by Max Goren
It’s been 12 years since we’ve had the privilege to watch best-on-best international hockey at the Olympics. In 2014, Canada defeated Sweden to win gold in the last edition of the winter games to feature NHL players. The lasting memory from Sochi for American hockey fans is Team USA’s epic shootout win over Russia, rather than the Red, White, and Blue’s failure to take home a medal. More recently, 2025’s 4 Nations Face-Off saw Canada again take home gold, this time over their neighbors to the south in an epic overtime championship game.
Team USA’s men have not medaled in the Olympics since earning silver in 2010, when Sidney Crosby scored Canada’s famous “Golden Goal.” Will the return of NHL players to the Olympics mark the United States’ return to the podium? Will they win gold for the first time since the Miracle on Ice in 1980? Or will Canada reign supreme as the cream of the crop?
Before I blindly assume the final matchup will be between North American rivals, let me give flowers to some nations that could provide some stiff competition. Another pair of geographical rivals, Finland and Sweden, were the other two teams to compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off. To this writer, there is no doubt they are the two most complete international squads outside of North America. However, Finland’s d-corps leaves a bit to be desired outside of Miro Heiskanen, which may ultimately keep them from earning a medal. Sweden, on the other hand, has top-tier talent all over the lineup, and will provide the toughest challenge to the US and Canada from Group B (Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy).
Czechia is the underdog team to keep an eye on. They don’t have the same depth as the previously mentioned contenders, but their top-end talent (David Pastrnak, Martin Necas) and solid crop of goaltenders raises their competitive floor. Don’t be surprised if the Czechs are playing for bronze.
As for the US and Canada, they are the clear top dogs in this tournament. The concern for the United States comes from questionable roster decisions; Bill Guerin took JT Miller and Vincent Trocheck to Italy over the likes of Cole Caufield and Jason Robertson. Those Rangers will have to step up and provide some winning value to justify Guerin’s choice to leave those dynamic scorers at home. For Canada, I’m apprehensive regarding their goaltending; despite a strong showing at 4 Nations, Jordan Binnington has really struggled this year for the Blues, and Logan Thompson has been dealing with injuries recently. Can Darcy Kuemper hold things down between the pipes?
Here are my final predictions:
Gold medal game: Canada defeats USA 2-1 in OT
Bronze medal game: Sweden defeats Czechia 4-2
Tournament MVP: Sidney Crosby, Canada
Top Goal Scorer: David Pastrnak, Czechia
Top Point Scorer: Quinn Hughes, USA