Flames forward Martin Pospisil named to Slovakian national team for 2026 Olympics

A fourth-round selection by the Flames back in 2018, Pospisil has represented his country several times recently. As a junior-aged player he represented Slovakia at the 2017 Under-18 World Championship and the 2019 World Junior Championship. As a senior-aged player he’s suited up at the 2024 World Championship and the 2024 Olympic Qualifying tournament, helping Slovakia punch their ticket to the 2026 Olympic men’s tournament. He missed the 2025 World Championship due to some bumps and bruises he suffered during the NHL season, but he’s been enough of a presence for the Slovakian national team in recent appearances that he was widely expected to make the team.

A product of Zloven, Slovakia, the 25-year-old Pospisil has really enjoyed some progression in his career in the past few years. Renowned for his size, skill and snarl – former Flames general manager Brad Treliving once snarked that Pospisil “could find trouble at church” – the forward had struggled with some rough injury luck that had hampered his movement up the Flames’ organizational ladder. But he earned a call-up early in the 2023-24 season after impressing Calgary Wranglers head coach Trent Cull with his play, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Through two seasons in the NHL, Pospisil has carved out a niche for himself as a winger that can use his size and speed to create offence, but he’s smart enough as a two-way player that he’s not a defensive liability. And while early on he seemed to have challenges figuring out where the line is in terms of physicality, he’s largely avoided the wrath of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety during his short career. Through 144 games with the Flames, Pospisil has 12 goals and 49 points (and 193 penalty minutes).

The 2026 Winter Olympics take place Feb. 6-22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The men’s hockey tournament will feature the participation of NHL players for the first time since 2014.