The 4 Nations Face-Off sets the stage for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Hockey at the Winter Olympics in 2026 will be electric, and the 4 Nations Face-Off has proven that!

As this NHL season approached the pause set aside for the 4 Nations Face-Off, many fans were skeptical or not all that interested heading into the tournament. If you look at some of the comments on our 4 Nations previews, you’ll see many instances of “I could give a ____ about this tournament” and “I don’t care who wins, just please, nobody gets hurt.” The second sentiment still rings true, but what about the first? This 4 Nations Face-Off has created a buzz around the next international proving ground—the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Milano Cortina 2026

By this time next year, the NHL won’t shut it down for just four hockey nations to duke it out exhibition style. That’s not to say these guys aren’t worried about the outcome of the Four Nations, but the Olympics are just different. There have been plenty of winter games, but we’ve not gotten a best-on-best hockey setting since Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in 2010.

Many who have criticized the Four Nations have said it’s not a best-on-best tournament without the Russians, and I agree. The four countries are among the most formidable hockey nations, but not having Russia involved means leaving some of the NHL’s best talent out of the competition.

I understand the Geopolitical reasoning behind their absence, but if we keep it about hockey, it’s not best-on-best if Russia or the ROC isn’t in the mix. It’s unclear if Russians will be allowed to compete in hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but if they are, they will be among the favorites to medal. With the IIHF not allowing Russia or Belarus in their competitions in 2025-26, it feels like Russia won’t be represented in the 2026 Olympics either.

We can’t sleep on Europe with Germany, Czechia, and Slovakia all getting their noses dirty and genuinely getting a grasp on competition in the world’s hockey sphere. The Germans, although not typically uber-competitive, would ice some serious NHL talent with Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, J.J. Peterka, Lukas Reichel, Philipp Grubauer, Moritz Seider, and Nico Sturm all being no-brainers for Team Germany.

Let’s also remember Czechia, which has competed in international hockey for over 100 years and won a gold medal in the 1998 Winter Games. David Pasternak, Petr Mrazek, Ondrej Palat, Radko Gudas, and the newly acquired Martin Necas would likely represent CZE.

It’s Showtime

The much-anticipated return of highly competitive and international hockey has finally happened, and the sport will be better for it. The rivalry that continues to steep between USA and Team Canada will only continue to fester no matter the outcome of Thursday’s final, and that’s great for the sport. Fans of the Colorado Avalanche can tell you all about how rivalries fuel greatness.

If Canada settles the score and leaves tournament champions, it’s fair to say that the Americans will look at the 2026 Olympics as the rubber match. If the US team emerges victorious in this 4 Nations Face-Off, all of Canada, including MacKinnon, Makar, and company, will pine to return to the international ice and restore balance to the hockey world. Their fire for retribution will burn with the rage of 1,000 suns. Either way, Thursday night will offer high-quality entertainment and legitimize the NHL’s pause for international play. For that, we should all be grateful.

Let me know in the comments who you think will win the 4 Nations Face-Off and if you are excited about the Winter Olympics in 2026!