EDGE stats: X-factors for Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

NHL.com's fantasy staff covers the latest trends and storylines in the League through the lens of NHL EDGE puck and player tracker stats. Today, we identify the X-factors for the semifinals of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

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Canada: Macklin Celebrini, F (San Jose Sharks)

The youngest NHL player at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 (19 years old), Celebrini leads the entire tournament in goals (five) and is second in points (nine in four games) behind Connor McDavid, his frequent linemate for Canada. Celebrini ranks fourth in the entire NHL in points (81 in 55 games) this season and has factored on 47.9 percent of San Jose’s goals (81 of 169), making him one of the top Hart Trophy candidates. Per NHL EDGE stats, Celebrini is second in the entire NHL in both midrange shots on goal (101; behind Nathan MacKinnon’s 110) and midrange goals (15; behind MacKinnon’s 16) and ranks sixth among forwards in hardest shot (97.89 mph). Celebrini also ranks in the 95th percentile among forwards in both average shot speed (62.39 mph) and 20-plus mph speed bursts (140) this season and has taken on an expanded role with the injury to Sidney Crosby. -- Troy Perlowitz

Finland: Juuse Saros, G (Nashville Predators)

The 30-year-old goalie has three wins, a .938 save percentage and one shutout in four games for Finland at the 2026 Olympics and has proven to be an efficient workhorse through the years for the Predators in the NHL. Saros has a .912 save percentage and 27 shutouts in 452 career NHL games for Nashville and three seasons of at least 33 wins (including career-high 38 in 2021-22), giving him the potential to steal any single game. It's also worth noting Finland has top defenseman Miro Heiskanen healthy after he missed the 4 Nations Face-Off because of injury. Per NHL EDGE stats, Saros ranks third in the League in high-danger saves (281) and seventh in midrange save percentage (.923). -- Jensen

Slovakia: Juraj Slafkovsky, F (Montreal Canadiens)

Slafkovsky has seven points (three goals, four assists) in four games during the 2026 Olympics and now has scored 10 goals in 11 career games over the past two Olympics combined. In his fourth NHL season, Slafkovsky has already reached career highs in goals (21), power-play goals (10) and power-play points (17) through 57 games for Montreal. Slafkovsky is the only NHL player with at least 20 goals, 100 shots on goal (117), 80 hits (83) and 40 blocks (53) this season. Slafkovsky, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, scored seven goals in seven games for Slovakia to lead the entire 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was also tied for the tournament lead in points (seven). Per NHL EDGE stats, Slafkovsky ranks highly among forwards in high-danger goals (12; 91st percentile), midrange goals (six; 88th percentile), midrange shots on goal (43; 87th percentile) and max skating speed (23.03 mph; 87th percentile) this season. -- Chris Meaney

United States: Quinn Hughes, D (Minnesota Wild)

The U.S. has had Hughes healthy for the Olympics after he missed the entire 4 Nations Face-Off because of injury, and he has six points (one goal, five assists) in four games, including the overtime goal to defeat Sweden in the quarterfinals. The U.S. has the NHL’s top two skaters in terms of average ice time this season: Hughes (27:52 per game) is first, and Zach Werenski is second (26:22). Hughes ranks second among active NHL defensemen in career points per game (0.96) behind Cale Makar (1.08). While Werenski led the 4 Nations Face-Off in assists and points (six each), Hughes is now expected to take over the top pair and first power play for the U.S. and could carry over his momentum since being acquired by the Wild from the Vancouver Canucks (34 points in 26 games since trade). Per NHL EDGE stats, Hughes ranks third among defensemen in midrange shots on goal (52) and sixth at the position in 20-plus mph speed bursts (113). -- Jensen