The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic men's ice hockey tournament kicks off Wednesday, marking the NHL's return to the Winter Games after a 12-year absence. This best-on-best event features NHL stars like Auston Matthews (USA captain) and Connor McDavid (Canada's captain) vying for gold. Canada's dominance since 1998 (three golds) contrasts sharply with the USA's lone title in 1980's 'Miracle on Ice.' The tournament structure is a round-robin followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal games. Canada enters as heavy favorite, but USA and Czechia pose significant threats.

Key absences include injured Bruins' Zacha for Czechia and potential impact players like Tkachuk (Canada) and MacKinnon (Canada) facing fitness questions. The NHL's participation hinges on a 2020 CBA clause and Walsh's negotiations, overcoming past objections over revenue sharing and schedule disruption. This guide explains the stakes for lapsed fans: a clash of hockey superpowers with Olympic glory on the line.