The 2026 IIHF Men's World Hockey Championships concluded with Finland capturing the gold medal for the first time since 2022.
Host Switzerland took silver, while Norway shocked Canada to claim the bronze.
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Here are five key takeaways from the tournament.
Barkov's Return Boosts Panthers
Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov made a successful return from an ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire NHL season.
He recorded 11 points in 10 games and earned a spot on the media All-Star team.
Young NHL Stars Shine
San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini was named the best forward with 14 points.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Konsta Helenius scored two game-winning goals for Finland, including the golden goal in the final.
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3-on-3 Overtime Draws Criticism
The international rule allowing 3-on-3 overtime instead of traditional 5-on-5 play faced criticism. Many noted the contrast with the NHL's more authentic regulation-style playoff overtime format.
Canada's Power Play Struggles
Despite a star-studded lineup featuring Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby, Canada struggled with a low 16.7% power play success rate.
This inefficiency hurt them in crucial losses.
US Commitment Questioned
Lacking the Olympic-incentivized roster depth of the previous year, the United States struggled early with only two returning players.
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They were eliminated in a 4-0 quarterfinal loss to Canada.
