Isn't it hard to believe that the 2026 Winter Olympics are coming up? Time flies when you're having fun, whether it's helping a Vegas Golden Knights teammate beat his former club or holding first place in the Pacific Division. All that applies to the Golden Knights, who are hanging loose in the NHL world.
Well, guess what? Soon, the time to relax and chill will come, leaving us to think about national pride and glory. That's no different for the United States, where visions of 1980 run vividly through the minds of American hockey fans.
But here's the thing. Russia's been naughty and aren't allowed into the festivities. That means you won't get your healthy dosage of Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeyev in Milan.
But let's look at the four names that fans should keep their eyes on, shall we? You know some of the names by heart, whether they're old or new faces. Some, well, you might forget they even existed. Perhaps you should brush up on your Olympians and see what the hype's about.
1.) Akira Schmid
Believe it or not, the Swiss actually have a decent Olympic team. Names like Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Akira Schmid constitute a nice lineup of Olympians for Switzerland. Will they win a gold medal in Milan? Most likely not. However, it's nice for Schmid to have some NHL company.
Besides, some people are arguing that the Swiss netminder has been the best for the Golden Knights this season. A 2.52 GAA has some fans noticing his steady presence in net, leaving them wondering if he should usurp Adin Hill from his starter perch. If he has a strong Olympic showing, there's no reason why he shouldn't get serious consideration.
2.) Mitch Marner
Marner is on a loaded Team Canada squad that features stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. After all, he was the responsible party for the primary assist on McDavid's tournament-clinching goal.
It should come as no surprise that the Golden Knights superstar is back in business with Team Canada. This season, he has 12 goals and 40 assists, acting as the proverbial anchor for Vegas's offensive structure. Watch for him to have another explosive performance, where he should dominate on the Olympic stage this time.
3.) Jack Eichel
Last season, Eichel had four assists in the Four Nations Face-Off. That ushered in the era of Eichel, where he worked great from home and led the United States to the Championship Round.
Of course, fans remember what happened for the rest of 2024-25. The superstar center set the franchise record for single-season assists (66) and points (94). The former first-round pick should duplicate that 4 Nations performance and compete for Olympic gold in Milan.
People hate a winner, I guess.
4.) Shea Theodore
Part of Team Canada's excellence comes from having solid puck-moving defensemen. Names like Shea Theodore and Cale Makar come to mind, especially when setting up the big guns. That's no different for the Original Misfit, who's looking to rebound from last season's unfortunate exit from 4 Nations competition (wrist injury).
Theodore looks to avenge that disappointing end with a strong performance in Italy this year. With seven goals and 19 assists this season, fans should expect the Misfit to go off for a spectacular Olympic session.