So, you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, eh? It’s been a challenging season, to say the least, filled with ups and downs. More downs than ups, perhaps. Have no fear. The 2026 Winter Olympics are finally here.
It’s a terrific break from the daily grind of the NHL season. Not just for the players, but for us fans, too. Forget about the trade deadline, forget about that first-round pick that the Leafs sent to the Boston Bruins last year, and forget about whether or not the boys will make the playoffs.
Related: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
For the next few weeks, wrap yourself in your country’s colours, and let your passion fly. In the process, why not keep an eye on your Leafs, who are in the tournament as well?
Here is your guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Team USA
Auston Matthews
It is a real shame that we have not seen the next generation of superstars in the Olympics. Players like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Auston Matthews had been shafted by the NHL’s stubbornness, and then when the league finally relented, COVID hit.
Matthews will finally join Team USA in their pursuit of a gold medal in Milano Cortina.
It’s been a hard season for Matthews. Whether it’s lingering injuries or getting used to playing without Mitch Marner, it’s been a grind. Even so, the 28-year-old has 26 goals and 48 points. Regardless of his inconsistencies, I think we’d all be surprised if he didn’t ramp it up over the next few weeks.
When asked in January what he thought the potential of this team was, Matthews didn’t hold back.
“I think we feel like we’re up there and we should be competing for gold,” Matthews told NHL.com. “It’s obviously the first Olympics in a while since (NHL players) have been able to play, but you want to consistently be up there, and you want to be obviously the best country in the world. And this is a great opportunity for us.”
In his two appearances at the World Junior U-20 Championships, Matthews had a combined eight goals and 14 points in 12 games, helping Team USA win bronze in 2016. At the 2016 World Championships, Matthews had six goals and nine points in 10 games. At the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, Matthews had three assists.
With NHL.com, he spoke a lot about what it will be like to come back with relatively the same team as they had last February. He also spoke about what it will be like to be at the Olympics in general, and he summed it up rather eloquently.
“It’ll be so cool.”
Where to Watch Auston Matthews & Team USA
My assumption is that most of you reading are cheering for Team Canada. Maybe not. Either way, we won’t get a rematch of last year’s 4 Nations’ Gold Medal game unless it’s in the medal rounds, so why root against them?
Here’s when you can catch the Leafs’ captain in action.
Feb. 12: Latvia vs United States, 3:10 p.m.
Feb. 14: United States vs Denmark, 3:10 p.m.
Feb. 15: United States vs Germany, 3:10 p.m.
*All times EST*
Team Sweden
William Nylander
Much like for Matthews, it’s been a frustrating season for William Nylander, too. His 17 games missed are the most in a single season in his entire career, yet still, he leads the Maple Leafs with 52 points, including 18 goals.
Like so many other stars heading overseas, it is Nylander’s first opportunity to play in the Olympics, and there’s no doubt he will be leaned on heavily if Team Sweden is going to make a run for gold.
“I think that experience is going to be incredible, and playing with Team Sweden and playing against the best players in the world at an Olympics is something that doesn’t happen too often,” Nylander said at the end of January. “It’ll be a first for me, so I’m going to be very excited for it.”
While he has yet to play in the Olympics, Nylander is no stranger to international hockey. In 30 games in junior tournaments, including two World Junior Championships, Nylander has 18 goals and 46 points, and brought home the gold in 2013 at the U17 tournament. In 27 games in senior tournaments, he has 16 goals and 40 points, bringing home a gold at the 2017 World Championship and a bronze at the 2025 World Championship.
When asked if anything other than gold would be a disappointment, like it is for Canada, his answer was short and sweet.
“Same for Sweden.”
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The last few seasons have been a beautiful resurgence for Oliver Ekman-Larsson (OEL), and it has earned him an opportunity to represent Team Sweden. Unlike most of his competitors and Swedish teammates, OEL is a returnee to the Olympics, as he was part of the team that won silver in 2014.
Ekman-Larsson was a top-tier defenseman in the NHL for the first decade of his career, but his career was hanging in the balance after two tough seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, battling his play and his health. In 2023-24, the Florida Panthers took a chance on OEL, and the season ended with him being a stabilizing D-man for a Stanley-Cup-winning team. Now, he has become maybe the most reliable defenseman for the Maple Leafs.
“First off, I’m healthy,” the 34-year-old said when asked about turning around his career. “I know that sounds simple, but the fact is, it’s the truth. It was tough in Vancouver not being 100 percent. Secondly, it’s confidence. When things aren’t going your way, and injuries won’t let you play to the level you want, you start second-guessing things. When you get it back, you can start playing more freely and naturally.”
Like Nylander, OEL is no stranger to international hockey and has won seven medals across 11 tournaments. In junior tournaments, OEL has four goals and 13 points in 12 games. In senior tournaments, he has 11 goals and 44 points in 66 games and has helped the Swedes win three bronze medals, two silvers, and two golds, including back-to-back victories at the 2017 and 2018 World Championships.
Even though he is on the back nine of a tremendous career, this moment is not lost on him.
“Any time you can play for your country, it’s a special thing.”
When to Watch the Swedish Duo
If you’re American or Canadian, it’s a bit easier to cheer on a team like Team Sweden. Here is their schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Feb. 11: Sweden vs Italy, 3:10 p.m.
Feb. 13: Finland vs Sweden, 6:10 a.m.
Feb. 14: Sweden vs Slovakia, 6:10 a.m.
*All times EST*
The Olympics Are Finally Here
Alright, Leafs fans, enjoy the tournament! Don’t worry, the anxiety-riddled roller coaster that is the Maple Leafs’ 2025-26 season will be waiting for you.
Be sure to check out the incredible coverage here at The Hockey Writers throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics.
