NHL Stars Return to Olympics After 12-Year Hiatus
The league's top guns hit the Olympic ice in Milano for the first time since 2014, sparking buzz from Vancouver to Boston. Players who skipped Pyeongchang and Beijing now chase gold with their countries, blending club rivalries into international showdowns. GMs watch closely as these matchups preview playoff intensity and potential trade deadline moves.
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Independent hockey newsletter previews the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics men's best-on-best tournament—the first with NHLers since 2014 Sochi—via a chat with Dallas sports analyst Bob Sturm, who hypes the 11-day thrill from Feb. 11-22, Team USA's Group C slate vs. Latvia (Feb. 12), Denmark (14), Germany (15), and argues Olympic gold rivals a Stanley Cup in prestige for players from USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland.]
by Sean Shapiro · Shap Shots · Read on Substack →