Why these Rangers could play in 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, including Mika Zibanejad
Just because the New York Rangers were shut out by all 12 countries when each submitted the first six players included for the preliminary rosters at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, doesn’t mean the Blueshirts won’t be representing on the biggest world stage in February.
A look at the most recent best-on-best international tournament shows that the Rangers should have several players heading overseas to participate in the next Winter Olympics. The Rangers had six players, including Chris Kreider, who was traded last week to the Anaheim Ducks, take part in the 4 Nations Face-Off four months ago.
Unlike the 2022 Beijing Olympics, when the NHL opted out due to being “materially disrupted as a result of increasing COVID cases and a rising number of postponed games,” NHL players will compete in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan will serve behind the bench for United States, after also doing so at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He isn’t the only Blueshirt staff member likely headed to Milan, since assistant David Quinn, who was Team USA’s head coach during the 2022 Olympics and an assistant at the 4 Nations, is a strong candidate to join the American staff for 2026.
There’s still time for players to elevate their stock ahead of the 2026 Games. With no official deadline announced for final roster selections, each country will continue to evaluate talent well into next season. A strong start in 2025-26 or injuries to projected players could also open the door for late additions.
Let’s break down which Rangers have the best chance of taking part in the 2026 Olympic Games.
Related: Rangers not done after Chris Kreider trade, ‘prepared to be aggressive’: NHL insider
USA
Adam Fox
Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner, has established himself as one of the top defensemen in the NHL and should play a major role for Team USA in Milan. Fox has a long history representing the United States, most recently competing at the 4 Nations Face-Off, when he was one of the first six players named to the squad. He appeared in the 2019 IIHF Men’s World Championship and played a huge role in back-to-back World Junior tournaments, winning gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018. His first international stint began with a standout performance at the 2016 Under-18 World Championship, where he led all defensemen in scoring and was named Best Defensemen of the Tournament.
Since debuting with the Rangers in 2019, he has racked uo 369 points in 431 games and has logged top-pair minutes against the League’s best players night in and night out. Fox won the Norris Trophy in just his second season — joining only Bobby Orr to do so. Fox has proven he can do it all: lead transition rushes, direct the power play, and shut down top lines.
However, Team USA general manager Bill Guerin was blunt about why Fox wasn’t among the first six players selected this time, replaced by forward Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators.
“The impact that Brady had on the team [at 4 Nations] and his role in how we play, that was a big part of it,” Guerin said Monday. “Adam, his tournament was fine. It wasn’t as well as he could’ve played. His season wasn’t up to his standards, but he’s very much in the mix [to make the Olympic team]. This is just a list we had to come out with, and I just felt more comfortable with Brady on it this time around.”
J.T. Miller or Vincent Trocheck
With Team USA’s forward depth among the best in the world, roster spots are extremely limited. Therefore, Rangers teammates J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck may be fighting for a single opening on the roster. Miller has an impressive international resume, having represented the U.S. at multiple levels. He played in the 2011 Under-18 Worlds, where he led the team in scoring with 12 points in six games en-route to a gold medal. The following year, he tallied four points at the 2012 World Juniors before leading Team USA to gold at the 2013 World Junior Championships, when he tied for the team lead in points (9) and led all American skaters in assists (7). Miller later played for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and also in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Miller brings versatility and offensive upside, being able to play both center and wing.
Trocheck, meanwhile, brings a similar skill set centered around defense, grit, and reliability, to go along with solid offensive production. He’s great in the face-off circle, a solid penalty killer, and is a hard-nosed forward. He made his international debut at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Tournament, and like Miller, Trocheck was part of the gold-medal winning 2013 World Junior team and also appeared in the 2014 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Trocheck played for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he showed the ability to make a difference on the ice without scoring. While it’s uncertain if both players will make the final cut, the coaches expected to lead Team USA are already behind them on the Rangers bench, keeping a close eye.
Canada
Will Cuylle
Will Cuylle’s rise with the Rangers has started to translate onto the international stage. He recently competed for Canada in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship. The 23-year-old recorded two goals and two assists in eight games, showing the same physicality that made him a staple in the Rangers lineup.
“We see the same thing, big, physical, skates, all-around player,” Canada head coach Dean Evason said during the tournament. “His presence moving forward, his physicality, will be a big part of our success.”
Cuylle mostly played a fourth-line role, but Evason wasn’t afraid to shuffle him up in the lineup — giving him some shifts with superstar Nathan MacKinnon. As games went on, Cuylle grew more confident, showing that he can adapt at the highest level. With a long history in the Hockey Canada system — U-17, U-18, and World Juniors, Cuylle faces stiff competition but has a shot at cracking Canada’s stacked Olympic roster in 2026, likely in a bottom-six role.
Alexis Lafreniere
Alexis Lafreniere‘s Olympic chances might come down to one simple factor: which version of him shows up next season. If the 2023-24 version returns — the confident, aggressive top-six winger who posted career highs with 28 goals and 57 points — he absolutely belongs in the Team Canada conversation. But if his 2024-25 season is any indication, he’s a long shot at best. Lafreniere regressed this past season, totaling 17 goals and 45 points in 82 games, and finished with the second worst plus minus rating on the team (minus-13). The inconsistency along with trade rumors cast real doubt on his trajectory heading into next season.
Still, Lafreniere was MVP of the 2020 World Junior Championship, when he led Canada to the gold medal. Lafreniere has shown flashes of high-end skill and playmaking that once made him the most sought-after prospect in hockey. If he can regain form early next season, whether with the Rangers or elsewhere, he could find himself in contention for a roster spot with Canada.
Sweden
Mika Zibanejad
Regardless if he’s wearing a Rangers jersey come the 2025-26 season or not, Mika Zibanejad is as close to a guaranteed Olympic selection as it gets. A consistent top-line center and fixture on Sweden’s national teams, Zibanejad brings leadership and experience to a country that values structured, two-way play. His shot, playmaking ability, and 200-foot game makes him a perfect fit for Sweden. He was among their first players named to the 4 Nations a year ago, but not this time for the Olympics following a disappointing all-around season. But he’ll be in Milan in February, no question.
Related: Rangers rumors: Mika Zibanejad trade speculation picks up after Chris Kreider deal
Finland
Jusso Parssinen
Juuso Parssinen may not be a household name yet, but the 24-year-old forward could be a depth option for Finland at the Olympics, especially since he can play center or on the wing. Acquired by the Rangers from the Avalanche Colorado ahead of the 2025 trade deadline in a deal that also brought Calvin de Haan and two draft picks in exchange for Jimmy Vesey, Ryan Lindgren, and Hank Kempf, Parssinen showed some skill in limited action. He played 11 games with New York to close out the season, recording two goals and three assists (all in his final two games) despite averaging just under 10 minutes per game.
Though his sample size was small, Parssinen showed that he can contribute in a bottom-six role. He also has experience playing in Finland’s system, which was in full display at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, when Parssinen made a big impact. He scored three goals and had five points in eight games. In a dramatic comeback win over Canada, he scored the overtime game-winner, a moment he called “the biggest goal I’ve ever scored for the country.”
No Olympics for Rangers stars Igor Shesterkin and Artemi Panarin
Due to the International Olympics Committee’s ongoing sanctions, Russia is banned from competing in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. As a result, Igor Shesterkin and Artemi Panarin are ineligible to participate in the Olympics.
If any two Rangers players would be locks for the 2026 Olympics, it’s these two. Unfortunately, we won’t see either taking part in the Winters Games next February.
