NHL Olympic Break 2026
As the NHL pauses for the Olympic Break in 2026, the New York Islanders find themselves in a unique situation. While the big league takes a break, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, will remain active with a slate of nine games before the Islanders take on the Montreal Canadiens on February 26.
Roster Freeze and Player Management
The Olympic break comes with a roster freeze, preventing teams from making trades. However, it’s important to note that some players who are exempt from waivers can still be loaned to their AHL teams. This rule allows many franchises to send their developing players to gain more ice time while the NHL players are away.
Islanders’ Player Situation
In the case of the Islanders, two of their players, Maxim Shabanov and Calum Ritchie, qualify as waiver-exempt but are unable to return to Bridgeport due to their standings. Despite being sidelined for a significant portion of the final games leading up to the freeze—16 games within the last 20—they have both been part of the NHL roster for more than 80 days, thus disqualifying them from being sent down during this period.
Benefits of the Olympic Break
For Shabanov, who is in his first NHL season after transitioning from the KHL, this Olympic break could offer a much-needed respite from the grueling pace of NHL life. Ritchie, recently recovering from a lower-body injury that kept him off the ice for five games, also stands to benefit from this pause, as he’ll need to be at full strength when the Islanders resume their full schedule.
This situation illustrates the complexities teams face during roster freezes and how strategic player management is critical for both short-term and long-term success in the league.
