In 2026, NHL players are set to return to the olympics after a 12-year absence since the 2014 Sochi Games. The tournament was confirmed and it will reclaim the best-on-best title after the NHL Players' Association finalized an agreement with the IIHF and IOC in Zurich, Switzerland in July.

Players will head to Europe after the pause of regular season NHL play on February 5th, taking over where the typical all star break would coincide.

They will return to NHL play on February 25 after the coronation of an Olympic men's ice hockey champion.

• Watch Professional, Junior Hockey Games Streaming Live On FloHockey
• Read The Latest 2026 Winter Olympics News On FloHockey
• 2026 Winter Olympics Hockey Rosters: Full List Including Team Canada
• Check Out The AHL Players Selected For The 2026 Winter Olympics

Here are the important dates to know.

When Does The NHL Season Pause For The Winter Olympics 2026

The National Hockey League (NHL) 2025-26 season will take a pause after the conclusion of games on Thursday, February 5th, through Wednesday, February 25.

Key Dates For The 2025-26 NHL Season

• October 7 - First regular season games
• January 2 - 2026 Winter Classic, Florida Panthers vs New York Rangers
• February 1 - 2026 Stadium Series, Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins
• February 5 - Last games before break 
• February 11-22 - 2026 Winter Olympics
• February 25 - Games return from break
• April 16 - Last regular season games
• April - Start of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
• June - 2026 Stanley Cup Finals

When and Where Are The Winter Olympics - Milan Cortina 2026?

The 2026 Winter Olympics, known as Milan Cortina 2026, is scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026. 

Preliminary hockey rounds will begin on Thursday, February 5. Competition will continue throughout the week and conclude with the women's gold medal match on Thursday, February 19. The men's gold medal match will be played on Sunday, February 22 at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place at multiple sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy. Ice events will be hosted in Milan and other events to be hosted around Cortina and in the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys across Italy.

The joint-host were selected in 2019 and are the first Olympic Games to be co-hosted by multiple cities.

Milan Cortina 2026 Live Coverage Coming To FloHockey

FloHockey is your source for the best coverage, live broadcasts, and all access content below the National Hockey League—over the next few weeks that includes coverage of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy. 

Every day at 6:30 p.m. ET from Feb. 12-18, FloHockey analyst Chris Peters and co-host Robert Rabiak will be bringing you the latest coverage, analysis, and news from Milan Cortina 2026.

Here's when to tune in on the final weekend, Feb. 19-22:

• Thursday, Feb. 19 - 4:30 p.m. ET
• Friday, Feb. 20 - 6:30 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Feb. 21 - 9:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Feb. 22 - 11:30 a.m. ET

Tune in LIVE on the FloHockey 24/7 FAST channel, available on Prime Video and Fubo, or watch for free on FloHockey YouTube.

Watch The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, Skills Competition And More

The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO will be held on February 10-11 in Rockford, Ill. at the home of the Chicago Blackhawks American Hockey League affiliate Rockford IceHogs.

The 2026 AHL All-Star Skills Competition takes place on Tuesday to open the on-ice action, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. It's a battle of the best in the Eastern vs the best in the Western as players show off their elite talent in seven skills events.

Then, on Wednesday, the fun continues at 8:00 p.m. ET with the 2026 AHL All-Star Challenge—a four team, 3-on-3 round robin tournament—all leading to one eight-minute 3-on-3 championship finale game.

Follow along on FloHockey for the latest American Hockey League live streams, all access coverage and more.

Watch Hockey Live Streams Free On FloHockey

From the top 2026 NHL draft prospects to first-round picks looking to develop their game before making it in the National Hockey League—FloHockey has the best broadcast schedule for junior hockey and professional hockey below the NHL.

Each week, you can catch numerous Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), American Hockey League (AHL), ECHL and many more games streaming live for free on FloHockey and YouTube.

Who Won The Stanley Cup Playoffs In 2025?

The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. The defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Who was the first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft?

The first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft was made by the New York Islanders, who picked Matthew Schaefer, an elite defenseman with expert puck movement skills.

Other Overall Top Picks In 2025

1. Matthew Schaefer (D) - New York Islanders
2. Michael Misa (C) - San Jose Sharks
3. Anton Frondell (C) - Chicago Blackhawks
4. Caleb Desnoyers (C) - Utah Mammoth
5. Brady Martin (C) - Nashville Predators
6. Porter Martone (RW) - Philadelphia Flyers
7. James Hagens (C) - Boston Bruins
8. Jake O'Brien (C) - Seattle Kraken
9. Radim Mrtka (D) - Buffalo Sabres
10. Roger McQueen (C) - Anaheim Ducks

When is the 2026 NHL Draft?

The 64th annual NHL Entry Draft is expected to be held in the summer of 2026. In 2025, it was held on June 27 and 28.

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Watch the AHL, ECHL, QMJHL, USHL, And More On FloHockey

FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

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