Centers Lars Eller and Martin Fehervary from the Washington Capitals have been selected to represent Denmark and Slovakia, respectively, in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. This marks an exciting moment as NHL players return to Olympic competition after an absence since 2014. With preliminary rosters being announced, anticipation is building for the tournament in Milano Cortina.

Notably absent will be Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin, as the Russian team is barred from participating due to political tensions stemming from the conflict in Ukraine. While the full rosters are expected closer to the game's February start, nine of the twelve competing teams have already made their selections. Both Eller and Fehervary bring valuable experience; Fehervary recently had a standout season, and Eller, a seasoned player, was traded to the Capitals recently and contributed significantly to their playoff efforts.