Who will represent the Hurricanes at the best-on-best tournaments in 2028 and 2030?

I know that the 2026 Winter Games just ended, but I'm ready for the next best-on-best international tournament in two years. Last February, the NHL announced that it would establish a schedule to make best-on-best hockey happen every two years. This included commitments to send NHL players to the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics, and the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028.

The last time the NHL hosted a World Cup of Hockey was in 2016, marking the third time we'd ever seen an NHL-sanctioned competition of its type. The field consisted of teams from the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and Russia, as well as two teams with multiple nationalities, Team Europe and Team North America. Canada won the tournament.

Unlike the 2016 iteration, the league announced there would be no teams mixed nationality teams, meaning it will likely be eight teams representing individual countries. The Hurricanes sent Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen to the tournament in 2016, representing Finland, while Shayne Gostisbehere played for Team North America while he was with the Flyers.

Then, in 2030, the Winter Games will return to the French Alps. Predicting who will participate in this tournament is a little tougher. France will play as the hosts, as will the Top 8 teams in the IIHF rankings after this summer's World Championships, which will likely be the same usual powerhouses. This leaves the remaining three teams to be determined by qualification tournaments.

In this, I want to ponder who in the organization has the best chances of suiting up for the next two tournaments. Frankly, we'll see many of the same names, but I want to make a case for some of the other players who might not be on the radar just yet. I'll also include their ages as of February of that year because Father Time will play a factor in some of my predictions.

Virtual Locks

Sebastian Aho (30 years old in 2028/32 years old in 2030)- Finland

If Finland is competing internationally, you can bet that Sebastian Aho will be there. After playing in both the 4 Nations and the 2026 Winter Games, and being featured prominently during both, Aho will almost certainly be there for Finland. He's one of the top playmakers in the NHL as it is, his home country notwithstanding.

Aho was excellent for the Finns in Milan, finishing tied for second on the team with six points, including a team-leading four goals, as they took home the bronze medal. Age shouldn't be a concern, with Aho barely dipping his toes into the 30s by the time both events roll around. He'll almost certainly be one of the first names listed, and he could be in line to be captain by 2030.

Andrei Svechnikov (27 in 2028/29 in 2030)- Russia*

You'll notice the asterisk next to Russia, and you know exactly why it is there. Russia remains banned from international competition because of the ongoing war in Ukraine. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has previously said that the NHL will follow the IIHF's guidelines regarding Russia's status moving forward. While a lot can change in two years, I'm skeptical that anything will.

As for Andrei Svechnikov, he would've been on Russia's team if they could have competed. There's no doubt in my mind about that. If they announced their roster early in the season, it might've been a little iffy, but he has been incredible this year, making his chances of playing in Milan excellent. If we want true "best-on-best," Russia needs to compete, but I respect the IIHF's stance on the issue.

Alexander Nikishin (26 in 2028/28 in 2030)- Russia*

Like Svechnikov, Alexander Nikishin probably makes Russia's Olympic team this season, if they were eligible to compete. Unlike his teammate, it would've been Nikishin's second Olympic appearance after representing the Russian Olympic Committee in 2022 and winning silver. This season alone, he's third amongst Russian defenders in points (22).

Again, living in a hypothetical world, Nikishin should be a lock to make both 2028 and 2030 teams, but the same black cloud hangs over them. He would immediately become one of the team's biggest weapons on the back end, and his defensive game has been largely overlooked during his rookie campaign. If there weren't any concerns about eligibility, Nikishin would be on Team Russia.

Nikolaj Ehlers (33 in 2030)- Denmark**

This one has two asterisks, so it must mean something special. In fact, it does. I've also only listed one age for Nikolaj Ehlers, too. That's because I highly doubt that Denmark will field a team for the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, meaning the next chance that Ehlers will likely have to represent Denmark will be at the 2030 Winter Olympics.

The biggest difference for Denmark is that they'll likely have to qualify for the 2030 Games, much like they did for this year's, which doesn't guarantee that they'll have the chance to compete. Should they qualify their way into the field, Ehlers will almost certainly be on the team. He played well for the Danish team this year, finishing tied for second with three points in four games.

The Inside Track

Jaccob Slavin (33 in 2028/35 in 2030)- United States

It's crazy to think that at 31 years old, Jaccob Slavin was the "old man" on defense for the United States. Noah Hanifin (29), Zach Werenski (28), and Charlie McAvoy (28) were the closest to him. Now, consider where players like Lane Hutson (21) and Zeev Buium (20) will be in a few years to challenge for spots. As a defenseman, Slavin should be a lock, but age becomes a factor at some point.

Slavin's saving grace is his ability to be a shutdown defenseman, which is something that is desperately needed in tournaments like these, especially with the weapons that Canada possesses. Just look at Sunday's Gold Medal Game. I could see Slavin being on the World Cup team in 2028, but the 2030 Winter Olympics might be a question mark.

Seth Jarvis (25 in 2028/27 in 2030)- Canada

In my heart, Seth Jarvis will always be a lock for any international team. The reality is that Jarvis was the 16th forward on their list, joining as an injury replacement, and the pool for the Canadian team is only going to get tougher from here. Now, Jarvis has proven time and time again that he can deliver in big spots. He was central in the Canadians' game-tying goal in the quarterfinals.

The biggest thing working in his favor is that he continues to be one of the most consistent contributors on one of the best teams in the league. He's almost certainly scoring 30 goals for the third straight season, and anything is possible over the next two years. Again, I think Jarvis should absolutely represent Canada on the international stage, but his spot is far from guaranteed.

A Few Interesting Names

Jackson Blake (24 in 2028/26 in 2030)- United States

I would love to live in a world where Jackson Blake proves enough to be considered for the American roster. He has ingratiated himself a lot with the Canes' organization, especially the front office, which felt comfortable enough to extend him after just one season. Blake has almost surpassed his 2024-25 totals at the break. Maybe this is far-fetched, but I could see a role on the 4th line by 2030.

Logan Stankoven (24 in 2028/26 in 2030)- Canada

In a similar situation to Blake, Logan Stankoven is fighting an uphill battle to make any Canadian roster, though he was good enough to represent them at the World Juniors. I still believe that making any Team Canada roster is the toughest to make, but if anyone is willing to prove doubters wrong, Stankoven is at the very top of the list. Who knows where he could be over the next four years?

Bradly Nadeau (22 in 2028/24 in 2030)- Canada

If there's one thing we learned at the 2026 Winter Games, it's that a team can never have too many scorers. Bradly Nadeau has torn apart the competition in the AHL over his first two professional seasons. He won't garner much consideration until he proves he can do it at the NHL level, which means that the 2032/2034 window might be more realistic for Nadeau.

Felix Unger Sorum (22 in 2028/24 in 2030)- Sweden

Sweden's forward group over the next few years looks pretty good. Only two or three players will likely age themselves out, so Felix Unger Sorum probably won't get many looks. However, he has taken massive strides this season to become one of the Wolves' top contributors. Like Nadeau, it's a little too soon for him to be in the mix, though it's fun to consider it.

Joel Nystrom (25 in 2028/27 in 2030)- Sweden

Of the five players in this section, I think Joel Nystrom has the best chances of cracking an international roster in the near future. Unlike the forwards, Sweden's defense is on the older side. Half of their Olympic defensemen were age 32 or older, so they probably don't have much time left. Nystrom has been a gem for the Canes in his fill-in role and might find his way onto Team Sweden.