Milan, Italy – Drew Doughty’s presence at the 2026 Winter Olympics wasn’t a surprise, but his impact in Canada’s opening 5-0 victory over Czechia was a welcome one. The veteran defenseman, playing in his third Olympics featuring NHL players, stepped up after an early injury to teammate Josh Morrissey, logging nearly 19 minutes of ice time and playing a key role in two Canadian goals.
Doughty, along with Sidney Crosby, are the only two Canadian players with prior Olympic experience, having both won gold at the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Games – the last Olympics to include NHL talent. The 36-year-old Doughty arrived in Milan having struggled down the stretch with the Los Angeles Kings, posting a minus-12 rating and just one assist in his final 18 games. Concerns about his recent form led to speculation he might see limited ice time in Italy, particularly with Canada carrying eight defensemen.
However, Morrissey’s departure early in the game forced head coach Jon Cooper to lean more heavily on his experienced players. Doughty responded, effectively disrupting Czech plays in the defensive zone and contributing to the transition game. He didn’t register a point, but his defensive positioning and puck movement were instrumental in creating scoring opportunities.
Before Bo Horvat’s breakaway goal, Doughty prevented a dangerous odd-man rush by forcing Martin Necas to dump the puck into the Canadian zone, rather than allowing a pass to David Pastrnak. Later, his aggressive play kept the puck alive in the offensive zone, leading to a Nick Suzuki goal. “You have to be open-minded and proceed with the flow,” Crosby said, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the Olympic environment, as reported by the Daily Faceoff. “There are always different things that reach up… you just have to embrace the whole experience.”
With Morrissey’s status uncertain, Doughty and his defensive partner, Thomas Harley, are likely to see increased playing time. Canada will not be adding a replacement for Morrissey, meaning the existing defensive corps will need to shoulder the load. Doughty’s ability to elevate his game when needed mirrors his performance in Vancouver, where he progressed from a seventh defenseman to a key contributor during Canada’s gold medal run.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Brock Nelson of the United States made a strong statement in Team USA’s opening game. Despite pre-tournament criticism, Nelson scored twice and hit a post in just over 13 minutes of ice time, demonstrating immediate chemistry with Jack Hughes. Nelson’s recent scoring surge – 13 goals in the NHL leading up to the Olympic break – continued on the international stage.
Germany as well impressed in their opening match, defeating Denmark 3-1, fueled by a strong performance from Tim Stutzle. Stutzle continued a hot streak that saw him score in five of his final seven games with the Ottawa Senators. Germany’s potential extends beyond Stutzle, with Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider, and Philipp Grubauer all playing key roles. Grubauer’s strong showing against Denmark, stopping 37 of 38 shots, provides a solid foundation for Germany’s goaltending.
Sweden secured a 5-2 victory over Italy, but the game wasn’t without its unusual moments. Filip Forsberg, a potent scorer for the Nashville Predators, was limited to just over a minute of ice time after a costly turnover led to an Italian goal. Veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson didn’t see any ice time at all, despite a strong season. Sweden’s coaching staff will likely need to re-evaluate their forward and defensive rotations as the tournament progresses.
