The Milan-Cortina Olympics mark a long-awaited return of NHL players, with Minnesota Wild stars eyeing a Team USA, Germany and Sweden presence. Brock Faber, Matt Boldy, Nico Sturm, Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek have Olympic potential, with Boldy prioritizing Wild form over looming gold. The league pause runs Feb. 11–22, elevating the season's drama as rosters tighten and injuries ripple through the lineup.

The piece also tracks Wild developments—cuts, injuries, and lineup logistics—while framing Russia’s absence and Tarasenko’s remarks within a broader Olympic context. Guerin and Hynes’ USA roles tighten the connection between club and country as the 4 Nations backdrop foreshadows Milan-Cortina. Fantasy angles hinge on who lands Olympic spots and how the break reshapes Wild momentum.

Europe seized Day 1 at Bethpage Black, sweeping three foursomes in the morning and adding two more wins with a halve in the afternoon to forge a 5½–2½ lead. Rahm, McIlroy and Fleetwood set the tone, underscoring that home crowds don’t guarantee momentum in the Ryder Cup. Scheffler and DeChambeau were beaten in both his matches, while Cantlay and Burns steadied the Americans in one early result. Bradley fired up the crowd on the first tee as Trump watched briefly, confirming Europe’s early edge could tilt the weekend.

Fantasy takeaway centers on Rahm’s 2–0 start and Cantlay’s resilience, while Europe’s depth shows more paths to points regardless of matchup. The US must recalibrate after a rough opening day, and Day 2 will test whether home-field noise becomes a weapon or a distraction for the Americans.

Bethpage Black’s warning sign won’t greet the 2025 Ryder Cup crowd as a 5,000-seat grandstand reshapes the first tee and 18th green. The first tee box has moved up about 40 yards, opening sightlines and tempo.

With US control of the setup, the rough will be softer and greens will run around 12-13, yielding lower scoring and tight match drama. Rory McIlroy and Europe aim to turn that into a tactical edge, while Luke Donald and Paul McGinley map adaptive strategies that could swing fantasy outcomes.