Pittsburgh Penguins Stars Headed to Winter Olympics

Several Penguins players and coaches will represent their countries at the 2026 Milan Games.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 8:07pm

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When the NHL returns to the Winter Olympics in 2026, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be well-represented on the international stage. Captain Sidney Crosby will lead Team Canada for the third time, while teammates Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell will suit up for Sweden. Goaltender Arturs Silvos will tend the net for Latvia. The Penguins players are excited for the opportunity to compete against each other on the Olympic ice.

Why it matters

The return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics after a 12-year absence has generated significant excitement around the league. For the Penguins, having multiple stars represent their home countries adds an extra layer of intrigue and national pride to the games.

The details

Sidney Crosby will captain Team Canada for the second time, looking to add to his Olympic gold medal collection from 2010 and 2014. Teammates Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell will play for Sweden, while goaltender Arturs Silvos will represent Latvia. The Penguins players are eager to compete against each other on the international stage.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Milan, Italy.
  • The NHL last participated in the Winter Olympics in 2014.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby will lead Team Canada at the Olympics for the third time.

Erik Karlsson

The Penguins defenseman will suit up for Team Sweden at the Winter Games.

Rickard Rakell

Karlsson's Penguins teammate, Rakell will also represent Sweden in Milan.

Arturs Silvos

The Penguins goaltender will tend the net for Team Latvia at the Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“I think the anticipation now with not having gone for so long, I think kind of feels like that comes back a bit more since it has been a while.”

— Sidney Crosby (WPXI.com)

“I'm so excited. I think watching Sweden win a gold medal was one of the biggest memories growing up. To see those players playing in the past and now I get to do that, and to share that with Karl, my teammate and my family and just a chance to win, that's all I want. That's all I can ever dream of.”

— Rickard Rakell (WPXI.com)

“It's gonna be exciting to play them against them, and torture and get in their heads or something, you know. I think it's gonna be, it's gonna be a lot of fun and a lot of competition.”

— Arturs Silvos (WPXI.com)

What’s next

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan will take place from February 6-22, 2026.

The takeaway

The return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics has generated significant excitement, especially for the Pittsburgh Penguins who will have multiple stars representing their home countries. The opportunity for these teammates to compete against each other on the international stage adds an extra layer of intrigue and national pride to the games.