The excitement is building! Soon, the puck will drop for one of the most thrilling international hockey competitions featuring top NHL players at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, kicking off on February 11.
How will the twelve teams in Groups A, B, and C perform? Which countries will walk away with the gold, silver, and bronze medals? And who will emerge as the standout player of the tournament?
Our team at Daily Faceoff is ready to share our predictions.
Our expert panel includes:
- Matt Larkin, Managing Editor & Senior Writer
- Steven Ellis, Associate Editor & Prospect Analyst
- Scott Maxwell, Editor & Writer
- Jeff Marek, Host of The Sheet podcast & Co-host of The DFO Rundown podcast
- Brock Seguin, Managing Fantasy Editor
- Jason Gregor, Co-host of The DFO Rundown podcast
- Tyler Yaremchuk, Host & Senior Producer of The Nation Network
- Anthony Di Marco, Contributing Writer
- Paul Pidutti, Founder of Adjusted Hockey & Feature Writer
- Jonny Lazarus, Digital Reporter & Co-host of Morning Cuppa Hockey
- Mike Gould, Writer for DFO and Flames Nation
- Anthony Trudeau, Columnist for DFO
Now, let’s dive into our predictions:
When it comes to Group A, it’s a widely agreed-upon notion that Canada (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-canada/line-combinations) will finish at the top, while France (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-france/line-combinations) is expected to come in last. However, there’s a division among us regarding who will claim the second spot between Czechia (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-czechia/line-combinations) and Switzerland (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-switzerland/line-combinations), with a split of six votes for each. Although losing Pavel Zacha is a setback for the Czechs, they still boast offensive talent led by David Pastrnak and Roman Cervenka. On the other hand, Switzerland seems to have a stronger defense with players like Roman Josi, J.J. Moser, and Jonas Siegenthaler leading the charge.
In Group B, the predictions show more variance. A few analysts believe Finland (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-finland/line-combinations) can still pull through despite the absence of their captain and star center Aleksander Barkov, potentially outpacing Sweden (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-sweden/line-combinations) for the top position. Conversely, one panelist has Slovakia (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-slovakia/line-combinations) finishing ahead of Finland, indicating a lack of consensus. It’s generally accepted that host nation Italy (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-italy/line-combinations) is unlikely to secure any victories.
Group C sees Team USA (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-united-states/line-combinations) firmly in control. Yet, this group is competitive from top to bottom, which explains the differing opinions among voters regarding Germany (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-germany/line-combinations)—known for their star-studded but unbalanced roster—speedy Denmark (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-denmark/line-combinations), and a strong defensive Latvia (https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/team-latvia/line-combinations).
As for our anticipated medal standings, there seems to be a consensus that the USA may have missed their opportunity at the 4 Nations tournament. Their roster decisions appear to have overcomplicated matters, resulting in a less dynamic lineup year after year. In contrast, Canada has made smarter choices in their goalie selections and added rising star Macklin Celebrini, prompting nearly all panelists to predict Canada will clinch the gold medal.
Now, let’s take a look at our MVP picks:
- Matt Larkin: Cale Makar
- Steven Ellis: Nathan MacKinnon
- Scott Maxwell: Macklin Celebrini
- Jeff Marek: Nathan MacKinnon
- Brock Seguin: Connor McDavid
- Jason Gregor: Connor McDavid
- Tyler Yaremchuk: Connor McDavid
- Anthony Di Marco: Cale Makar
- Paul Pidutti: Connor McDavid
- Jonny Lazarus: Sidney Crosby
- Mike Gould: Sidney Crosby
- Anthony Trudeau: Juuse Saros
The fact that five different Canadian players are being considered for the MVP award speaks volumes about the depth of talent available to this nation. With stars like Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby, the defending champions of the 4 Nations have numerous players capable of turning the tide of a game.
\n\nDon't miss a single goal from the upcoming 2026 Milan Games! As the world’s elite men’s and women’s hockey players prepare to face off for gold, The Nation Network will keep you updated with every match, every spectacular save, and all the intense moments—including live reaction streams and full recaps. Be sure to catch all the Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now to stay informed on every play! (https://www.youtube.com/@dailyfaceoff)
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