Really, it’s never too early. With under a year and a half to go until the first puck drops in Milan, players, fans, and media are already abuzz with speculation about how things might unfold at the 2026 Olympic men’s and women’s hockey tournaments.

Of course, the number one question is: “Which nations will compete for the medals?” On the men’s side, we’ve gotten more clarity with 2022 bronze medalist Slovakia – along with Denmark and Latvia – emerging triumphant in final Olympic qualification play. The women’s Olympic qualifiers are coming up soon in February 2025.

However, there are other fascinating subplots to track. That’s why we’re dishing up 10 early Olympic hockey storylines right now.

Men’s Tournament

1) Can Finland repeat as champions?

Since 1920, only two traditional powerhouses – Canada and the Soviet Union – have ever won consecutive Olympic men’s hockey titles. That gives an inkling of how hard it will be for the Finns to repeat in 2026 after winning their first Olympic gold medal ever in 2022.

Suomi has suffered tough IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship quarter-final exits in 2023 and 2024 after a dominant run with two golds (2019, 2022) and a silver (2021) at that event. Yet the Olympics are a next-level challenge. Finland arguably has its best overall forward depth ever with Stanley Cup winners like Aleksander Barkov (Florida) and Mikko Rantanen (Colorado), plus a bona fide Norris Trophy candidate in Miro Heiskanen (Dallas) and strong goaltending from Juuse Saros (Nashville). Still, the odds are against them.

2) Will the U.S.’s back-end depth pay off?

Fun fact: in the 2020’s, the U.S. is the only nation with multiple Vezina Trophy and Norris Trophy winners. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg) won the former in 2020 and 2024, while defencemen Adam Fox (New York Rangers) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver) claimed the latter in 2021 and 2024 respectively. Perhaps these stars will help end an American Olympic gold medal drought extending back to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” in Lake Placid.

Per normal, the U.S. should bring impressive scoring forwards, including perennial Rocket Richard Trophy favourite Auston Matthews (Toronto), Matthew Tkachuk (Florida), and Jack Eichel (Vegas). However, it’s worth noting that ever since the U.S.’s 5-2 final loss to Canada in Salt Lake City in 2002, the Americans have lost by one goal in each playoff game that ended their Olympic gold medal hopes in a given year. Getting one big save or defensive play could be what gets them over the top in 2026.

3) Will McDavid run wild?

At age 27, Connor McDavid knows the clock is ticking on his Olympic dreams. After external circumstances stopped the Edmonton superstar from suiting up in PyeongChang or Beijing, Milan is his best chance to lead Canada to Olympic gold in his prime. Having won World Junior gold (2015) and World Championship gold (2016), the five-time NHL scoring champ set a new playoff assists record (34) as his Oilers lost Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup finals to Florida.

There’s no question McDavid’s motivation is sky-high. No active NHLer in the 21st century has topped the 11 points Finland’s Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu each scored at the 2006 Winter Games. McDavid could blow that out of the water in a Canadian run to gold.

4) Is Italian ice Sweden’s good luck charm?

Father Time marches on. There won’t be any returnees from the golden 2006 Swedish Olympic team that edged Finland 3-2 in the final in Turin. However, it’s not inconceivable that the 2026 squad will get advice from the likes of ‘06 alumni such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Daniel Alfredsson, or the Sedin twins.

Only 140 kilometres separates Milan from Turin. With good vibes and memories aplenty, the Swedes hope nothing will separate them from winning gold for a second time on Italian ice.

5) Who will write an underdog fairy tale?

The Germans shocked the world with their 2018 Olympic silver medal. Slovakia won bronze as a dark horse in 2022. Who will defy the experts in 2026?

The Czechs are back in the gold medal hunt after their 2024 World Championship victory on David Pastrnark’s home-ice winner in Prague. Could they triumph in Milan? The Swiss men have three 21st-century silver medals at the Worlds (2013, 2018, 2024) and can’t be ruled out.

Of course, underdogs have different aspirations. For host Italy, the presence of head coach Jukka Jalonen – famed for leading Finland to glory with not-so-star-studded rosters – is a big plus. If Jalonen can coax an upset win or even a quarter-final berth out of his no-name Azzurri, there’ll be reason to rejoice.

Women’s Tournament

6) Will there be a first-time Olympic finalist?

At the 2006 Olympics, the Swedish women’s shocking 3-2 semi-final shootout win over the Americans made history. Never before had an IIHF women’s tournament featured a final matchup other than Canada-USA. (Canada beat the Damkronorna 4-1 in Turin.)

Since then, only the resilient Finns have broken the usual pattern, falling 2-1 in a shootout to the Americans in the 2019 Women’s Worlds gold medal game in Espoo. But the Czechs – under Canadian coach Carla MacLeod – have begun to assert themselves too, with WW bronze medals in 2022 and 2023. Those two European teams are your best bet to pull another shocker and make the 2026 final.

7) How will the PWHL impact Milan?

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will be in its third season when the 2026 Olympics begin. Its elite calibre of play should spill over to Milan as well. Expect some of the fastest, most physical, and highly skilled Olympic women’s hockey ever.

Particularly for the deep North American nations, the PWHL also offers a potential springboard for women to strut their stuff and become Olympic first-timers. Canada’s Daryl Watts (Toronto) and Corinne Schroeder (New York) and the U.S.’s Maureen Murphy (Montreal) and Gabbie Hughes (Ottawa) are examples of previously excluded players who might forge a path to Milan.

8) Who will set new Olympic scoring records?

Forward Sarah Nurse established a new single-tournament record with 18 points (5+13=18) in Beijing, beating fellow Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser’s 2006 mark of 17. With all the up-and-coming women’s hockey talent, that mark could fall again in 2026.

Also, Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin currently has 17 all-time Olympic goals – amazingly including goals in the last four Olympic gold medal games. She will be gunning for Wickenheiser’s record (18) in Milan.

9) Which greats will play their last Winter Games?

When the 2026 Olympics kick off, Poulin will be 34. On the U.S. side, the legendary Hilary Knight will be 36 and Kendall Coyne Schofield 33. Longtime Finnish captain Jenni Hiirikoski will be 38.

With the increased opportunities for women to keep playing professionally, there is a chance that some of these names will return for the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps. Nonetheless, it’s worth cherishing what might be their swan song.

10) Who will be the next female Olympic superstar?

In Beijing, Canada’s Sarah Fillier was the biggest breakout star. The 21-year-old finished second in Olympic goals (eight) behind her Olympic MVP teammate Brianne Jenner (nine). That’s a tough act to follow.

However, elite U25 candidates for 2026 abound. Think of Canada’s Danielle Serdachny, who potted the 6-5 gold medal winner in OT against the Americans at this year’s Worlds. Recent U18 Women’s Worlds MVPs like U.S. power forward Laila Edwards (2022) or ace Canadian defender Chloe Primerano (2024) could be in the conversation. And don’t forget about Czech sniper Natalie Mlynkova, a potential #1 overall pick in the 2025 PWHL Draft.

Bottom line: somebody will make a big name for herself in Milan.