Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 | 2 a.m.
The international competition returned to the NHL with a bang.
The 4 Nations Face-Off was the NHL’s first international tournament in 11 years, and it did not disappoint. Canada defeated the United States, 3-2, in overtime of the championship game, creating conversation and commotion on and off the ice.
With NHLers returning to the international stage, the next big event is the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milano Cortina, Italy, from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22.
Only one current Golden Knight, Alex Pietrangelo, has competed in the Olympics, meaning this will be a brand-new experience for many of the potential Vegas players selected to represent their countries.
Here are 10 players from the Vegas Golden Knights that we could see in the Olympics next year.
*Russia’s status in the 2026 Olympics is not confirmed. Due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, Russia is currently banned from International Ice Hockey Federation competition. Despite this ruling, the International Olympic Committee has the final say on whether or not Russia can compete in the upcoming Olympic games.
Jack Eichel, center, United States
Over his decade-long NHL career and now in the 4 Nations Face-Off, Eichel has proven that he is one of the best American centers of his generation.
In four games with the United States, he recorded four assists. This season, he’s on pace for a career-best 73 assists and 101 points. The only reason Eichel would be left off the Olympic roster is if he’s hurt.
He is one of the foundational pieces of this new wave of USA Hockey, and having him in Italy is a must if Americans want to win their first gold medal since 1980 or medal at all for the first time since 2010.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates after scoring against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
Mark Stone, forward, Canada
Stone’s age and history with injury make his status potential Olympic status a little shaky. He was the fourth oldest player on Canada’s 4 Nations roster, with the three players ahead of him (Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand and Drew Doughty) who could be retiring soon.
Stone has also never played an entire NHL season due to injury. However, when he is healthy, he has proven to be a major playmaker on the ice. With Canada, he had one goal in four games en route to winning the 4 Nations Face-Off championship. This season, despite missing 10 games, he’s still on pace for 72 points in 62 games.
If Stone is still producing at this pace next season, he’ll be a lock for Canada, but injury has to be considered.
Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) skates against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
Tomas Hertl, center, Czechia
This is a moment that Hertl has earned over in his 12-year NHL career. He didn’t make the Olympic team in 2014, but over that time, he has grown to be one of the best Czech players in the NHL right now.
He is second in points among active Czech NHL players with 530. In his first season with the Golden Knights, he’s recorded 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points and has proven to be a force on the power play with 10 goals.
Hertl is a shoo-in for a spot on Czechia’s Olympic roster. He provides so much, from on-ice play to veteran leadership, that Czechia could use in making a run toward its first medal since 2006.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) skates against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
Alex Pietrangelo, defense, Canada
It would be huge to have Pietrangelo represent Canada in Italy. He’s been a part of Canada’s international dominance over the last 15 years, winning the World Championship in 2011, an Olympic gold medal in 2014 and the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.
Pietrangelo was set to represent Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off but withdrew due to an undisclosed ailment. By the time the Olympics come around, he would be 36 years old, falling in the same boat as the other Canadian veterans approaching the end of their careers.
While the 4 Nations Face-Off doesn’t have the same significance as the Olympics, Pietrangelo decided not to play to focus on the NHL season. Considering his age and the issues that injuries could cause, there’s uncertainty about playing in the Olympics.
Pietrangelo has a lot of experience and is still producing at a solid rate; he’d be a great addition to the second or third pairing. However, like Stone, it all depends on his status.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) sends the puck down the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames at T-Mobile Arena Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024.
Shea Theodore, defense, Canada
Theodore is having a career season. He’s on pace for 60 assists and 70 points and played for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off. However, the big question is whether this strong play will continue into next season and whether this year isn’t a flash in the pan.
The 4 Nations Face-Off was the first time Theodore had played in a best-on-best tournament in his entire career, but it unfortunately didn’t last long. He sustained an arm injury in Canada’s first game against Sweden and missed the rest of the tournament.
Theodore has proven to be one of the best defensemen in the league, but his sudden jump this year raises questions about whether he can elongate this uptick.
A puck shot by Winnipeg Jets left wing Alex Iafallo (9) bounces off the arm of Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) during the second period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Adin Hill, goalie, Canada
Canada’s goaltending situation has been unique. It only played one goalie, Jordan Binnington, for the entire duration of the 4 Nations Face-Off, and even then, it didn’t get consistent play out of him.
Both Hill and Montreal’s Sam Montembeault were on Canada’s roster but did not see the ice once. Many considered Canada’s goaltending the weakest part of its game.
Canada’s selections even caused controversy, as they bypassed former Golden Knight Logan Thompson, who has the third-best save percentage in the NHL for Washington and the best among Canadian keepers.
Hill has been having a solid year, posting a 20-10-4 record, 2.64 goals against average and a .900 save percentage. It’s not that he won’t be selected for the Olympics, but the door is very wide open for other goalies to take a spot.
Hill has been one of the Golden Knights’ most consistent goalies and has proven steady in the net.
Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) carries the puck against St. Louis Blues left wing Jake Neighbours (63) during the third period of a NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
William Karlsson, forward, Sweden
Karlsson has quietly become one of Sweden’s more reliable centers. He missed the 4 Nations Face-Off due to an injury but was selected by the Swedes and was considered an “easy addition” due to his production with the Golden Knights.
He’s struggled to get going this season, tallying 18 points in 38 games. Injuries have hampered his production, as he’s missed nine games and is expected to miss more after the break.
However, he is a dependable veteran for Sweden who has put a lot of stock in his career.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonas Rondbjerg (46) chases after the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.
Jonas Rondbjerg, forward, Denmark
While Rondbjerg has spent his NHL career bouncing between Vegas and Henderson, he is one of just six active Danish players in the NHL.
It’s wild to say, but he is the Golden Knight who can almost guarantee a roster spot at the Olympics. Despite having only 10 points over 74 NHL games, Rondbjerg is fifth among active Danish players in the league.
Although he has played 11 games with Vegas this season and has no points, he is still one of the more talented players to have played outside his home country.
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Akira Schmid, right, stops a shot by Colorado Avalanche center Jean-Luc Foudy in the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Denver.
Akira Schmid, goalie, Switzerland
The Swiss will need a goaltender, and unless there is an elite player in Europe, they will likely go to Schmid, who is the only active Swiss goalie in the NHL.
He’s seen action in half a game this season, relieving Hill in a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 11. Schmidt has played in 24 games for the Henderson Silver Knights, posting a .890 save percentage and 3.56 goals against average.
His numbers are not superb, but Schmidt is the only Swiss option who has NHL experience.
Lynden McCallum (74) and Jakub Demek (13) skate during Vegas Golden Knights Training Camp at City National Arena in Henderson Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Jakub Demek, center, Slovakia
Demek has a slim chance to be selected for one of the final spots on Slovakia’s Olympic team. While he has yet to play in an NHL game, he is one of just 21 active Slovakian players in the NHL and AHL.
He ranks sixth among Slovakians in the AHL in points with 16. However, due to a lack of production this season, he was assigned to the Tahoe Knight Monsters, the Golden Knights ECHL affiliate. He has two points in four games.
Demek is 21 years old and 6 feet 4 inches tall, so he is still young and has time to grow into his frame. He’ll face a lot of competition from Slovakians playing in Europe, but his size and experience in the NHL system could give him an edge.