Canucks going for gold: Who you could see playing in the 2026 Winter Olympics

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The upcoming NHL season is fast approaching, and at the mid-season break, some Canucks players could be jetting off to Milan, Italy to represent their home country at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Starting on February 11, 2026, with the gold medal game being played on February 22, this will be the first time NHL players have participated in the Winter Olympics since 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

12 countries will be facing off in the fight for gold, and of these 12, we could see Canucks potentially playing for 5 of them, with 2 different countries' representations already confirmed.

The 7 teams that will not have a player from the Canucks are: Italy, the host country, Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Denmark, France, and Canada.

While it is shocking and disappointing that the Canucks do not have any Canadian representation to cheer on, there is local Vancouver talent that you may be able to watch. As well, the Canucks also have hopes for future Canadian representation.

Canucks have young, growing, Canadian talent in Ty Young, Ty Mueller, Sawyer Mynio, and Braeden Cootes, who will work to develop for the Canucks and one day make the Team Canada roster at the Olympics.

Possible Countries to Watch Canucks Players

Sweden, Finland, and Czechia have named 6 players to their 2026 Winter Olympics roster, none of which are Canucks players. 

However, even though no Canucks players have been named to their respective countries, there is still a chance more Canucks players will be at the Olympics.

Sweden

The first country Canucks fans may be able to watch a player is Sweden. On a projected roster list for Team Sweden by Amalie Benjamin, she lists Canucks centre Elias Pettersson to make the team. 

Pettersson is coming off a rocky season with the Canucks, but recently revealed he gained 6 kilos or 13 pounds of muscle over the off-season. 

Looking to get back to his peak form, Pettersson will work to have a bounce-back season with the Canucks and be 1 of the 10 forwards to complete Sweden’s offensive portion of their team.

Finland

Finland is the second country where Canucks fans may be able to watch a player. Goaltender, Kevin Lankinen, had a breakout 2024-2025 season, stepping into the starting goaltender role. 

On a projected roster list for Team Finland by Shawn P. Roarke, Lankinen is listed as 1 of 3 goaltenders Finland could have represented their country. 

Lankinen has earned his spot with the Canucks and will continue to prove himself for the chance to play at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Czechia

Czechia is the third country where Canucks fans may be able to watch a player, but while the previous 2 countries projected 1 Canucks player, Czechia projects 2: Filip Chytil and Filip Hronek. A projected roster list for Team Czechia by Michael Langr, has Chytil as 1 of 14 forwards and Hronek as 1 of 8 defensemen going to Milan. 

Chytil, who was acquired via trade during the 2024-2025 season, has a history of concussions, most recently getting one while playing for the Canucks. Hronek also missed time during the 2024-2025 NHL season due to injury. 

Taking time over the summer to properly heal, both players will be looking to have a strong start to the upcoming NHL season and solidify their spot on Czechia’s rosters.

USA

Canucks fans were expecting to hear the names Thatcher Demko, and Brock Boeser in the conversation for a spot on the Team USA roster, but neither looks to be in contention for a spot on the team. 

Rather, a dark horse, Conor Garland may make the Olympic roster. Team USA held an orientation camp that 44 players attended. Both Demko and Boeser were absent from this camp, but Garland was there.

This orientation camp came a couple months after a projected roster list for Team USA by Tom Gulitti. Missing from his list was Demko, Boeser, and Garland. USA’s orientation camp gives a more broad look at Team USA’s roster, whereas Gulitti's gives a more finalized look.

Besides the 6 already named to Team USA’s preliminary roster, no one is confirmed to be in Milan for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Getting an invite to the orientation camp will provide Garland, a player who always gives 100% every game, with extra motivation for the upcoming season as he hopes to represent Team USA once again.

Confirmed Countries to Watch Canucks Players

Time will tell if the above Canucks players will showcase their talents for their countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Even though those players still need to be named, there are 2 nations confirmed to have Canucks players representing them: USA and Latvia.

USA

On June 16, 2025, Team USA announced 6 players to represent them at the upcoming Winter Olympics. They announced 4 forwards and 2 defensemen, one of which is Canucks Captain, Quinn Hughes.

Being named to Team USA‘s roster is a huge opportunity for Hughes to be a part of the return of NHL players to the Olympics and to potentially play with his 2 younger brothers. Like other NHL players, Hughes will be looking forward to travelling to Milan and fighting for a gold medal.

Latvia

On June 15, 2026, Team Latvia announced their preliminary 6 roster additions, including Canucks centre Teddy Blueger.

From Riga, Latvia, Blueger has been with the Canucks for the past 2 seasons. He has been a reliable bottom 6 centre, earning top minutes on the penalty kill. Blueger will look to use his skills on Team Latvia and lead them in the Olympics.

With full rosters yet to be announced, there are already 2 countries confirmed to have Canucks representing them with possibly 3 more to come.