Swiss Hockey Legend Streit Wants More Swiss Players in NHL

Former defenseman says quality of Swiss players has improved substantially in recent years

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Mark Streit, a former Swiss NHL defenseman who won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017, says he would love to see more Swiss players in the NHL. Streit, who is now involved in the business world, including as a partner in a new watch brand that is an official NHL partner, believes the quality of Swiss hockey players has improved significantly in the past two decades, with stars like Roman Josi, Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Kevin Fiala now playing in the NHL.

Why it matters

Streit's comments highlight the growing prominence of Swiss hockey on the global stage, with the Swiss national team now able to compete with the best teams in the world. The increased representation of Swiss players in the NHL is a testament to the development of the sport in the country and the ability of Swiss players to thrive at the highest level of professional hockey.

The details

Streit, who played in the 2006 Torino Olympics when Switzerland upset Canada 2-0, says the Swiss national team is no longer an outsider and now has NHL stars like Josi, Meier, Hischier, and Fiala. He believes the quality of Swiss players has improved substantially over the past two decades, with around 10-12 Swiss players in the NHL each year. Streit himself helped pave the way for Swiss players in the NHL, as he had 434 points in 786 NHL games over his 13-year career.

  • Streit spoke with reporters following the first period of Canada's 5-1 win against Switzerland in the preliminary round of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Switzerland defeated Canada 2-0 in a preliminary round game at the 2006 Torino Olympics.

The players

Mark Streit

A former Swiss NHL defenseman who played 786 NHL games over 13 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017. He is now involved in the business world, including as a partner in a new watch brand that is an official NHL partner.

Roman Josi

A Swiss defenseman who currently plays for the Nashville Predators in the NHL.

Timo Meier

A Swiss forward who currently plays for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL.

Nico Hischier

A Swiss forward who currently plays for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL.

Kevin Fiala

A Swiss forward who currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL.

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What they’re saying

“Twenty years ago we beat Canada in Turin. But our 2006 team was not as good as our 2026 team. Today we have NHL stars from Switzerland, like Josi, (Timo) Meier, (Nico) Hischier and (Kevin) Fiala. That's incredible.”

— Mark Streit, Former Swiss NHL defenseman (nhl.com)

“I would love to see more players from Switzerland in the NHL. It would be great to have 20 NHL players on the national team, like Sweden and Finland. There are about 10 to 12 Swiss players in the League from one year to the next. It doesn't vary much. But the quality of our players is more substantial today.”

— Mark Streit, Former Swiss NHL defenseman (nhl.com)

What’s next

Switzerland will face Czechia on Sunday, February 16, 2026 at 6:10 a.m. ET in their final preliminary round game. A win would allow Switzerland to finish second in their group and advance to the quarterfinals, which begin on Tuesday.

The takeaway

Streit's comments highlight the significant progress Swiss hockey has made in recent decades, with the national team now able to compete with the best in the world and an increasing number of Swiss players thriving in the NHL. This growth reflects the development of the sport in Switzerland and the ability of Swiss players to excel at the highest levels of professional hockey.