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The rosters are finally finalizedAnd this is what the rink in Milan Cortina looks like – technically speaking – be prepared To host the tournament. The first Olympic Games with NHL players since Sochi in 2014 is almost here, and will be lots of star power On hand.
To help sort out the best players in Italy in various aspects of the game – such as We did this last year before the 4 countries faced each other – We are once again turning to NHL’s EDGE tracking data and other advanced metrics. Specifically, we wanted to highlight the Olympic-bound NHL players who have been the best in four different measurable categories over the past season and a half: skating speed, shot power, offensive creation (between shooting and passing) and goaltending (turning away both difficult and easy shots).
The Olympic tournament will bring together a deeper field of teams than the 4-nation event – 12 teams instead of four – meaning even greater contrasts in playing styles and skill levels. And while the biggest names will inevitably grab the headlines (and dominate much of the data), we’ll also highlight lesser-known players in each category whose contributions are easy to overlook unless you know where to look.
Here are the NHL’s Olympic players who stand at the forefront of the metrics that define modern hockey dominance in Milano Cortina:
Note: All statistics and rankings are as of January 9, 2026.
Metrics of choice: Top speed and speed burst per game at the same strength (from extra weight to higher MPH).
Click here to view the full interactive chart.
In last year’s 4 Nations face-off, McDavid was ranked only as the fastest teammate jack hughes Team USA’s. But while Hughes is back in the lineup for the Americans, his speed metrics have dropped slightly this season (max MPH from 23.3 to 22.5, with fewer super-fast bursts), while McDavid has only increased his speed.
He has been joined in the top tier of burners by Canada. nathan mackinnon And brayden point, martin necks Czechia’s, jack eichel America’s, Finland’s Rupe Hintz and germany Tim Stutzle. Necas in particular has the top gear that has rivaled McDavid in the past, and all of these skaters can dodge defenders in just a few steps.
watch out for: As we noted earlier when discussing these speed statistics, with a few exceptions (cough, black capricorn). So charts like the one above end up with few outliers of high top-speed and comparatively little “explosion”.
So enjoy the opportunities you get quinn hughes And jacob slavin Get to that 24-plus mph level. And here’s another blueliner whose speed we can’t talk about enough: Team USA jake sandersonWho had more max mph than Hughes and more high-speed bursts per 60 than any other defenseman on the Olympic roster.
Metrics of choice: The hardest shot speed and high velocity shots (ranging from extra weight to high mph) at the same strength per game.
Click here to view the full interactive chart.
Last year’s 4 toughest kings of the nation, Victor Hedman of Sweden, has company in Olympic. That’s because Thompson was selected to the American team this time, giving Team USA the biggest blaster in the game. The 6-foot-6 Thompson puts his entire body into a shot that topped 106 mph last season, and although he hasn’t gone over 98 mph this season, he’s still the only player at Milan Cortina who can match Hedman’s rate of super-hard shots.
While they are both in their own leagues, the next level is headed by Sweden gustav forsling In terms of extreme power and the Swiss D-Man roman josie That’s a net output of shots per game that strikes fear in the hearts of opposing goalkeepers.
watch out for: Thompson is a notable outlier against this trend, but EDGE shot-speed statistics have the opposite trend to skating speed: they favor defensemen who fire more perimeter slappers than other shot types – which not only increases their average shot speed but also causes them to take more difficult shots per game than forwards.
So when a winger like Sweden Adrian Kempe Can hit over 1.5 shots in the 80-90 mph range per game this season, he is definitely one to monitor.
Best Offensive Creator:
david pasternakRW, Czechia
Metrics of choice: Goals scored in 60 minutes at 5-on-5 as a shooter (including actual and expected goals) and passer.
Click here to view the full interactive chart.
It’s hard to believe anyone could record more production than MacKinnon or McDavid, who provide Team Canada with an offensive tandem that hasn’t been seen since Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. 1987 Canada Cup.
But in terms of goals scored for himself and others on a per-minute basis, it is Czech star David Pastrnak who has dominated more than any other Canadian icon. His playmaking is unparalleled among Olympians, with a league-best rate of 1.33 primary assists per 60 minutes over the past season and a half, while he also holds his own in the goals (actual or expected) department with MacKinnon and McDavid – even if he’s a notch below pure goal scorers like Thompson and the likes. auston matthews There.
Of course, the competition on the right side of that chart is still fierce. In addition to Canada’s dominant pair, we also see Germany’s Necas leon draisaitlCanada is seemingly ageless Sidney Crosbyteam usa Matthew Tkachuk And another Canadian one-two punch– Brandon Hagel as a scorer and mitch marner As a setup man – sitting near the top position.
watch out for: Amid all that dazzling star power, it might be easy to lose track of the youngest Canadian NHL player to make an Olympic team — if it weren’t so. McLean Celebrini He attracts attention every time he steps on the ice.
Celebrini’s development this season has been nothing short of astonishing, and his performances have also been astonishing Pulling San Jose toward a playoff bid And He receives surprising MVP buzz If this happens, it will be the third shortest Hart Trophy season in history. As part of this, he has goals and assist rates that sit in the same mix as the other names above, which is a ridiculous fact for a 19-year-old.
Metrics of choice: Goals saved above average (GSAA) per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 for high-danger and all other opportunities.
Click here to see the full, interactive chart.
The final example of our slight change since last year’s 4 Nations tournament is between the pipes, where the reigning league M.V.P. connor hellebuyck In the goals-saving department for Team USA – both on high-threat and regular chances – the young Swedish netminder has overtaken Volstad, who wasn’t even on his country’s roster this time a year ago.
It’s Volstad who leads all NHL goaltenders goals above replacement This season, his puck-stopping has been far ahead of any other backstop in the Olympics, considering the net for Minnesota, and especially on high-danger shots. Of course, Hellebuyck’s multiyear numbers are still one of the best since Canada Darcy Kuemper And logan thompson and sweden philip gustavson In the level below the Wallstead.
watch out for: Besides the above group, there is only one other goaltender in the Olympic arena who has been above average on both high-danger and regular shots last season and change: the Flyers netminder. Dan VladarRepresenting Czechia at the Miloš Cortina. Vladar is not an obvious starter for Czechs lucas dostal And Karel Vejmelka Both also offer starting experience, but could be an interesting name to watch if they get the opportunity in Italy.
