The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has announced the first six players named to Switzerland's preliminary roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, and the New Jersey Devils are well-represented. Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler will be donning the Swiss colors, joined by Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi, Winnipeg Jets forward Nino Niederreiter, and Los Angeles Kings forward Kevin Fiala.
This announcement marks an exciting step towards the 2026 Winter Olympics, where NHL players will participate for the first time in 12 years, adding a significant boost to the competition. The inclusion of these talented players highlights Switzerland's growing strength in ice hockey and their ambition to compete for a medal.
Nico Hischier, the Devils' captain, is a key component of the Swiss team. The 26-year-old center recorded 35 goals and 34 assists in 69 games during the 2024-25 season. His leadership and offensive capabilities will be invaluable to Switzerland's chances. Throughout his NHL career, Hischier has amassed 171 goals and 251 assists for 422 points in 527 regular-season games.
Timo Meier, another prominent forward for the Devils, also secured a spot on the preliminary roster. In the 2024-25 season, Meier contributed 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points. With a total of 217 goals and 218 assists for 435 points in 621 career games split between the Devils and San Jose Sharks, Meier brings a wealth of experience and scoring ability to the Swiss lineup.
Jonas Siegenthaler, a solid defenseman for the Devils, rounds out the trio of New Jersey players selected for the Swiss team. The 28-year-old had two goals and seven assists for nine points in 55 games during the recent season. In his NHL career, spanning seven seasons with the Devils and Washington Capitals, Siegenthaler has accumulated 10 goals and 56 assists for 66 points, providing a reliable presence on the blue line.
Adding to the star power of the Swiss team is Roman Josi, the Nashville Predators' captain and a Norris Trophy winner (2019-20). The 34-year-old defenseman had nine goals and 29 assists for 38 points in 53 games in 2024-25. Josi's impressive NHL career includes 190 goals and 534 assists for 724 points in 962 regular-season games.
Nino Niederreiter, a veteran forward with the Winnipeg Jets, brings further experience to the Swiss team. In his 14th NHL season, Niederreiter scored 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 82 games. With 240 goals and 240 assists for 480 points in 969 career regular-season games, Niederreiter's versatility and scoring touch will be valuable assets.
Kevin Fiala, a dynamic forward for the Los Angeles Kings, completes the first six players named to the Swiss roster. The 28-year-old had a career-high 35 goals and 60 points last season. Over 11 NHL seasons, Fiala has recorded 211 goals and 277 assists for 488 points in 651 regular-season games.
With these initial selections, Switzerland is aiming to build a strong and competitive team for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The "New Jersey connection" between Hischier, Meier, and Siegenthaler could prove to be a significant advantage, while the addition of stars like Josi, Niederreiter, and Fiala solidifies Switzerland's chances of making a deep run in the tournament and potentially earning their first Olympic medal in hockey since 1948.
