Leon Draisaitl Named Germany Captain as Olympic Roster Balances Star Power and Growth Mission
Leon Draisaitl will wear the captain's C for Team Germany at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, a selection that underscores both his elite status in the NHL and Germany's broader ambition to expand the sport domestically. The Edmonton Oilers forward arrives in Milan as Germany's most prolific NHL scorer and a clear centerpiece for the national side.
Leadership on ice and in the locker room
Draisaitl arrives in Italy with a resume few players from his country can match. He is the highest-scoring Germany-born player in NHL history, with 1, 036 career points (428 goals, 608 assists) across 845 games. This season he ranks among the League leaders with 80 points in 55 games, and his playoff resume includes 141 points in 96 postseason contests, helping his club reach consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.
Team members embraced the pick. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer called the appointment a "huge honor" and expressed enthusiasm about Draisaitl representing Germany in the opening ceremony. Draisaitl's blend of skill, positional awareness and puck protection was singled out by teammates as a template for younger players to emulate.
His leadership is not just symbolic. Draisaitl's track record includes an Art Ross Trophy-winning 110-point season and multiple individual awards that reflect elite production and consistent impact. Germany will expect him to drive offense, set standards in practice and be a stabilizing presence in high-pressure moments.
Alternates, depth and the project's bigger purpose
Moritz Seider and Tim Stützle were named alternate captains, rounding out a leadership group built around top-tier NHL talent. Seider, a Calder Trophy winner and Detroit's key defenseman, has been a steadier on the blue line this season with 38 points in 58 games. Stützle, the dynamic Ottawa forward, entered the Olympic break leading his club with 61 points in 57 games.
Both alternates praised Draisaitl's game and character. Seider emphasized the practical lessons younger teammates can take from Draisaitl's attention to detail and low-error style. Stützle highlighted Draisaitl's role-model status in Germany and the NHL, calling the designation well deserved.
Beyond medals, the squad has an explicit secondary objective: growing hockey's footprint in Germany. Seider framed the Olympics as an opportunity to inspire kids back home, noting that increasing youth participation is a long-term goal. Draisaitl echoed that sentiment, saying the team hopes to gather fans and get youngsters in Germany interested in playing and watching the sport.
Schedule, immediate tests and what to watch
Germany opens Group C on Thursday, Feb. 12 against Denmark at 3: 10 p. m. ET. The team then faces Latvia on Feb. 14 and finishes the preliminary slate against the United States on Feb. 15. With every team advancing to the elimination round, Germany is guaranteed at least four games, but the group stage will be critical for establishing momentum and cohesion.
Key storylines to watch: how the Draisaitl–Stützle tandem functions under Olympic rules and on international ice; whether Seider can anchor the defense against heavy-traffic opponent power plays; and how the supporting cast steps up when opponents focus their checking on Germany's top forwards. The Germans also carry recent reminders that no opponent should be underestimated — the roster will need to blend structure and creativity to advance deep.
As the Olympics approach, Germany's leaders are balancing medal ambition with a longer-term aspiration to expand the sport at home. The captaincy gives Draisaitl a prominent platform to deliver on both fronts: to chase Olympic success and to leave a legacy that could lift hockey's profile across Germany.
