Connor McDavid makes bold Olympic prediction.

I don't know about the rest of you but I am unbelievably excited for the return of players from the National Hockey League to the Winter Olympic Games. For the first time in what feels like forever we will get to see the best professional hockey players in the world representing their countries at the biggest international tournament that is out there, and it sounds like the players themselves are excited as well.

This week, Edmonton Oilers star forward Connor McDavid was asked about his feelings heading into the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, and McDavid made no effort to conceal his genuine excitement. In fact McDavid made a bold prediction when he revealed that he expects things to be even more intense at the Olympic Games than they were at the Four Nations Face-Off earlier this year.

"For myself, the hockey at the 4 Nations was the fastest, tightest-checking, most difficult hockey I've ever played and ever been a part of, so I can only imagine what it's going to be like at the Olympics," said McDavid as per TSN.

I think most would agree with McDavid here that the Four Nations Face-Off provided a spectacular level of excitement that we have been sorely missing out on when it comes to international hockey. The fact that McDavid expects the intensity to ramp up even more at the Olympics is a great bit of news for hockey fans who were treated to a truly excellent tournament during the Four Nations Face-Off.

There was perhaps no moment that encapsulated that intensity better than when Canada and the USA faced off for the first time, resulting in an incredible game that included multiple fights off the opening face-off.

While I'm not convinced that we will see nearly as many fights, if any, during the Olympic Games, I do expect that McDavid will be proven correct with his prediction regarding the intensity of that upcoming tournament.