Episode summary
Goaltending is Key in Olympic Tournament, Says Former Winnipeg Jets Goalie Allain Roy
Bloomberg Surveillance
· · 5 min · Guests: Allain Roy
Summary
Allain Roy said the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament is being reshaped by the return of NHL players, which makes the competition stronger and more familiar to fans. He said Canada, the U.S. and Sweden look like the leading contenders, but he also sees upset potential from teams such as Switzerland and Germany. His central point was that goaltending will be decisive: a hot goalie can steal a game and swing an entire tournament.
Roy also argued that the Olympic format creates a different emotional environment than the Stanley Cup race. Players are not just competing for a team, he said, but for their country, with everyone back home watching. He noted that the tournament will force adjustments because fighting is not allowed under IIHF rules and because the ice surface in Italy appears shorter than the standard NHL rink, which should favor North American players who are used to a more physical style.
On the business side, Roy said the NHL is in strong shape. He expects salary cap growth of about 8% to 9% year over year for the next three plus years, and he said franchise valuations are rising sharply. In his view, the new CBA is working and the league has avoided the labor friction that once threatened to disrupt the sport.
Key takeaways
- Allain Roy said Canada, the U.S. and Sweden are the favorites, with Switzerland and Germany capable of surprising at the 2026 Olympics.
- Roy said goaltending is decisive in short tournaments because a hot goalie can steal a game and alter the bracket.
- Roy said Olympic hockey feels different from the Stanley Cup chase because players are representing their countries and carrying national pressure.
- Roy said the shorter ice surface in Italy should help North American NHL players because of their more physical style.
- Roy expects salary cap growth of about 8% to 9% year over year for the next three plus years, and he said franchise valuations are surging.
Notable quotes
“Goaltending is huge in these tournaments. If you have a hot goalie, you can steal a game and it can change the outcome of the whole tournament”
“I think we're going to have the usual Canada U.S. battle for one, and to Sweden's probably expected to be in there also”
“It's huge. I mean, you know, they all vie for the Stanley Cup and”
“This is, you know, your flag on your on your chest. You're playing for your country”
“I think we're expecting an increase of about 8 to 9% year over year for the next three plus years for the salary cap”
How the episode opens
Yeah, it's definitely changed the, you know, the storyline a little bit. But let's face it, we have the best health in the world now with the pro players there. I was fortunate enough to play in the Olympics in 94 where it was still amateurs and it had a different feel, you know.
But now with the all the best players in the NHL are joining their countries, we're going to miss. It's great. I would love to have seen Russia at the tournament because that would change.
That would change the competition quite a bit. It was a question about to me just to see Ovechkin their final victory. Let me get one more.
And Paul's got like questions, too, in the in the Netflix movie and I live this folks with thugs from a diner Minnesota. Now the tension is East coast college hockey in western Midwest. Minnesota.
North Dakota. College hockey. Are they still different today?
There are a lot different from what it was back then. I remember we played the Gophers in the in the NBA Finals and there was nobody outside of the state of Minnesota that played for the Gophers. Now you have international players playing on all these different teams.
Boston College only had Massachusetts born players for a long time that now you have you know, you have players from all over the world playing for different programs. It's changed a lot, but college hockey has gotten so much better. You know, when I watched the replays of the old days, I'm like, wow.
It's a much different game. Much faster. But Paul, you watch the game and Mrs.
King turns to me and goes, Why are they skating so slow? Exactly, Alex, as it is, what have you. Back then, as we gear up for the hockey, men's and women's in the Olympics.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- 2026 winter olympics
- hockey tournament
- olympic opening ceremony
- winnipeg jets
- italian culture
Companies and tickers mentioned
- RSG Hockey
- AC Milan
- Inter Milan
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Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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