida Panthers. At some point in his career, few people hoped he would join the Canadian team before Mitch Marner and others. But his career has begun since leaving the Buffalo Saber. He has become a real goal-scoring teacher for the Scouts who think he can and is now one of the best Canadian strikers in the NHL. He has scored 20 goals in each of each of the past eight seasons, and in 775 games, he has recorded 294 goals and 325 assists and scored 619 points. He has played for Canada in several tournaments and won gold in the last four countries. Reinhart currently faces McDavid in the Stanley Cup final, trying to have a second straight Cup match with the Panthers.

The 2026 Olympic Games at Milano Cortina will be the first time NHL players have participated in the Olympic Winter Olympics in 12 years.