As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo approach, anticipation is building for the men's hockey tournament. Here's a power ranking of the teams most likely to contend for gold, based on current form and potential rosters.

Tier 1: The Favorites

1. Canada: Always a force in international hockey, Canada boasts a deep talent pool of NHL stars. With players like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby (if he chooses to participate), and Cale Makar potentially leading the charge, Canada is the team to beat. Their experience and skill make them a perennial gold medal contender.

2. United States: The Americans are consistently among the top teams, and 2026 should be no different. Expect a roster filled with young, dynamic players such as Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and the Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew. Their speed and offensive firepower will make them a threat to any opponent.

3. Sweden: The Swedes possess a strong blend of skill and experience. Led by elite players like Victor Hedman, Mika Zibanejad, and William Nylander, Sweden will be a tough matchup for any team. Their disciplined play and strong goaltending make them a perennial contender.

Tier 2: The Contenders

1. Finland: The reigning World Champions, Finland, cannot be overlooked. They consistently punch above their weight, relying on a strong team structure and excellent goaltending. Players like Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, and Miro Heiskanen could lead them to another strong showing.

2. Czechia: Czechia has the potential to be a surprise team in 2026. With offensive stars like David Pastrnak, Martin Necas and potentially solid goaltending from Lukas Dostal, they could make a deep run. If their defense holds up, they could be a dark horse for a medal.

Tier 3: The Dark Horses

1. Switzerland: Switzerland is an interesting team with a blend of players that could make them a spoiler. They have a number of quality forwards such as Kevin Fiala, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Nino Niederreiter who can generate offense. The defense will be lead by Roman Josi, J.J. Moser and Jonas Siegenthaler.

2. Germany: Germany has some notable names such as Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, Mortiz Seider, JJ Peterka and Phillip Grubauer. However, they lack the depth to make a serious run. Draisaitl and Stützle will be fun to watch up front, but at most, they'll be on the ice for one third of the game.

Tier 4: The Underdogs

1. Slovakia: Slovakia will need a strong performance from their key players and solid goaltending to compete.

2. Latvia: Latvia will be looking to make the knockout stage.

3. Denmark: Denmark will be looking to make the knockout stage.

4. France: France replaced banned Russia in the tournament.

5. Italy: As the host nation, Italy automatically qualifies but faces an uphill battle against the hockey powerhouses. They crafted a roster entirely of players who are based in Europe.