Super 16: Jarvis, Hagel, Wallstedt among players with strong cases for Olympics 

Days are ticking off the hockey calendar and that means we're getting closer to getting news on full official rosters for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

The deadline for all 12 competing nations to submit their official rosters is Dec. 31. You'll start seeing roster announcements around that time and in the days that follow, so that gives players on the bubble the rest of this month to show what they've got.

But they've already been doing that for nearly two months, and many have either played their way onto their respective national team for the Olympics or at bare minimum pushed their way into the complicated roster and team building discussion.

The Super 16 covers many of those players this week, at least those on the 16 teams that are ranked, including, for the second straight week, four teams that were not ranked last week.

As always, to come up with the Super 16, the 14 voters this week first put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Explore NHL.com's Coverage of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

And with that, we have the latest Olympic edition of the Super 16:

1. Colorado Avalanche (19-1-6)

Total points: 224
Last week: No. 1

"Scott Wedgewood is the most interesting case. He has been one of the best goalies in the NHL this season and put himself in the mix for Team Canada, but it's hard to say he has played himself onto the team, let alone call him a lock, because of his limited track record and the wide-open situation. Brock Nelson is interesting too. Many projected the forward would be replaced after the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he has made a case to stay on the roster for the Olympics with a strong start (17 points; nine goals, eight assists). I'd think defenseman Devon Toews is a lock for Canada, forward Artturi Lehkonen is a lock for Finland, and forward Victor Olofsson is on the bubble for Sweden. Center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar have already been named to Canada's roster. Forward Martin Necas has already been named to Czechia's and forward Gabriel Landeskog to Sweden's." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

2. Dallas Stars (18-5-5)

Total points: 210
Last week: No. 2

"The United States has a tough task in selecting an Olympic team with a deep pool of talent, but Jason Robertson has earned a spot on the roster. The forward has been incredible, leading Dallas with 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists). He has been a huge part of the offense for the Stars, who are second in the Central Division behind the red-hot Avalanche. Robertson had a good season in 2024-25, with 80 points (35 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games, but he's on pace to have a great season now. Pick him, Team USA. Pick him." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

3. Carolina Hurricanes (16-7-2)

Total points: 184
Last week: No. 3

"Seth Jarvis should be a lock to make Team Canada, not just for his offensive production but for his ability to play anywhere in the lineup. He's scored 15 goals, tied for 10th in the NHL. Though he plays on Carolina's top line, he would be great as a role player as well, which is exactly what's needed in the Olympics, since not everyone can play on the top line. He was a key player in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Canada and will do the same in the Olympics." -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (16-8-2)

Total points: 181
Last week: No. 4

"There were a few eyebrows raised when forward Brandon Hagel was named to Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off roster a year ago, but he quickly silenced any critics by being one of the team's heart-and-soul players in the tournament, as exemplified by his spirited bout with United States forward Matthew Tkachuk at the beginning of their round-robin game at Bell Centre. Hagel's mixture of hustle and muscle certainly isn't lost on Jon Cooper, the Lightning coach who served that role at 4 Nations and will again do so at the Olympics. What Cooper has seen recently is one of the hottest players in the NHL. Hagel had 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in his previous five games before being held without one in a 2-1 loss at the New York Islanders on Tuesday. He has 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 25 games for the season. Certainly trending in the right direction." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

5. Minnesota Wild (15-7-5)

Total points: 171
Last week: No. 8

"As a rookie, Jesper Wallstedt was likely not in consideration to play for Team Sweden in the Olympics, but that could change the way the 23-year-old goalie is playing this season. Wallstedt is off to an outstanding start in his first full season in the NHL with four shutouts in 10 games. The native of Vasteras, Sweden, is 8-0-2 with a 1.74 goals-against average and .944 save percentage and was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for November. Selected by Minnesota in the first round (No. 20) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Wallstedt put in development time in the American Hockey League to get to the NHL and it seems to be paying off. If Wallstedt continues to play the way he is, he will give Sweden coach Sam Hallam another option in goal, outside of teammate Filip Gustavsson, along with Jacob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils, Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators and Samuel Ersson of the Philadelphia Flyers, who are also in consideration." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

6. Anaheim Ducks (16-10-1)

Total points: 149
Last week: No. 5

"There was a high probability that Leo Carlsson was going to make Team Sweden. He is the future of that national team, and he made the roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off this past February but only played one game and was being eased into the mix, sheltered a bit, if you will. So, it's not accurate to say that Carlsson played his way onto Team Sweden, but it is accurate to say that the 20-year-old, who leads the Ducks in scoring, has played his way into the top-six forwards in Milan." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

7. New Jersey Devils (16-10-1)

Total points: 131
Last week: No. 6

"Jesper Bratt hasn't gone more than two games without a point, scoring at least one in all but 10 games this season. He leads the Devils in assists (21) and points (26), skates on the top power-play unit and kills penalties. He wasn't one of the initial players named to Sweden's roster but he's a lock to make the team when it's announced. The 27-year-old forward, who had shoulder surgery May 5, is one of the League's most underrated playmakers and will play a pivotal role for the talented Swedes." -- Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

8. Washington Capitals (17-9-2)

Total points: 127
Last week: Not ranked

"There are a few Capitals players who made strong cases to make Canada's Olympic team, including goalie Logan Thompson and defenseman Jakob Chychrun, but the one who appears closest to locking up a spot is forward Tom Wilson. Coming off being named NHL's Third Star for the week ending Nov. 30, during which he had four goals and four assists in four games, Wilson leads Washington with 16 goals and 30 points in 28 games. On a Canada team loaded with offensive stars, Wilson will likely be a role player and has shown he can play in any situation with the Capitals. With the depth of talent Canada can choose from, Wilson might not be a lock to make the team, but he's done everything expected of him." --Tom Gulitti, senior writer

9. Vegas Golden Knights (12-6-8)

Total points: 116
Last week: No. 7

"Well, we know Jack Eichel is a lock for Team USA since the Golden Knights center has already been named to its roster. I have to believe Mitch Marner will be among the forwards playing for Canada. He has 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 26 games in his first season with Vegas and had one goal and two assists in four games to help Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off. Marner has elite hockey sense and plays in all situations. I'd be surprised if Tomas Hertl isn't asked to represent Team Czechia. The forward is fourth on the Golden Knights with 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 26 games." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

10. Los Angeles Kings (12-7-7)

Total points: 85
Last week: No. 10

"Darcy Kuemper continues to make his case for Team Canada, which is in need of a goalie after none have separated themselves from the pack. He has a 2.37 GAA and .908 save percentage this season after being a Vezina finalist last season (2.02 GAA, .922 save percentage). Defenseman Drew Doughty likely will receive a look but has sustained injuries the past two seasons and the two-time gold medal winner (2010, 2014) could be on the outside looking in." -- David Satriano, staff writer

11. Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-5)

Total points: 84
Last week: Not ranked

"We'll start with the lock: Sidney Crosby was, of course, already named as part of Canada's initial six, but there are other Penguins who are making cases for the Olympics, chief among them Erik Karlsson. There were times when Karlsson's position on the team wasn't exactly a given, but the way he played at 4 Nations and since then make him, in my eyes, pretty close to a guarantee for Sweden, even in a very deep group of defensemen. Rickard Rakell will likely join him, despite still being out with a broken hand, but it's Karlsson, who has 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 25 games this season who seems to have done the most to help himself." -- Amalie Benjamin, senior writer

12. Philadelphia Flyers (15-8-3)

Total points: 58
Last week: Not ranked

"Dan Vladar might not have been on the radar for Team Czechia when the season began, but he certainly has played himself into a roster spot, with the potential to be the No. 1 goalie when the teams arrive in Italy. Vladar allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his 16 starts and was 10-5-1 with his 2.59 GAA the best of his six NHL seasons, and his .906 save percentage matching his NHL high set with the Calgary Flames in 2021-22. He began the season splitting games with Ersson, but there's no question who the No. 1 goalie in Philadelphia is. And there's reason to believe he could hold that same role for Czechia at the Olympics." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

13. New York Islanders (14-10-3)

Total points: 47
Last week: No. 9

"Matthew Schaefer was not on Hockey Canada's radar when the season began. Barely 18, a rookie, no NHL experience, why would he be? Well, he is now. Schaefer is still a longshot to play for Canada in the 2026 Olympics, but he has played his way into the conversation in just his first 27 NHL games. If not in Milan, Schaefer will almost certainly, barring injury, be a lock for the 2032 Olympics, if not also the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Bo Horvat was on Canada's radar before the season, and he has likely shot up the depth chart list with his season to date. Horvat has 16 goals, tied for fifth among Canada-born players with Wilson and Stars forward Wyatt Johnston." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

14. Ottawa Senators (13-9-4)

Total points: 41
Last week: No. 12

"Jake Sanderson played two games for the United States at 4 Nations. He was there as a replacement for Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks defenseman who was unable to play because he was recovering from an injury, so right away you knew entering this season that Sanderson was a viable option for the Americans. Nothing has changed. If anything, Sanderson's play this season has bolstered his position as a depth defenseman for Team USA. He's not a lock but has a good chance to join Ottawa teammate Brady Tkachuk in the red, white and blue in Milan." -- Rosen

15. Montreal Canadiens (14-9-3)

Total points: 29
Last week: Not ranked

"Juraj Slafkovsky was chosen among the first six players to play for Team Slovakia. Nick Suzuki is still a strong candidate for Team Canada. Suzuki is the heart and soul of the Canadiens with more than a point per game (1.20) and more than 20 minutes of ice time (20:29)." -- Jean-Francois Chaumont, journalist principal LNH.com

16. Seattle Kraken (11-7-6)

Total points: 25
Last week: No. 11

"Brandon Montour didn't get the opportunity to play for Canada at 4 Nations, but he did play for his country at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he led all defensemen with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in eight games. That impressed Hockey Canada officials enough to earn Montour an invitation to its 2025 National Teams Orientation Camp in Calgary in August. He's earning a look for the Olympic roster by how he's playing this season despite the emotional struggle he went through in October with the death of his older brother, Cameron, due to complications from ALS. He has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 20 games and playing 22:17 per game for the Kraken, who are tied with the Wild for seventhy in goals-against per game (2.63). Montour is in the mix with a lot of defensemen vying to play for Team Canada." -- Rosen

Dropped out from last week: Detroit Red Wings (No. 13), Florida Panthers (No. 14), Winnipeg Jets (No. 15), Utah Mammoth (No. 16)

Others receiving points: Red Wings 11, Boston Bruins 7, Jets 7, Chicago Blackhawks 6, New York Rangers 5, San Jose Sharks 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 2

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Anaheim Ducks; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Montreal Canadiens; 12. Winnipeg Jets; 13. Washington Capitals; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Seattle Kraken; 16. Detroit Red Wings

JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Minnesota Wild; 6. Anaheim Ducks; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. Vegas Golden Knights; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Chicago Blackhawks

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Minnesota Wild; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Washington Capitals; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Philadelphia Flyers; 11. Vegas Golden Knights; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Montreal Canadiens

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Minnesota Wild; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Philadelphia Flyers; 11. Vegas Golden Knights; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Montreal Canadiens; 15. Ottawa Senators; 16. New York Islanders

TOM GULITTI

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Minnesota Wild; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. Philadelphia Flyers; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. New York Islanders

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Montreal Canadiens; 10. Washington Capitals; 11. Ottawa Senators; 12. Chicago Blackhawks; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Philadelphia Flyers

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. Washington Capitals; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. New York Islanders; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. New York Rangers; 15. Seattle Kraken; 16. San Jose Sharks

TRACEY MYERS

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Minnesota Wild; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Washington Capitals; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Philadelphia Flyers; 12. Pittsburgh Penguins; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. New York Islanders

BILL PRICE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Minnesota Wild; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Pittsburgh Penguins; 12. Philadelphia Flyers; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Ottawa Senators; 16. Montreal Canadiens

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Minnesota Wild; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Vegas Golden Knights; 10. Washington Capitals; 11. Pittsburgh Penguins; 12. Philadelphia Flyers; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Boston Bruins; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Montreal Canadiens

DAN ROSEN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Minnesota Wild; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Washington Capitals; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. Philadelphia Flyers; 12. New Jersey Devils; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. San Jose Sharks; 16. New York Rangers

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Minnesota Wild; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Washington Capitals; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Anaheim Ducks; 9. New York Islanders; 10. Vegas Golden Knights; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Pittsburgh Penguins; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. New York Rangers

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. Vegas Golden Knights; 12. Philadelphia Flyers; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. San Jose Sharks

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. Anaheim Ducks; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Washington Capitals; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. Ottawa Senators; 12. Montreal Canadiens; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Philadelphia Flyers; 16. Seattle Kraken