The NHL has officially entered its three week hiatus for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. While the rest of the league takes a breath, the Vegas Golden Knights remain heavily involved on the world stage. Eight of our roster players and one coach are currently representing their nations in Milano Cortina. We are seeing a massive Golden Knights presence across several top contenders. Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Shea Theodore are currently competing for Team Canada. Head coach Bruce Cassidy is also on the Canadian staff as an assistant coach. Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin are anchoring key roles for Team USA, while Tomas Hertl leads the charge for Czechia. Rounding out the group, Rasmus Andersson is patrolling the blue line for Sweden and Akira Schmid is tending the net for team Switzerland.
The Medical Report
The break provides a necessary recovery period for a squad currently decimated by health issues. Brayden McNabb, Brandon Saad, and Carter Hart are all expected to remain on the shelf until the schedule resumes on February 25. Forward Brett Howden and newcomer Colton Sissons also share that target return date. The news is more concerning for William Karlsson, who is recovering from a lower body injury and likely remains out until March 10. Most devastating is the loss of Alex Pietrangelo. A hip injury has officially ended his season. Jonas Rondbjerg also missed his Olympic opportunity with Team Denmark due to an undisclosed issue, with his return also set for late February.
The Road Ahead
Once the gold medals are awarded, the Golden Knights face a grueling road trip to close out February. The schedule resumes on February 25 with a Pacific Division clash against the Los Angeles Kings. From there, the team travels east to face the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. These games will test our depth, especially with Pietrangelo out and Karlsson still recovering. The quest for playoff positioning starts immediately upon the return from Italy.
The break is a double edged sword. We love seeing our guys represent their countries, but our priority is getting healthy for the final push.
Vegas currently sits in a top spot of the division, but the injury list remains a primary concern. The coaching staff must integrate returning players quickly to maintain momentum in a tight Pacific division race.