The 2026 Winter Olympics Men's Ice Hockey tournament wrapped up yesterday with arguably the greatest hockey game ever played, as Team USA triumphed 2-1 over Team Canada to capture its first Gold Medal since 1980. The game's countless twists and turns brought hockey fans around the globe to the edges of their seats, until Jack Hughes netted the Golden Goal just under two minutes into overtime.

Truthfully, there are far more than ten players who deserve recognition for their incredible performances in this tournament. However, in the spirit of this column, here are the Top 10 Men's Hockey performers from the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

(Statistics courtesy of QuantHockey)

10.   Lucas Raymond, RW, Team Sweden

Despite bowing out of the tournament in the quarterfinals, 23-year-old Lucas Raymond was spectacular for Team Sweden, racking up nine points (one goal, eight assists) in five games. Raymond's nine points trailed only Connor McDavid (13) and Macklin Celebrini (10) for tops in the tournament, and his eight assists ranked second overall. For additional context, Raymond factored into over half of the goals that Team Sweden generated as a team over its five games (17). While Sweden couldn't capture a medal in 2026, the team can hang its helmet on an enormous performance by one of its brightest young stars.

9.   Juraj Slafkovský, LW/RW, Team Slovakia

If it's possible to shock the hockey world with a fourth-place finish, Team Slovakia did just that in Milano Cortina, largely thanks to the contributions of 21-year-old Juraj Slafkovský. Slaf was a beast for the underdog Slovaks all tournament long, powering his squad to the Bronze Medal game with eight points (four goals, four assists) in six games. Despite lacking many other NHLers to rely on, Slaf was a wrecking ball for Slovakia, making his presence felt each shift with his signature blend of power and finesse. Long overlooked as a hockey nation, Slafkovský and Team Slovakia put the world on notice this year.

8.   Joel Armia, RW, Team Finland

While many could've predicted a Bronze Medal for Team Finland at Milano Cortina, nobody could've predicted a Bronze with Joel Armia leading the team in scoring. However, that's precisely what happened, as the defensively minded winger recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) in six games. Along with his impressive point total, Armia's +7 rating ranked second among all forwards in the tournament, behind only Team USA's Jack Hughes (more on him below). While it's highly unlikely that Armia will maintain his scoring pace upon his return to Los Angeles, he picked a perfect time catch fire and elevate the stingy Finns to the podium.  

7.   Nathan MacKinnon, Team Canada

A unifying characteristic among the world's best athletes is an insatiable desire for more. Even with several individual awards (including the Hart and the Ted Lindsay) and the Stanley Cup to his name, there's no doubt Nate will be thinking about that yawning cage for the rest of his days. But despite yesterday's heartbreaking finish, Nate Dogg showcased his world-class abilities in Italy, electrifying audiences all tournament long. While it may take a bit of time to recalibrate to NHL action, you can bet that Nate the Great will bounce back like a Dogg on a bone.  

6.   Jordan Binnington, G, Team Canada

Easily Team Canada's biggest question mark entering the 2026 Olympics was the dependability of expected number one goaltender Jordan Binnington. To any casual hockey fan, the idea of starting a goalie ranked dead last in Goals Saved Above Expected over a goalie ranked third in the same category this year would be unthinkable, but that's the beauty of our game. Despite his profound struggles with the Blues, Binner dominated in the Red and White, finishing the tournament with a rock-solid .917 SV% and a 1.78 GAA. Although it can't feel great giving up the Golden Goal, Binnington more than held his own in Milan Cortina, showing hockey fans everywhere that, sometimes, stats don't tell the whole story. 

5.   Macklin Celebrini, C, Team Canada

There are simply no words to adequately validate the astonishing Olympic performance of sophomore sensation Macklin Celebrini. In just two weeks, Celebrini showed the world that talent talks when it comes to superstardom. Despite likely being too young to remember Sidney Crosby's Golden Goal in 2010, Celebrini was everything Team Canada could have asked for and more in 2026, earning a spot on Canada's top line when the stakes were highest. Despite finishing the tournament with the second-most points (10), the look on Celebrini's face said it all when he was presented with a Silver Medal yesterday, the best is yet to come.

4.   Quinn Hughes, D, Team USA

After missing the Four Nations tournament due to injury, the hockey world braced itself for Quinn Hughes' descent upon Milano Cortina. Throughout the tournament, Hughes exemplified what makes him one of the world's greatest defencemen, leading all d-men in scoring with eight points (one goal, seven assists) in six games. Along the way, Hughes showed flashes of sheer brilliance with the puck, highlighted by his overtime winner in the quarterfinals to send Team Sweden packing. While Quinn Hughes' OT winner won't go down as the most important goal for Team USA in his immediate family, it cemented his prominent place on this list and on the international stage.

3.   Connor McDavid, C, Team Canada

While Connor McDavid couldn't quite realize his childhood dream by leading Canada to Gold, the world's best player did absolutely everything he could to will Team Canada in that direction. McDavid's patented intensity was on full display every time the television cameras caught him on the bench, eyes darting ahead. And every time he stepped on the ice, McDavid's blinding speed and lightning-quick hands took over, leading him to finish the tourney with a ridiculous 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in six games. While a Gold Medal was the sole souvenir with which McDavid and his teammates would've been content, his all-time-great individual performance is worthy of recognition.

2.   Jack Hughes, C/LW, Team USA

Jack Hughes immediately became an American icon yesterday, snapping a wrister by Jordan Binnington to capture Gold for Team USA at Milano Cortina. Hughes' Golden Goal capped off a successful tournament for the 24-year-old, who registered seven points (four goals, three assists) in six games. Selected first overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Hughes' career has been overshadowed by several injuries, which have cost him games in each of his seven NHL seasons thus far. But despite losing a few teeth earlier in the game, Hughes netted one of the most important goals in American sports history and, in so doing, added a new shiny chapter to his growing hockey legacy.

1.   Connor Hellebuyck, G, Team USA

Following yesterday's historic win, Golden-Goal-hero Jack Hughes attributed the team's victory to the performance of superstar teammate Connor Hellebuyck. And for good reason. Outshot 42-28 and outplayed for extended portions of the game, it's impossible to imagine Hughes' golden moment without Helly's preceding performance. Overall, Hellebuyck finished the tournament with an absurd .956 SV% and a miniscule 1.18 GAA, leading the tournament in each category. While questions swirled around Hellebuyck's ability to deliver in the clutch entering the tournament, he emphatically put those questions to rest yesterday by shutting the door, capturing Gold, and cementing his legacy as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: This week's Top 10 is my final column as the weekly writer for Dobber. It's fitting to close out with an Olympic-themed piece, as I'm excited to "pass the torch" to my colleague Caleb Desjardins, who will be taking over the column moving forward.

As always, follow me on X @SmoothE27 for more fantasy hockey content and analysis, and feel free to DM me with any questions about your team. Thank you to everyone who's followed along and best of luck to all!