NHL and NHLPA’s Milan stop launches a first-of-its-kind cross-sport activation with Serie A clubs Inter and Milan, spotlighting a shared global fan pulse for hockey and soccer. In a week of events in Milan, 26 NHL stars will mingle with European soccer icons, with a focus on Olympic visibility ahead of Milano Cortina 2026. Seven players named to preliminary Olympic rosters—Aho, Heiskanen, Seider, Raymond, Hischier, Nylander, and Zibanejad—anchor the roster as Inter hosts a training session and Milan’s opener vs Cremonese. The journey includes jersey exchanges with Serie A legends and a broadcaster summit to amplify cross-border storytelling.

The alliance aims to translate on-field star power into digital and live experiences for fantasy audiences and global fans, leveraging both leagues’ brands and broadcast ecosystems. A historic jersey swap at MSG from a March 2025 moment between Mika Zibanejad and Pirlo/Materazzi underscored the ambition to fuse hockey and soccer narratives. As Milan pivots toward 2025–26, the collaboration is framed as a blueprint for cross-sport engagement, talent mobility, and a broader, more immersive fan experience that transcends traditional league boundaries.

Miro Heiskanen has announced that he is fully recovered from the knee surgery he underwent in February, ready to rejoin the Dallas Stars for the upcoming season. Heiskanen, attending Finland’s national team orientation camp for the 2026 Winter Olympics, expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, "My knee can take all the practice and feels fine." His return is timely as he aims to contribute to Finland's Olympic title defense.

Heiskanen's past experience includes representing Finland at the 2018 Winter Olympics and various IIHF Championships, where he contributed significantly. Notably, the Dallas Stars defenseman is among six players included in Finland's preliminary Olympic roster, alongside teammates Esa Lindell and Mikko Rantanen. As Finland prepares for the Olympics, Heiskanen emphasizes a focused approach, stating, "We take one game at a time, focusing on the journey rather than the pressure of repeating our gold medal success."

Nils Lundkvist has recently tied the knot, joining fellow Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen in celebrating personal milestones. Lundkvist married Malin Norén in Sweden, a notable event highlighted on social media channels.

At just 25 years old, Lundkvist is back with the Stars after signing a one-year extension worth $1.25 million. His previous season saw him sidetracked by a shoulder injury that required surgery, but he was cleared for contact during the playoffs, though he couldn't return in time to impact the team's run. With a full recovery, he is poised to fulfill the potential that general manager Jim Nill recognized when he was acquired for two draft picks in 2022.