Four Montreal Canadiens Players Set for Olympic Hockey Tournament in Italy
The Montreal Canadiens will be well-represented at the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, with four players from the NHL club set to compete for their respective national teams. The Olympic hockey tournament, scheduled to run from February 11 to 22, 2026, marks the highly anticipated return of NHL players to the Games for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Canadiens Captain Nick Suzuki Leads Team Canada
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki will be making his Olympic debut with Team Canada after being passed over for last year's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The 26-year-old center, who last represented Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, has developed into one of the NHL's premier two-way forwards. Heading into the Olympic break, Suzuki was leading the Canadiens in scoring with 65 points in 57 games, accompanied by a team-best plus-25 differential.
"I think I can bring anything," Suzuki said about his potential contribution to Team Canada. "I can play a skill game, physical game, offensive, shutdown. I think I'm a good piece that way, where the coaches can use me in any situation." Suzuki added that making the Olympic team would be "a dream come true and a huge honour" and noted that "it's the hardest team to make in hockey."
Juraj Slafkovsky Returns to Olympic Stage for Slovakia
Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky will be looking to replicate his remarkable performance from the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he was named tournament MVP after scoring seven goals in seven games to help Slovakia win its first-ever Olympic hockey medal. The 21-year-old, selected first overall by Montreal in the 2022 NHL Draft, has made significant progress this season with 45 points in 57 games before the Olympic break.
Slafkovsky gives considerable credit to Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis for his development. "I think he helped me because he was patient with me and he always trusted me even when I was going through my downs," Slafkovsky said. "He's been great with me. I think I'm pretty lucky to have him as my first coach in NHL."
Oliver Kapanen Brings Finnish Hockey Heritage to Olympics
Canadiens rookie Oliver Kapanen is having an outstanding first NHL season, ranking fourth in rookie scoring with 31 points in 57 games. The 22-year-old center will be making his Olympic debut but brings considerable international experience, having led Finland with six goals at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and winning a silver medal at the 2022 World Junior Championship.
Kapanen comes from a distinguished Finnish hockey family. His father was a goalie in the Finnish Elite League, his uncle is former NHL forward Sami Kapanen, his cousin is current Edmonton Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen, and his grandfather Hannu Kapanen represented Finland at the inaugural Canada Cup tournament in 1976.
Alexandre Texier Makes History for French Hockey
Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier is poised to become the first active NHL player to represent France at the Olympics. The 26-year-old is one of only three French-born players to ever play for the Canadiens, along with Xavier Ouellet and goaltender Cristobal Huet. After struggling with the St. Louis Blues for two seasons, Texier has found new life in Montreal, posting 17 points in 30 games before the Olympic break and earning a two-year contract extension.
On January 8, 2026, Texier became just the second French player in NHL history to record a hat-trick, scoring three goals in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. "I think it's just the opportunity that they gave me," Texier said about his resurgence with the Canadiens. "You got to take it. If they give you something, you got to take it."
Olympic Tournament Schedule and Historical Context
The Olympic hockey tournament begins on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, with Slovakia facing Finland in the opening game at 10:40 a.m. local time, featuring Slafkovsky and Kapanen competing against each other. Team Canada, led by Suzuki, begins its campaign on Thursday, February 12, against Czechia at 10:40 a.m., while France plays Switzerland at 6:10 a.m. the same day.
This marks the first Olympic appearance for NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Games, where Canada won gold with Canadiens goaltender Carey Price posting remarkable statistics and defenceman P.K. Subban as the only other Montreal representative on that team. The 2026 tournament represents a significant moment for international hockey and provides these four Canadiens players with an opportunity to showcase their talents on the world's biggest sporting stage.
