Eight NHL players have won both Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same season, a feat last achieved in 2014 by Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty. With Team USA ending its Olympic gold drought, several current NHL players who won gold in February are now poised to join this elite club. Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche tops the list; the Avs are the best team in the NHL and could secure their second Cup of the 2020s if they overcome Minnesota or Dallas in the playoffs. Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin of the Vegas Golden Knights also rank highly; the Knights have a favorable path against Anaheim and Edmonton. Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning is another strong contender, with the Lightning potentially facing Ottawa or Montreal in the second round. Minnesota's trio of Jake Guentzel, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes could make history, though the Stars present a tough first-round test. Jackson LaCombe of the Anaheim Ducks benefits from a softer playoff path compared to the Central Division. Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins could see their journey culminate in a Cup, despite McAvoy's injury struggles. Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres offers sentimental value, while Clayton Keller of the Utah Mammoth could cross divisions to reach the conference finals.

Honorable mentions include Zach Werenski, Dylan Larkin, Jake Sanderson, Brady Tkachuk, Kyle Connor, and Connor Hellebuyck, though their teams are on the playoff bubble.