The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to have some representation at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics from Italy. The men’s hockey tournament is scheduled for February 11th to February 22nd, 2026. The NHL will take centre stage at this event, returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. Among the notable names we’ll see from Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson are expected to lead their countries in the tournament. Meanwhile, due to the IOC’s ban on Russian participation, Evgeni Malkin will be unable to represent his country in next year’s tournament. Malkin would’ve likely been part of the leadership group if Russia was a part of the tournament.
Team Canada – Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby is the least surprising selection for Team Canada. Crosby has appeared in many Olympic competitions before for Canada. He is synonymous with Canadian Olympic Hockey, scoring the “Golden Goal” in the 2010 Olympics against Team USA. Crosby then led the undefeated 2014 team to more Olympic gold. In addition to the Olympics, the Pittsburgh Penguins star has had a presence for Canada at the World Cup in 2016 and multiple IIHF tournaments besides.
In playing for Team Canada, Crosby will likely appear in the top six again, just a year removed from the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off tournament. Since 2010, Crosby has scored 36 points through 32 games representing Canada at the world stage. As for linemates, he’ll likely play with long-time friends Nathan MacKinnon and Brad Marchand. Crosby has seen extensive time playing with both players for Team Canada, and pairing either MacKinnon or Marchand with Crosby creates a fantastic line capable of scoring and shutting opposition down.
Team Sweden – Erik Karlsson
A three-time Norris Trophy winner, Swedish defenceman Erik Karlsson has repeatedly appeared in international competition. During Canada’s undefeated 2014 Olympic run led by Crosby, Erik Karlsson was one of their toughest opponents. Scoring four goals and four assists, Karlsson was named to the tournament’s all-star team as a defensive representative. He was also named the best defenceman in that year’s Olympics.
Erik Karlsson’s 34 points in 37 games for Sweden highlight his offensive impact on the international stage. Although his defensive abilities have been called into question, Karlsson still offers value, coming off back-to-back 50-point seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. With elite talent like Rasmus Dahlin and Victor Hedman also set to play alongside him, expect Karlsson to receive sheltered minutes where his impact can be felt the most in offensive situations.
Team Sweden – Rickard Rakell
Unlike Crosby or Karlsson, Rickard Rakell’s spot on Team Sweden is not guaranteed. He’s had minimal experience representing Team Sweden as an adult, mainly playing on their U20 World Junior teams from 2011-2013. While he performed well in those stints, he didn’t receive a callback to team Sweden for over a decade. Finally, in 2025, Rakell was named to the Four Nations Swedish team due to injuries to Vegas Golden Knight forward William Karlsson.
Rakell’s exclusion from the Swedish team for the Four Nations Face-Off was actually highly controversial. He’d scored 23 goals and 45 points in 53 games before the tournament. This led the Pittsburgh Penguins in goals, and second in points. While Rakell was unable to score in his two games with the Swedish team, he played well and was able to create some chances for his team. Rakell used earning this spot as further motivation. He came back from the tournament still on fire and ended the 2024-25 season with a career best 35 goals and 70 points in 81 games. At 32, Rakell must defy age again this season to earn a spot on Sweden’s Olympic roster. As of right now, NHL.com does not have him as part of the projected roster. However, this can change at any moment with factors like injuries in play.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the 2026 Olympics
The 2026 Olympics are scheduled at an opportune time for the Penguins. The team itself is expected to falter this year, with a youth movement already set in place. Speculation suggests Rakell and/or Karlsson may no longer be with the team when the tournament begins. With the team likely selling more pieces this year, the Olympics offer a key moment to reassess the roster. The tournament takes place just under a month before the trade deadline, giving general manager Kyle Dubas and his staff plenty of time to pivot and make deals while the Penguins rest up for the tail-end stretch of the season.
Main Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
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