Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby headline Canada stars’ NHL return schedule after Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics

The Olympic silver medal run in Canada can be, perhaps, finished in heartbreak, and now the emphasis is fast shifting back to the grind of the National Hockey League seasons. Some of the most prominent stars in the country will be back in their respective clubs only a few days after they have been playing on the international scene in Italy.

Following the off-season patterns of high-scoring performances, injuries, and even storylines, the cameras are with the elite players of the Canadian team as they move towards the Olympic intensity levels in the late-season

NHL games. The following is a closer examination of when and where the most prominent names go back into action – and the implications it has on their teams.

Connor McDavid will be projected to be in the lineup of the Edmonton Oilers this week after his performance of the week at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The captain of the Oilers was one of the most productive players in Canada in the tournament and now turns his attention to the NHL game being played today, as Edmonton tries to push further in the Pacific Division table.

Edmonton is experiencing a desperate period in the regular season, and the appearance of McDavid is decisive. The fact that he led the league in terms of offensive output before the Olympic break put him at the forefront of leaders in the league, and the Oilers will be relying on him to put them back on track in terms of the playoffs.

This game is one of the most important NHL match previews for a team that needs a little stability at the end of the season.

In the meantime, Sidney Crosby is set to resume playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the injury news in the NHL is still a plot to follow. The longtime forward was absent in the Olympic medal round of the Canadians because of a lower-body problem, which casts doubt on whether he would be available as Pittsburgh returns to the field.