Leon Draisaitl isn’t just representing German hockey anymore - he’s making a serious push to become the face of all German sports on the world stage.
The Edmonton Oilers superstar has been nominated to carry the flag for Team Germany at the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. It’s a prestigious honor, and Draisaitl is one of six standout German athletes - three men and three women - in the running to lead the nation into the Games on February 6.
What makes this even more intriguing? The vote is open to the public - not just German citizens - giving Draisaitl, with his global NHL fanbase, a potential edge in the race.
“Obviously, I haven’t won yet,” Draisaitl said Thursday. “But it’s a big honour to be a part of that, and to even be in the conversation is something I don’t take lightly and something I don’t take for granted. It’s certainly something that would be a highlight in my career or in my life.”
And it’s not just a popularity contest. Draisaitl is going up against some serious Olympic pedigree.
Johannes Rydzek, a nordic combined veteran with four Olympic medals (two gold, one silver, one bronze), is gearing up for his fifth Games. Then there’s Tobias Wendl, a luge legend with six gold medals across three Olympic appearances.
That’s the kind of company Draisaitl is keeping in this vote - athletes who’ve defined their sports on the Olympic stage.
“We’ve got amazing athletes in our country,” Draisaitl said. “We’re a big country that develops a lot of great athletes, whether it’s in the Summer Olympics or Winter Olympics. To be in the conversation to represent our nation is really special and we’ll see how it ends up.”
Draisaitl isn’t just being humble - he’s well aware of the level of competition. “I’m highly aware of what great athletes I’m up against too, those are amazing athletes that have accomplished a lot. So, there’s really no going wrong, really.”
On the women’s side, the nominees are just as accomplished: snowboarder Ramona Hofmeister, Olympic bobsled champion Laura Nolte, and ski jumper Katharina Schmid. One male and one female athlete will be selected to carry the flag, with the announcement set for February 5.
If Draisaitl is chosen, it would be a unique moment - not just for him, but for the sport of hockey in Germany. While he’s long been a trailblazer for German players in the NHL, leading the Olympic delegation would elevate his profile even further back home.
And there’s another layer to this story. With NHL players returning to the Olympics, Draisaitl could very well find himself lining up against teammates - and friends - when Germany hits the ice. That’s the beauty of international tournaments: the emotional tug of national pride meeting the competitive fire of elite athletes.
“No, that would be really special, of course,” Draisaitl said of the potential matchup. “But at the end of the day, it might feel a little weird at first. But when the puck drops, he’s going to look to give his team the best chance to win and I’m going to do the same for our country.
“I think that’s what makes those tournaments so great. That would obviously be a unique situation certainly, and an odd feeling. But we’ll see where it goes.”
Whether or not he’s chosen as flag bearer, Draisaitl’s presence at the Olympics is already a win for German hockey. But if he leads Team Germany into the opening ceremony, it’ll be a moment that transcends the rink - a symbol of just how far he’s come, and how far German hockey has come with him.