The New Jersey Devils had a big presence at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. With seven players representing different countries at the tournament, many eyes were on the team. From the overtime winner delivered by Jack Hughes this past Sunday to Jacob Markstrom’s .935% save percentage, the Devils surely left their mark in Milan. The Devils were split in the tournament based on their citizenship: USA (Jack Hughes), Switzerland (Jonas Siegenthaler, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier), Sweden (Jesper Bratt, Jacob Markstrom), and Slovakia (Simon Nemec). Each team had outstanding performances, but in the end, Assistant Captain Jack Hughes was the one who returned to Jersey sporting the gold.
Here is a recap of the performances from each player and country:
Team USA
Jack Hughes
Over the span of six games, Hughes racked up the stats with four goals and three assists for a total of seven points. Not just that, but he was credited with two game-winning goals, one being the renowned game-winner against Canada. After getting slashed in the face only minutes before, with a missing tooth and blood dripping from his mouth, Hughes delivered the game-winner in OT to take home the gold. Not only that, but Jack had outstanding performances in all six games. Because of his legendary performance, Jack Hughes may have left the biggest legacy out of this team at Milano Cortina.
Team Slovakia
Simon Nemec
Nemec recorded only two assists, but the statistics were not representative of his performance over the last couple of weeks in Milan. Often with Martin Fehérváry, Nemec was the other half of Slovakia’s dynamic defense. Their duo was one of the best in the whole tournament, shutting down almost every offensive opponent that attempted to get past them. He also had the longest average ATOI out of all the Devils, with approximately 22:23 minutes per game. Overall, Nemec was one of the most critical players to Slovakia’s game in the tournament.
Team Switzerland
Timo Meier
Timo Meier had an amazing two weeks and was one of the offensive leaders of Switzerland across the whole tournament. He kicked off their opening game with two goals, leading their team to a 4-0 win over France. At one point during the games, Timo was actually ranked second for scoring overall. At the conclusion of the tournament, Meier was ranked 10th statistically (the highest of all the Swiss players), above some of the most dominant players in the tournament, like Matthews, Draisaitl, Crosby, and many more. He accumulated a total of five goals, three assists and no penalty minutes. Besides Hughes, Timo could have arguably had the best performance of the Devils at the Olympic Games.
Nico Hischier
The captain of the Devils may not have scored the game-winner, but nonetheless had a great tournament. Hischier had four points, coming from one goal and three assists. His most successful game was in their qualification game against Italy, where he recorded a goal and two of his assists, leading his team to a 3-0 victory. Not only that, but he also had an assist in the intense game against Chezchia, which they ended up winning in OT. Nico Hischier’s performance may not have been flashy, but it was extremely crucial to the inner workings of Team Switzerland.
Jonas Siegenthaler
Jonas Siegenthaler had a dynamic role in the tournament, despite not earning any points. He was essential to the team defensively and especially during the penalty kill. Additionally, as a defenseman, he was a force and was not afraid to get physical, earning himself four penalty minutes. Switzerland’s run in the tournament unfortunately came to an end when a shot by Miro Heiskanen bounced off Siegenthaler and bounced right past Leonardo Genoni, ending overtime. Although he may not have had the spotlight these past few weeks, he surely had a lasting impact on the team and their success in the tournament.
Team Sweden
Jacob Markstrom
Despite originally being the backup goalie for Sweden, Markstrom proved himself as soon as he got the chance to compete on Olympic ice. After two games on the bench, Jacob Markstrom replaced Filip Gustavsson and fought hard in their final three games. He also had a .933% save percentage across those three games. Specifically, a highlight moment at the tournament was when he saved 38 of the 40 shots in their quarterfinal matchup against the United States, who eventually went on to take the gold. Jacob Markstrom proved himself this tournament and truly helped keep the foundation of Team Sweden together.
Jesper Bratt
Jesper Bratt did not have the best time in Milan. He only had a singular assist recorded, and the coaches were heavily critical of his performance. As the tournament progressed, he went from one of the strongest, most reliable forwards to another man on the bench. After being allegedly blamed for their 4-1 defeat to Finland, Bratt failed to see the ice for the remainder of the tournament. Many questions remain regarding Bratt as he returns to Jersey.
In the end, all players had a great first experience with the Olympics. It is safe to say that letting the NHL contribute players to the tournament was a great one. Not only was it a fun and exciting experience, but each player can take back lessons and strategies they will utilize for the rest of their careers. As the NHL regular season heads back into swing, the Devils will continue to work their way up the rankings in the Metropolitan Division.
