The National Hockey League (NHL) is making its return to the Winter Olympics. It’s been 12 years since NHL players last played in the Winter Olympics and the world’s best will grace the ice in Milano Cortina, Italy from February 6-22.
The New Jersey Devils have eight players representing different participating countries such as USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Czechia. Devils Captain Nico Hischier, alternate captain Jack Hughes, forward Jesper Bratt, goaltender Jacob Markström, left winger Ondrej Palat, right winger Timo Meier, defenseman Simon Nemec, and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler will all participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Representing Countries:
- Team USA –> Jack Hughes
- Sweden –> Jesper Bratt, Jacob Markstrom
- Switzerland –> Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jonas Siegenthaler
- Slovakia –> Simon Nemec
- Czechia –> Ondřej Palát
Jack Hughes will play alongside his brother Quinn Hughes, who is a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild. The Hughes brothers had missed the opportunity to play together in the Four Nations last year. Quinn’s hand injury prevented him from playing for Team USA in the tournament alongside Jack. The last time the Hughes brothers played on the same team was during the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, where they won silver. The two look forward to playing on the same team again and hope to bring home gold for Team USA.
Hughes recently returned to the Devils lineup after suffering a non-related hockey injury, that compromised his playing ability due to dysfunction of the center’s right hand.
Hughes has 11 goals, 13 assists, and 24 points in only 25 games of play. Despite this, in his first game back he scored the opening goal for the Devils. An incredible asset that truly makes a difference in team chemistry.
Hischier, representing Switzerland for the Devils, holds 32 points consisting of 12 goals and 20 assists in 43 games so far in the 2025-2026 season. Hischier will play alongside Meier and Siegenthaler, which will be beneficial as these players are aware of each others skills and share chemistry already.
Meier plays great alongside Bratt, but will not have that advantage during the upcoming Olympics. However, Meier will have Hischier and Siegenthaler on his side representing Switzerland. Meier has 12 goals, 13 assists, and 25 points in 38 games. Meier missed a short period of play due to taking time off for a family emergency.
Siegenthaler, has played all 43 games so far this season. Siegenthaler has recorded no goals, but has four assists. His most recent assist was on January 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bratt has also been an ironman for New Jersey this season as he leads the team with 33 points, of which he has had nine goals and 24 assists. Bratt will represent Sweden alongside Markstrom. Bratt and Hughes are undeniably a great pair when they are on the ice together playing for the Devils, but due to the fact they will be representing different countries, they will not have that advantage in the Olympics.
Palat, like the previous two, has not missed a game this NHL season. The Devils alternate captain will represent Czechia. Palat has two goals and six assists, totaling eight points so far in 2025-26.
Nemec has become a valuable player for the Devils known for his game-winning goals. Nemec has carried the team this season during vulnerable times. I have no doubt that Nemec will succeed playing for Slovakia. He is young and eager to win; this makes a player suitable to any team — even after sustaining injuries. Nemec has seven goals, 11 asssists, and 18 points in 31 games this season. Nemec made history when he scored a hat trick and overtime winner against the Chicago Blackhawks in mid-November. He became the third Devils defenseman to score a hat trick in franchise history and the youngest defenseman in league history to score a hat trick and overtime winner in the same game.
Markstrom, the lead goaltender for the Devils, will represent Sweden, playing with Bratt. It has been a rocky season for this goaltender, yet he has been a solid rock for the Devils. In 2025-2026, Markstrom has won 1o games out of the 22 he has played. His goals against average (GAA) is 3.88 and his save percentage (SV%) is .878. In his entire career he currently has 251 wins.
The 2026 Winter Olympics have selected crucial, talented, and skillfull players to play for their specific countries; making this year ultimately an exciting time. Since it has been 12 years since the NHL participated in the Olympics, this will bring back memories for the young stars who grew up watching the Olympics, dreaming of playing hockey, and the NHL veterans who will be returning to the Olympics for another year.
As if playing in the NHL wasn’t a major dream for these incredible players, the Olympics are even more unimaginable. These eight Devils stars are thrilled to be taking part in the Olympics this February.
The men’s gold medal match will be played on Sunday, February 22 at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.
