Don’t let the Calgary Flames nightmare season distract you. Best on best hockey is returning at the Olympics in February for the first time in over 10 years. With the NHL’s best finally back competing for gold, we may get the chance to watch some current Flames on the biggest stage. After a tough start to the season for the team though, how has each Olympic hopefuls stock changed? Let’s take a look.
Slovakia
Sam Honzek – Stock up
Despite not having a large NHL resume under his belt, Sam Honzek has always looked like a good bet for the Slovakian team at the Olympics. I mean, there’s only been three Slovakian forwards who have logged NHL games this season, and Honzek is one them.
In fact his three points make him the second highest scoring Slovakian forward in the NHL behind only Juraj Slafkovsky. Now that he’s established himself as a full-time NHL player, his stock has certainly increased even more. If he were still floundering in the AHL, there was an outside chance he wouldn’t make the roster. Now though, he’ll likely be one of their top options offensively.
Sweden
Rasmus Andersson – Stock slightly down
Despite being the only Flame at the 4-Nations tournament, Rasmus Andersson’s rough start to the 2025-26 season has slightly lowered his Olympic stock. With five points in 17 games, Andersson is currently the 11th highest scoring Swedish defenceman this season. Considering he’s competing for a spot on what should be the third best team at the tournament, Andersson is far from a lock at this point.
With that said, his experience and handedness as a righty are big advantages for him over younger players like Simon Edvinsson. His stock is down, but a spot on team Sweden is still the likely outcome unless his play somehow gets even worse.
Mikael Backlund – Stock up
Veteran Mikael Backlund was apparently one of the final cuts from Sweden’s 4-Nations roster, meaning he still holds value to the Swedish brass. Given his long past of playing for Sweden, including captaining the Swedes to gold at the 2018 World Championships, Backlund is always in the mix for Sweden at these tournaments.
With a decent start to the 2025-26 season, Backlund’s Olympic stock has risen slightly. With the likes of Elias Lindholm and William Eklund currently on IR, and fringe players like Fabian Zetterlund and Viktor Arvidsson struggling, Backlund’s chances of making the roster look better than they did a couple months ago.
Canada
MacKenzie Weegar – Stock way down
MacKenzie Weegar was already in tough to make arguably the best blueline in the tournament, but after a real tough start to the 2025-26 season his chances seem to be almost zero now. Weegar needed to come flying out of the gates in 2025-26 to crack the Canadian roster after being left out of the 4-Nations tournament. Instead he’s playing some of the worst hockey we’ve seen from him since coming to Calgary.
While there’s still time to right the ship, the Canadian roster is always political. Weegar would’ve had to play so well he forced the Canadians hand into taking him. With a slow start and just four points in 17 games, the Olympic dream for Weegar is likely dead.
United States
Dustin Wolf – Stock way down
Much like Weegar, Wolf was already in tough to crack his countries roster. The Americans have arguably the best goaltending pool in the world, and Wolf would’ve needed to come out playing Vezina level hockey again this year to even be considered. Given his poor start to the season with a .892 save percentage and 3.26 GAA, Wolf has fallen completely off the Olympic radar.
Even with the likes of Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger struggling as well, those two have the advantage of being named to the roster in the past. With the emergence of Spencer Knight as well, Wolf has been bumped way down the Americans depth chart. 2030 is the target now.
Matt Coronato – Stock way down
Matt Coronato was always a longshot to make the stacked American roster. However after a strong 24 goal, 47 point 2024-25 season, he at least put himself on the radar. With another step forward this season and a hot start to the year, Coronato had the chance to play himself into a depth role on the American team. Remember Andrew Mangiapane’s very real 2022 Olympic campaign?
Instead, Coronato has looked like a shell of his 2024-25 self, finding himself healthy scratched at one point. His longshot odds at playing at the Olympics now look like impossible odds.
Czechia
Adam Klapka – Stock slightly down
Like some of the other names listed above, Adam Klapka was always in tough to make his nations team for the Olympic. However after a strong finish to the 2024-25 season and a good showing for Czechia at the 2025 World Championships, it appeared as though he may actually play himself onto the roster. Unfortunately a slow start in 2025-26 has dropped his stock. With only four points in 16 games, Klapka isn’t exactly making a strong case for being on the team.
Sure he still ranks as the sixth highest scoring Czech forward in the NHL this year, but the Czech’s always bring a Euro-league heavy contingent to the Olympics. Given he’s not a star or an NHL veteran, he’s in tough to make the team due to his poor start.
Representation at the international stage
The NHL returning to the Olympics is massive for the sport of hockey. For the Flames, they have several players in the mix to play in the tournament, but a league worst start to the season hasn’t helped.
