As the puck drops in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics, men’s hockey is back to feeling like, well, Olympic hockey again. After two cycles without NHL participation - Pyeongchang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022 - the world’s best are back on the Olympic stage. And with them comes a familiar narrative: the return of the traditional powerhouses.
Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland are once again the heavy hitters. These are the teams with deep NHL talent pools, elite coaching, and Olympic pedigrees.
But as history has shown us, Olympic hockey - especially in a single-elimination format - doesn’t always follow the script. Just ask Germany, which shocked the hockey world by reaching the gold medal game in 2018.
Or Slovakia, which claimed bronze in 2022. Or even Latvia, who nearly stunned Canada in the 2014 Sochi quarterfinals behind a 55-save masterpiece from Kristers Gudlevskis.
With NHL players now back in the fold, every team - even the so-called underdogs - is bringing more firepower and more belief. That’s what makes this tournament so compelling: the margin for error is razor-thin, and a hot goalie or a timely goal can flip everything.
That brings us to a question posed to 118 NHL players in a recent poll: which team outside of the Big Four (Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland) has the best shot to crash the medal party in Milan?
The most common answer? The Czech Republic.
And it’s not hard to see why. The Czechs are rolling into Milan with 13 NHLers on the roster and a goaltending trio that’s quietly one of the best in the tournament.
Anaheim’s Lukáš Dostál, Utah’s Karel Vejmelka, and Philadelphia’s Dan Vladar give Czechia a legitimate shot to steal games. And in Olympic hockey, where one game can define a tournament, elite goaltending is the great equalizer.
“Maaaybe the Czechs,” one player said. “Maybe. I could see them in a semi and getting that one game.”
That sentiment was echoed across the league. Several players pointed to the Czechs’ ability to play a tight, structured game - the kind that frustrates opponents and keeps scores low. Add in some skilled scorers up front, and it’s a recipe for chaos.
“They play a stingy game,” one player said. “They can lock it down for a few games, and they have some guys who can score, too.”
That mix of defensive discipline and offensive punch is what makes Czechia so intriguing. They’re not just hoping for a miracle - they’ve got the tools to make a real run. And there’s a sense of national pride that seems to elevate their play in international tournaments.
“I’ll go with the Czechs,” another player said. “I feel like they always have a lot of pride for those tournaments.”
The Anaheim Ducks, in particular, are riding with their guys. With Radko Gudas anchoring the blue line and Dostál in net, there’s a built-in belief within that locker room.
“I’ve got to ride with my boys,” said one Ducks player. “With Dosty on the team, I’ve got to go with them for sure.”
Another added, “Czechia, obviously. They have a really good goalie and a good defenseman (Gudas).
I think the Czechs and Switzerland. They were quite a load in the World Championships, and they’re really good on the international stage.
Those two.”
Dostál, in particular, drew rave reviews. A former Ducks player put it plainly: “I think (Dostál) is a phenomenal goalie and he can win you a game. … He’d win us some games that we didn’t deserve to.”
And let’s not forget the offensive firepower. David Pastrňák, Martin Nečas, and Tomáš Hertl bring top-line NHL skill to the Czech attack. That trio alone can tilt the ice.
“They have some really high-end forwards,” one player said. “They just seem to always play well as a team in those events.”
But the Czechs aren’t the only team drawing dark horse buzz.
Switzerland is getting plenty of love, too - and for good reason. With Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Roman Josi leading the way, the Swiss have a core that’s been through the battles. They’ve made noise at recent World Championships, including back-to-back top-three finishes.
“Switzerland’s had a good run at World Championships,” one player said. “They were good at worlds - really good.
We beat them in overtime to win. They were a good team, and they’ve got some more guys now because everybody’s available.”
Another added, “They just play structured.”
Germany also got its share of respect, thanks to top-tier talent like Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stützle. They’re not as deep as some of the other contenders, but they’ve got enough high-end skill to make things interesting - especially if their special teams click.
“They shut it down pretty good,” one player said. “They’re going to have to rely on their special teams, but I think they could surprise some people.”
And then there’s Latvia - a team that’s been punching above its weight for a while now. With goalies like Gudlevskis, Elvis Merzļikins (Columbus), and Artūrs Šilovs (Pittsburgh), they’ve got the kind of netminding that can steal a game - or two. Šilovs was instrumental in Latvia’s bronze medal run at the 2023 World Championship.
“They’re gonna surprise some people,” one player said.
That’s the beauty of Olympic hockey. The rosters may be top-heavy, but the games are anything but predictable. One bounce, one save, one moment can change the entire tournament.
So while the spotlight shines brightest on the big four, don’t sleep on the Czechs. Or the Swiss.
Or the Germans. Or even the Latvians.
Because in a tournament like this, the line between favorite and dark horse is thinner than ever.