The Olympics are where the world’s best athletes come together and compete at the highest level, but that’s the key: it’s the world’s best.
Professional athletes belong in the Olympics, especially in hockey, so there can be great competition and we can truly see which nation is the best in the sport.
Players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, according to an article by USA Today.
This brought a different kind of intensity to the games compared to the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, which featured amateur players, according to the SportsNet website.
Although there are other leagues around the world with strong competition, they are not comparable to the NHL.
In 2022, the U.S. team relied heavily on college players to fill its roster, according to a Team USA webpage.
This led to scrutiny with grown men playing in overseas leagues competing against teenagers on the U.S. team, which was a situation that didn’t align with the “world’s best” competing in the Olympics.
In 2025, the NHL took a short break from its regular season to have a miniature tournament called 4 Nations Face-Off, which consisted of teams competing against another from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland, according to the NHL website.
The tournament brought excitement and reminded fans of the intensity and enthusiasm professional athletes bring when representing their countries, according to an article on ESPN.
This excitement carried over into the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, with nearly 150 NHL players competing and all 32 teams having at least one representative, according to the NHL website.
The competition remained high level.
Although the United States and Canada both finished 3-0-0 in group play, they each faced tough competition in the elimination rounds.
In the quarterfinals, Canada defeated Czechia 4-3 in overtime, while the United States beat Sweden 2-1 in overtime, according to the Olympics website.
Defending 2022 Olympic hockey champion Finland also faced a challenge, earning a 3-2 overtime win against Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
The elimination games were rarely one sided and led to a rivalry matchup between Canada and the U.S. that ended in a 2-1 American victory.
It was the best against the best, which is what the Olympics are all about.
From a competition standpoint, it’s important for professionals to be allowed to play.
32% of players on initial 2025-26 NHL rosters are from countries outside North America, according to the NHL website.
Professional participation not only elevates competition but also gives fans the opportunity to see stars play together at a high level.
All-star games showcase the league’s top players, but they don’t reach the same intensity as national competition.
Canada featured stars such as Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon on the same line, while the United States was led by captain Auston Matthews and included two sets of brothers, Jack and Quinn Hughes, and Matthew and Brady Tkachuk.
This is only a portion of the star talent on various rosters, and it gives fans a rare chance to see elite players team up, which is something that’s nearly impossible outside international play.
The main drawback to professionals competing in the Olympics is the risk of injury, especially in a physical sport like hockey.
These players are not being paid by their national teams the way they are by their NHL clubs.
The league also must pause its season while players compete, leaving those not on Olympic rosters without games for several weeks until NHL play resumes.
These cons shouldn’t prevent people from viewing historic matchups and elite level play of the best in the world.
The pros belong in the Olympics. There’s so many benefits that come from it and it creates great sports stories in the biggest sporting event in the world that only comes every four years.
