Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl among initial six players named to Germany’s 2026 Olympic roster

Draisaitl will be joined by Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle, Florida Panthers forward Nico Sturm, Chicago Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel, Detroit Red Wings defenceman Moritz Seider, and Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer.

It has been a few years since Draisaitl has represented his country on the international stage. The last time the Köln native played for Träger der Adler came during the 2019 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Granted, it has been difficult for Draisaitl to play internationally, given the Oilers’ deep runs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the past four postseasons, with the team currently in the midst of the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row.

Draisaitl’s tenure on the international stage might not be as decorated as that of teammate and Oilers captain Connor McDavid, but he has performed well when called upon. He played for Germany at the 2011 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, the 2012 and 2013 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships and the 2013 and 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships.

He also has made five appearances with the senior national team at the IIHF Men’s World Championships, finishing as one of Germany’s top three players in the 2017 and 2018 tournaments. Draisaitl was also a runner-up during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, as he was a young member of a veteran-laden Team Europe squad that lost to Canada in the final series.

2026 will mark the first time since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi that NHLers will be allowed to play. The league was initially scheduled to be involved with the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, but the rise in COVID-19 outbreaks forced the NHL to withdraw.

Draisaitl and company will look to replicate the incredible run Germany had at the 2018 Olympics, where the country made an improbable run to the gold medal game, ultimately losing to the Olympic Athletes of Russia.

Germany is set to play in Group C in next year’s tournament, going up against the likes of the United States, Latvia and Denmark. While the Germans aren’t favoured to win the group, there’s a good chance they can sneak into a quarterfinal spot.

The men’s tournament is set to begin on Feb. 11, 2026, with the gold medal game scheduled for Feb. 22.