NHL Superstars Make Olympic Comeback in Milan-Cortina, Reigniting Global Hockey Rivalries
After more than a decade away, the biggest names in professional hockey are finally back on the Olympic stage, as NHL players return for the Winter Games in Milan-Cortina — a moment many fans thought might never come.
The league last sent its stars to the Olympics in 2014. Since then, scheduling conflicts and pandemic concerns kept NHL talent out of the Games, leaving international tournaments without many of hockey’s most recognizable players. This year marks a dramatic shift: every NHL franchise will have at least one athlete representing their country.
The men’s tournament opens with Slovakia facing Finland, while Team USA begins its campaign against Latvia — matchups already generating buzz among fans eager to see elite competition return to Olympic ice.
Olympic officials say the comeback reflects years of negotiations and cooperation between the league, players, and organizers. According to National Hockey League leaders and International Olympic Committee representatives, the shared goal was to restore the Olympic tournament to its highest competitive standard.
For American audiences, the return brings renewed excitement. Team USA now enters the tournament with a roster stacked with NHL talent, raising expectations for a deep medal run and rekindling classic international rivalries.
As the puck drops in Italy, the spotlight shifts back where fans want it — on fast, high-stakes hockey featuring the world’s best players competing for national pride at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
