Team USA sends Canada a message ahead of the Olympic Games.

The more I hear from players in the National Hockey League who are currently attending their respective countries' Olympic orientation camps, the more excited I find myself getting for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Earlier this week NHL superstar Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers predicted that the intensity will be at an all-time high at the Olympic Games, even when compared to the extremely intense Four Nations Face-Off we saw earlier this year and, if recent comments from Team USA members are any indication, McDavid is right.

Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan has made it clear that things will be different this time after the Americans pushed the Canadians to the limit at the Four Nations Face-Off. Although Team USA came up short at that tournament, Sullivan made it clear last week that he expects to win it all during the Olympics.

"Also, the expectation as an American is that we expect to win," said Sullivan as per ESPN. "We don't expect to participate. There's a difference. And I think that's what's changed."

If the comments from his players are any indication, Sullivan has instilled the mindset in his team as well. When asked if the goal this time around was a gold medal, Vegas Golden Knights star forward Jack Eichel left no doubt about how he feels.

"I think anything short of that, it would be disappointing," admitted Eichel.

Team USA was missing arguably one of their biggest weapons at the Four Nations Face-Off with defenseman Quinn Hughes sidelined due to an injury during the time the tournament took place. Hughes is healthy now however and the Norris Trophy winning defenseman has made it clear that he is also gunning for a gold medal.

"I feel like it's kind of gold or nothing, personally," said Hughes.

Hughes was limited to only 68 games last season due to that injury but in spite of that still managed to produced 16 goals and 60 assists, a total of 76 points, on a Vancouver Canucks team that failed to even make the Stanley Cup playoffs. If he were to remain healthy this season it would give Team USA a significant boost on the blue line and could even be enough to tip the scales in their favor.

Either way it seems like we are in store for a truly intense Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy and I for one cannot contain my excitement.