It’s time for the heavyweight title fight.
The men’s hockey teams from Canada and the United States of America have both gone undefeated at the Winter Olympic Games, and now they will play on Sunday for the gold medal in one of the most-anticipated hockey games in North American history.
Last year at the 4 Nations tournament, Team USA beat Canada in the group stage before the Canadians got the last laugh with an overtime winner in the final.
Now, it’s for all the marbles on the final day of the Olympics in Milan, Italy.
Here are my top 10 players going into Sunday’s epic clash.
More news: NBC Draws Heavy Criticism After Olympic Figure Skating Move
More news: Why a Possible USA-Canada Olympic Gold Medal Finish Already Has Fans Upset
10. Sidney Crosby (Canada)
Although injured and with only about a 70% chance to play in the final, it would be unthinkable to keep him off this ranking.
At 100% or 10%, Team USA fans still have the image of Crosby scoring the golden goal against them 16 years ago in Vancouver to win the Olympic final.
9. Matthew Tkachuk (USA)
Love him or hate him, Tkachuk is an impact player and could be the X-factor in Sunday’s final. The Florida Panthers assistant captain is a big game player and has won the last two Stanley Cups.
After losing at the 4 Nations, all of Tkachuk’s trash-talking will come to a head against Canada in the final.
8. Jack Eichel (USA)
Since getting drafted into the NHL, Eichel has always been in the shadow of Connor McDavid. The second pick to the Canadian megastar in that draft over a decade ago, Eichel has always been one of the NHL’s best players but never considered the best, unlike his Canadian rival.
Eichel does have one thing McDavid doesn’t, though: a Stanley Cup victory three years ago with the Vegas Golden Knights.
7. Connor Hellebuyck (USA)
If the USA has an advantage in the gold medal final, it could be in the net.
While Hellebuyck has experienced issues in big games and hasn’t always been as good in the postseason, his ceiling is still one of the highest of any player in Sunday’s final. If the Winnipeg Jets goalie is at his best, he could steal the game for the Americans.
6. Macklin Celebrini (Canada)
It’s weird to put a 19-year-old above the likes of Crosby, Tkachuk, and other superstar players, but he’s deserved it. He has been one of the best players at the entire Olympics, and Celebrini hasn’t even reached his prime yet.
Sometimes in big games like Sunday, the kid who doesn’t know how big the moment is can be the scariest weapon. Already playing with house money, Celebrini might take over in the gold medal game.
5. Auston Matthews (USA)
The former NHL MVP, Matthews, feels like he should be much higher in this list than he is. It’s been a melancholic year for Matthews and the entire Toronto Maple Leafs franchise.
Matthews has been good at the Olympics, but he hasn’t been a force. He failed to score in the 4 Nations final and got outshone by McDavid. If the Americans want to win on Sunday, Matthews needs to be great.
4. Cale Makar (Canada)
The next two players on this ranking are interchangeable. Makar is either the best or second-best defenseman in the world, and he’s the type of player who can change a loss into a win with his ability alone.
3. Quinn Hughes (USA)
The same can be said of the Minnesota Wild defenseman. Hughes and Makar are both incredible talents, both have won Norris Trophies, and either could drive for the winning gold medal goal if given the opportunity.
Hughes has been otherworldly this tournament and is, without question, the best American player heading into Sunday.
2. Nathan MacKinnon (Canada)
MacKinnon is a generational talent and would be the best player on most NHL teams. After a 140-point season two years ago with the Colorado Avalanche, he might be having a better campaign in 2026: 93 points in 55 games with a +48.
If the No. 1 player in this ranking is covered all night by the Americans, MacKinnon has all the talent to score a hat trick while grabbing a few assists as well. He’s that scary.
1. Connor McDavid (Canada)
The best player in the world. Was there any question who would be at the top?
At the 4 Nations finals, when Matthews and McDavid were trying to assert their will in overtime, the Edmonton Oilers superstar won out in the duel with the game-winning goal.
Team USA could be up by 3 goals in the final minutes of the game, and there’s still a chance McDavid could tie up the game from his stick.
No other player in the final will have every pair of eyes on them when they touch the ice, except for McDavid.
