Winter Games 2026: German NHL Stars Ready to Slay
Ice Hockey Federation Proposes Draisaitl, Team for Winter Olympics 2026 Participation
Get ready for some chills, ya'll! Munich (dpa) - With cold-blooded hockey ace Leon Draisaitl eyeing Olympic gold: The German Ice Hockey Association has roped in the first six NHL badasses for the 2026 Winter Games, including Draisaitl, who's tearing it up in the Stanley Cup final with the Edmonton Oilers.
Besides Draisaitl, we're talking about the beast Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), the speedster Lukas Reichel (Chicago Blackhawks), the hulking Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), the determined Nico Sturm (Florida Panthers), and the young gun Tim Stuetzle (Ottawa Senators). The Olympic ice hockey slugfest, set to go down in Milan, will have NHL warriors on the ice for the first time in a dozen years.
Ready for the Final Rumble Just Before the Showdown
"We're cooking up a high-stakes hockey tournament with world-class players. As we get closer to this epic event, our excitement escalates as we see the players listed. Our NHL warriors are in the game, so it's natural to announce our first six players who're currently under NHL contracts," said DEB sports director Christian Künast, adding, "The final lineup will be revealed just before the games begin."
Remember the miraculous silver the German team bagged at Pyeongchang in 2018? This time around, they face Denmark, Latvia, and the mighty US of A in Group C of the tournament, running from February 11 to 22.
[Draisaitl, Reichel, Seider, Sturm, Stützle, and Grubauer] have all earned international stripes. Draisaitl has played in five World Championships, Reichel in four, Seider in five, including a silver medal in 2023, and Sturm and Stützle have usual suspect credits at World Juniors and World Championships[1][2][3][5].
Here's the chalkboard for Group C:- February 12, 2026: Germany vs. Denmark- February 13, 2026: Germany vs. Latvia- February 15, 2026: Germany vs. USA
Our group boasts up-and-coming challengers like Denmark and Latvia, backed by veteran contenders USA. With NHL players returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, Germany could be the dark horse with a real shot to shake things up[1]. No weak links here - this team's gonna bring the heat!
"The first six German NHL stars, including Leon Draisaitl, Philipp Grubauer, Lukas Reichel, Moritz Seider, Nico Sturm, and Tim Stuetzle, are gearing up for the high-stakes hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Games. These players have earned international recognition, with Draisaitl playing in five World Championships, Reichel in four, Seider in five, including a silver medal in 2023, and Sturm and Stützle having credits at World Juniors and World Championships."
"As Germany faces Denmark, Latvia, and the US of A in Group C of the tournament, they could potentially be the dark horse with a real shot to shake things up, given that NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014."
