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Olympic Hockey Predictions: Medal Odds and Betting Picks

The 2026 Olympic hockey tournament has officially arrived. For the first time in over a decade, NHL players return to Olympic hockey at the Winter Games.

That alone makes this one of the most exciting international hockey events in years. It also makes the Olympic hockey betting odds more interesting than usual. Elite talent spreads across Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland, and the market sits tight at the top. One hot goalie could decide the difference between gold and silver.

Right now, Canada and Team USA sit as the clear favorites in the 2026 Olympic hockey gold medal odds, but bettors can still find real value further down the board.

Below, I break down the full Olympic hockey medal odds, analyze each team’s chances, and share my favorite Olympic hockey betting picks for the tournament.

Olympic Hockey Medal Odds

Team Canada tops the Olympic hockey medal odds for 2026 and enters the tournament as the favorite at +110.

Canada’s roster looks like a cheat code. The Canadians bring three of the NHL’s top offensive weapons in Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Macklin Celebrini. They also bring arguably the best defenseman on the planet in Cale Makar. In a short-format tournament like the Olympics, one dominant line can take over a game, and Canada’s top-end scoring talent gives them the highest ceiling in the field.

Team USA sits close behind at +180, and the Americans might have the most complete roster in the tournament. They bring elite defense and the strongest goaltending group in the field, with Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman all capable of carrying a team through knockout play. Add a blue line featuring Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski, plus elite scoring up front led by Auston Matthews, and the U.S. becomes the biggest threat to Canada’s gold medal hopes.

Below are the rest of the odds, per BetUS:

Team	Olympic Hockey Odds	Team	Olympic Hockey Odds
Canada	+115	United States	+175
Sweden	+650	Finland	+1000
Switzerland	+2500	Czechia	+2500
Germany	+5000	Slovakia	+6500
Denmark	+25000	Latvia	+50000
France	+80000	Italy	+100000

After Canada and the United States, Sweden (+650) holds the next spot on the board, followed by Finland (+1000), who always feels like the ultimate Olympic hockey wild card.

From there, the odds open up significantly. Czechia (+2500) and Switzerland (+2500) round out the top tier of contenders, while the rest of the field sits firmly in longshot territory.

Gold Medal Favorites

There’s no debate at the top of the 2026 Olympic hockey gold medal odds. Team Canada and Team USA sit in their own tier.

Canada enters as the +110 betting favorite, and the reasoning feels obvious. Their roster brings elite offensive firepower, high-end defensemen, and enough physicality to win the tight, grindy games that decide Olympic tournaments. If their top line clicks early, Canada will become the team everyone else chases.

I know the stats are obvious. I know he's starting anyways. I know Canada is a medal contender regardless. I still had to write it.

With the gap between Thompson and Binnington as wide as it is, Canada should not risk starting Binnington.https://t.co/7XX9U8VLZW pic.twitter.com/CrW1xXlik2

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) February 9, 2026

Goaltending gives Canada the one real question mark. Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper, and Logan Thompson form a solid trio, but Team USA brings more star power and depth at the position. In a short tournament like Olympic hockey, one shaky game in net can derail a gold medal run.

Team USA (+180) sits right behind Canada, and the Americans already proved at the 4 Nations Face-Off that they can push Canada to the brink. Canada may own the higher offensive ceiling, but the U.S. counters with elite defense, strong structure, and the best goaltending situation in the tournament. If this event comes down to one tight semifinal or a close gold medal game, Team USA has a legitimate path to the upset.

Teams Most Likely to Win Silver

Canada (-600) and Team USA (-500) both hold heavy odds to reach the gold medal game, but bettors should still pay attention to the Olympic hockey silver medal odds. Those markets offer a cleaner way to target the next tier without paying the premium attached to the outright favorites.

Sweden (-250) and Finland (-150) lead the chase pack. Both teams bring elite NHL talent across all four lines, strong defensive structure, and the type of goaltending that can steal a game when the margins tighten.

Czechia (+115) also deserves a serious look. They sit close behind the top four nations and bring enough scoring talent to win a one-game elimination matchup. Their roster lacks the depth Sweden and Finland bring, but Czechia can absolutely make a run if their top scorers heat up at the right time.

Over the last five Olympics featuring NHL players, the United States leads all nations with two silver medals (2010, 2002). Finland (2006) and Sweden (2014) have each claimed one. That history matters, because Olympic hockey often rewards teams that handle tight-checking playoff games, not teams that rely purely on star power.

Bronze Medal Contenders

Even if Canada and the United States are the favorites to play for gold and silver, the bronze medal race is where the Olympic hockey medal odds get more interesting.

Finland has historically been the best bronze medal team in NHL-era Olympic hockey, winning three bronze medals (2014, 2010, 1998). This year, the Finns are priced at +300 to reach the semifinal and +130 to win a medal, making them one of the strongest options outside the two favorites if you are looking for value.

Czechia is another legitimate medal threat. They won bronze in 2006 and are currently +500 to reach the semifinal and +325 to win a medal of any color. If they land on the right side of the bracket, they have the scoring talent to push anyone.

Sweden might be the most intriguing team in this range. They are often viewed as the third-best roster on paper in the tournament, and they are listed at +175 to reach the semifinal and -175 to win a medal. Sweden has not won an Olympic medal since silver in 2014, and they have not won bronze since 1988, but their mix of NHL scoring and defensive depth makes them a serious threat to finish on the podium.

Dark-Horse Medal Teams

Beyond the obvious gold medal favorites, there are a few teams with realistic upside in the 2026 Olympic hockey medal odds, including Finland, Czechia, and Germany.

Finland has the fourth-best odds to win a medal at +130, and they are built perfectly for Olympic hockey. They may not have the flashiest offense compared to Canada or the United States, but they have elite two-way talent and strong defensive structure. With stars like Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, and Miro Heiskanen, Finland is the type of team that can grind out close games and make a deep run in a short tournament format.

Finland's Olympic team is looking mighty strong! 🇫🇮

Read more on Finland's projected lineup ➡️ https://t.co/zC74CXNvj9 pic.twitter.com/rgEWq4i5Se

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) January 10, 2026

Czechia (+325) is another intriguing medal contender, especially after winning gold at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and consistently producing strong international results. With David Pastrnak and Martin Nečas leading the offense, Czechia has enough scoring talent to keep pace with the top nations. If their goaltending holds up, they have a real chance to reach the medal round and potentially pull off an upset.

Germany (+900) is the longest shot of this group, but their top-end talent is legitimate. With Leon Draisaitl headlining the roster and additional star power from Tim Stützle and Moritz Seider, Germany has enough offensive firepower to surprise teams if they catch the right matchup in the elimination rounds. They are not the safest bet on the board, but in terms of pure upside, they are one of the more interesting longshots in the Olympic hockey betting odds.

Best Olympic Hockey Bets

Outside of picking a gold medal winner, there are plenty of Olympic hockey betting markets worth targeting throughout the tournament. In many cases, these props can offer better value than the outright odds, especially when the top two teams are priced so short.

Below are my top 2026 Olympic hockey betting picks, listed from shortest to longest.

Canada to reach the semifinal (-200)

We are getting some surprisingly playable odds on Canada to reach the semifinal (-200), especially considering the Canadians are priced at -550 to win a medal.

Canada should cruise through Group A against Czechia, Switzerland, and France, which sets them up for a favorable path into the knockout stage. In a short tournament, anything can happen, but Canada’s talent level is simply too high for them to miss the semifinal unless something goes seriously wrong.

This is not the flashiest bet, but it is one of the safest ways to take advantage of Canada’s dominance without paying an outrageous price on their medal odds.

Name the finalists: Canada vs USA (+125)

If you want to bet the most likely tournament outcome, Canada vs USA to be the gold medal finalists (+125) is the cleanest angle on the board.

The 2026 Olympic hockey betting odds are telling us the same story. Canada and the United States are clearly the two deepest rosters in the field, and both teams have the structure and star power to survive the knockout stage.

The two nations already proved at the 4 Nations Face-Off that the gap between them is razor-thin, and a rematch in the gold medal game feels like the most realistic scenario. Sweden and Finland are capable of making things interesting, and Czechia has enough scoring to play spoiler, but if the bracket plays out normally, Canada-USA is the matchup everyone should expect.

At plus money, this is one of the strongest value plays in the entire Olympic hockey futures market.

Top goal scorer: Nathan MacKinnon (+700)

If you’re looking for an Olympic hockey prop bet with legitimate upside, Nathan MacKinnon to lead the tournament in goals (+700) is one of the best options on the board.

MacKinnon enters the Olympic break leading the NHL with 40 goals in 55 games, putting him six goals clear of the next-closest player. That kind of scoring gap is hard to ignore, especially in a short tournament format where one explosive stretch can decide the entire top scorer market.

Nathan MacKinnon will attend the Olympics but he is not there to enjoy himself or take it all in. pic.twitter.com/zocETG5nmz

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 9, 2026

Another key factor is Canada’s group-stage schedule. The Canadians open the tournament against Czechia, Switzerland, and France, which gives MacKinnon a realistic chance to pile up goals early against weaker competition. In Olympic hockey, that first round matters a ton for these player markets because it’s where the elite teams can create separation.

MacKinnon was also skating alongside Nick Suzuki during Canada’s first official practice, which could end up being a perfect fit. Suzuki is one of the best playmakers in the NHL this season, sitting with 47 assists, and his ability to create high-danger chances could set MacKinnon up for a massive scoring run.

If MacKinnon brings even 80% of his current NHL form into the Olympics, he has a real path to running away with the 2026 Olympic hockey top goal scorer odds.

2026 Olympic Hockey Odds Summary

The 2026 Olympic hockey odds lead with Team Canada (+110) and Team USA (+180) as the clear gold medal favorites. Canada brings the most explosive offense in the tournament, while the Americans counter with elite defense and arguably the best goaltending group in the field. Sweden (+650), Finland (+1100), and Czechia (+2500) headline the next tier, and each has the roster talent to crash the medal round if they catch the right matchup.

Bettors do not have to rely only on outright gold medal picks. Futures and prop markets offer several strong angles, including Canada to reach the semifinal, Canada vs USA to be the finalists, and Nathan MacKinnon to finish as the top goal scorer. These bets give you more flexibility while still targeting the most likely tournament outcomes.

If you plan to bet on Olympic hockey, grab your best numbers early and stay aggressive once the bracket takes shape. BetUS offers a full menu of 2026 Olympic hockey betting odds, including medal futures, team props, and player markets, so you can build your card however you want before puck drop.