Denmark, Germany Announce 2026 Olympic Rosters

Wednesday morning, Denmark and Germany became the latest nations to have the IIHF announce their rosters for next month’s Olympics:

Denmark

Forwards:

• LW Mikkel Aagaard (Skellefteå/SHL)
• LW Mathias Bau (Herning Blue Fox/Denmark)
• RW Oliver Bjorkstrand (Lightning)
• RW Joachim Blichfeld (Tappara/Liiga)
• LW Nikolaj Ehlers (Hurricanes)
• C Lars Eller (Senators)
• RW Nicklas Jensen (Rapperswil-Jona Lakers/NL)
• C Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (Kraken)
• LW Nick Olesen (Motor České Budějovice/ELH)
• LW Morten Poulsen (Herning Blue Fox/Denmark)
• RW Jonas Røndbjerg (Golden Knights)
• RW Patrick Russell (Kölner Haie/DEL)
• LW Frederik Storm (Kölner Haie/DEL)
• C Alexander True (JYP/Liiga)
• C Christian Wejse (Fischtown Pinguins/DEL)

Defensemen:

• LD Jesper Jensen Aabo (EC-KAC/ICEHL)
• RD Phillip Bruggisser (Fischtown Pinguins/DEL)
• LD Nicholas B. Jensen (Fischtown Pinguins/DEL)
• LD Anders Koch (Graz99ers/ICEHL)
• LD Matias Lassen (Iserlohn Roosters/DEL)
• LD Markus Lauridsen (Pustertal/ICEHL)
• LD Oliver Lauridsen (TPS/Liiga)

Goaltenders:

• G Frederik Andersen (Hurricanes)
• G Frederik Dichow (HV71/SHL)
• G Mads Søgaard (Senators)

Many will be surprised by the number of Danish names with NHL experience. Nine out of their 15 forwards have a big-league game to their name, even if only a handful are still left playing in North America.

Bjorkstrand and Ehlers are this roster’s only star-caliber skaters on an international level, though. The lack of high-end depth at both forward and defense will be a challenge for them as they aim to surpass Germany or Latvia and avoid finishing last in Group C.

Goaltending is a strong suit, comparatively. Andersen and Søgaard have struggled stateside this season, but Andersen has been spectacular in his recent but limited international experience. He had a .938 SV% in three games in last season’s Olympic qualifying tournament to help get them here, just their second Olympic appearance all-time after making a shock quarterfinal run in their debut in 2022.

Mølgaard will be an intriguing name to watch. The 20-year-old is the youngest name on the team by four years and was a second-round pick by Seattle in 2023. In his first season in North America, he’s made his NHL debut and recorded 18 points in 29 AHL games.

Germany

Forwards:

• C Leon Draisaitl (Oilers)
• RW Alexander Ehl (Adler Mannheim/DEL)
• C Dominik Kahun (Lausanne/NL)
• LW Marc Michaelis (Adler Mannheim/DEL)
• LW JJ Peterka (Mammoth)
• LW Lukas Reichel (Canucks)
• LW Tobias Rieder (München/DEL)
• C Josh Samanski (Oilers)
• LW Justin Schütz (Adler Mannheim/DEL)
• LW Wojciech Stachowiak (Lightning)
• C Tim Stützle (Senators)
• C Nico Sturm (Wild)
• LW Frederik Tiffels (Eisbären Berlin/DEL)
• RW Parker Tuomie (Kölner Haie/DEL)

Defensemen:

• RD Leon Gawanke (Adler Mannheim/DEL)
• LD Korbinian Geibel (Eisbären Berlin/DEL)
• LD Lukas Kälble (Adler Mannheim/DEL)
• LD Jonas Müller (Eisbären Berlin/DEL)
• LD Moritz Müller (Kölner Haie/DEL)
• RD Moritz Seider (Red Wings)
• LD Fabio Wagner (München/DEL)
• RD Kai Wissmann (Eisbären Berlin/DEL)

Goaltenders:

• G Maximilian Franzreb (Adler Mannheim/DEL)
• G Philipp Grubauer (Kraken)
• G Mathias Niederberger (München/DEL)

There will be understandable conversations about Germany’s depth as they compete with Latvia for second place in Group C, but there’s no question that their star power is the best it’s ever been. Draisaitl, Peterka, and Stützle as the top-six anchors up front would be an envious trio for most “second-tier” hockey nations, while Seider as a No. 1 option on the blue line is leagues better than what competitors like Denmark, Slovakia, or even Czechia have to offer.

In goal, Grubauer’s resurgence stateside couldn’t come at a better time for the German national team. He’s been the best backup in the league behind Joey Daccord, flourishing with reduced workload and expectations after largely flaming out as the Kraken’s starter. In 14 appearances, he’s put up a league-leading .926 SV% and ranks seventh in the league in goals saved above expected with 11, per MoneyPuck. While it’s his first Olympic appearance, he’s made 22 World Championship appearances over the years and has a .915 mark in those.