2026 World Championships Preview as Martin Chromiak joins Team Slovakia + Team Canada Staff Members

On the player side, it looks like it’ll be a contingent of one for the LA Kings organization at the 2026 IIHF World Championships.

Team Slovakia General Manager Miroslav Satan announced yesterday that Kings prospect Martin Chromiak would join his team for the tournament, after the Ontario Reign were eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs over the weekend. Chromiak has played in the World Championships twice before – 2023 and 2025 – and should play a larger role this time around after a breakout season at the AHL level. Chromiak finally put it all together offensively as he stepped up to help fill the void left by some of Ontario’s top scorers departing last summer. Chromiak led the Kings in goals (28) and points (56) as the Reign skated to their second divisional championship in franchise history. Chromiak had career bests across the board in goals, assists and points and was an impact player under Andrew Lord, as he played a first-line role with the Reign, skating on the power play and in key situations. Of Chromiak’s 28 goals, 12 came on the man advantage, which was nearly as many as he had in his AHL career before this season, as he finished the regular season tied for fifth in the league in power-play goals. It was a solid year for Chromiak overall, as he finished his fourth season in Ontario in the AHL’s Top-15 in total goals and shots on goal.

Chromiak found the back of the net once in each of his first two appearances at the World Championships. Last season, he scored his team’s first goal in a victory over France, which came two years after he scored against Czechia in his team’s opening game of the tournament, the first goal scored by a Slovakian player at the event. Chromiak was in consideration for a spot on Slovakia’s Olympic team, though he did not make the final roster, as Slovakia lost in the bronze-medal game. He was in the mix for that team, though, which had seven NHL players on the final roster. Unclear on what the final breakdown will be for the World Championships, but you’d expect there to be more opportunities for a player like Chromiak, especially coming off the best season of his professional career.

It’s a big summer for Chromiak, who is a restricted free agent and will need to agree to terms on another contract with the Kings to continue his progression towards the NHL. That contract will likely come with a low salary-cap hit at the NHL level, which helps his chances of cracking the NHL roster, but a higher guaranteed total. Too many unknowns right now when it comes to what the Kings might look like come the fall and Chromiak is probably the kind of guy, at least right now, who needs to find a home playing higher in the lineup to play regularly than say as a fourth-line staple. Could be someone who gets a chance if there is an injury in the Top-9 on the wings, or maybe he’s someone who could fill a role with a cost-effective deal at some point in the season. He’ll be one who is likely not entering camp on the NHL roster but should have the chance to play himself further up the ladder with a good training camp.

Team Slovakia Schedule
May 16 – Slovakia vs. Norway, 3:20 AM Pacific
May 17 – Slovakia vs. Italy, 3:20 AM Pacific
May 19 – Slovakia vs. Slovenia, 11:20 AM Pacific
May 21 – Slovakia vs. Denmark, 11:20 AM Pacific
May 23 – Slovakia vs. Czechia, 7:20 AM Pacific
May 24 – Slovakia vs. Canada, 11:20 AM Pacific
May 26 – Slovakia vs. Sweden, 7:20 AM Pacific

Additionally, while Chromiak is the only player participating within the Kings organization, two current members of the Kings front office will represent Team Canada.

Kings Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith will be an assistant coach with the Canadian squad while Head Equipment Manager Darren Granger will be with the support staff. This is Smith’s third time coaching at the tournament. He won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Team Canada in 2023 and a silver medal in 2022. Misha Donskov will be the Head Coach for Team Canada, with Smith joined by Washington’s Spencer Carbery and Calgary’s Ryan Huska on that staff as well. Granger is a veteran of several Team Canada staffs, most recently at the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2025 4 Nations Face Off, winning medals at both tournaments. In total, Granger is working at the World Championships for the fifth time in his career, having previously won a silver medal in 2008 on top of two medals at the Olympics (1 gold, 1 silver) and the championship at the 4 Nations Face Off in 2025.

Team Canada Schedule
May 15 – Canada vs. Sweden, 7:20 AM Pacific
May 16 – Canada vs. Italy, 7:20 AM Pacific
May 18 – Canada vs. Denmark, 7:20 AM Pacific
May 21 – Canada vs. Norway, 7:20 AM Pacific
May 22 – Canada vs. Slovenia, 7:20 AM Pacific
May 24 – Canada vs. Slovakia, 11:20 AM Pacific
May 26 – Canada vs. Czechia, 11:20 AM Pacific

The IIHF World Championships are broadcast in the United States on NHL Network. Several of Chromiak’s games should be broadcast, either live or shown later. For a full programming schedule on NHL Network, including World Championships games, CLICK HERE