The 2026 Winter Olympics are only a couple months away, and NHL gamers can be collaborating for the primary time since 2014. Group USA ought to have an amazing shot to finish its 46-year gold medal drought because the expertise pool has by no means been deeper for the People.
Group USA common supervisor Invoice Guerin has some robust choices forward of him over the following month, however that is an excellent drawback to have. And among the work has already been executed.
Again in June, Group USA introduced the primary six members of its Olympic roster with Jack Eichel (Golden Knights), Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs), Brady Tkachuk (Senators), Matthew Tkachuk (Panthers), Quinn Hughes (Canucks) and Charlie McAvoy (Bruins) going to Italy. Which 19 gamers can be becoming a member of them?
Projecting Canada’s 2026 Olympic hockey roster: Connor Bedard taking part in his method onto loaded workforce
Austin Nivison
That is the query I attempted to reply by projecting Group USA’s last Olympic roster, which can be unveiled in early January. It is a good time for American hockey, and Group USA will be capable of subject a squad able to profitable gold.
Here is how Group USA’s Olympic roster choices ought to shake out:
*denotes participant already introduced
Forwards
- Matt Boldy, Wild
- Cole Caufield, Canadiens
- Kyle Connor, Jets
- Alex DeBrincat, Crimson Wings
- Jack Eichel, Golden Knights*
- Jake Guentzel, Lightning
- Jack Hughes, Devils
- Clayton Keller, Mammoth
- Dylan Larkin, Crimson Wings
- Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs*
- Jason Robertson, Stars
- Tage Thompson, Sabres
- Brady Tkachuk, Senators*
- Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers*
I’ve a sinking feeling that Guerin will overthink his ahead group, snubbing extra expert gamers for dimension and tenacity. These traits have their place in hockey — little question — however the the ability stage in Italy can be off the charts. The People must convey their 14 greatest forwards, and they’ll nonetheless have loads of grit within the type of the Tkachuk brothers, Eichel and defensemen like Jaccob Slavin.
With the above record, I feel they do this. Gamers like Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat do not supply a lot within the brawn division, however they make up for it with their means to place the puck within the web. These two have mixed for 28 objectives on the season, and I do not suppose their presence leaves the People missing within the dimension and power division.
That brings me to Jason Robertson, who was inexplicably left off the 4 Nations Face-Off roster. The 6-foot-3 winger is likely one of the greatest scorers within the NHL, totaling 168 objectives because the begin of the 2021-22 season. Solely 12 different gamers have extra in that span. If Robertson is left off the Olympic roster, Guerin can be doing his workforce a disservice.
The battle for the 14th and last ahead spot was a tricky one. I felt like J.T. Miller, Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck have been within the combine. Nevertheless, I feel Tage Thompson has a better ceiling (and he is one of many 12 gamers with extra objectives than Robertson since 2021-22).
Protection
The People did not have Quinn Hughes for the 4 Nations Face-Off attributable to harm, so his presence alone represents a giant improve. Past that, I do suppose Group USA has a pleasant mix of offensive ability and shutdown choices on its blue line.
Lane Hutson falls on the expert finish of that spectrum, and I feel the 2025 Calder Trophy winner deserves to make the journey to Italy. Once more, there could also be larger and extra defensively accountable gamers obtainable, however the Olympics will be a battle of star energy. Hutson has that in spades.
Jake Sanderson was an harm alternative on the 4 Nations, however he has earned a full-time spot on the Olympic roster. He is advanced into an amazing two-way defenseman, and he has some good dimension at 6-foot-2. I do know Adam Fox acquired some criticism for his play within the 4 Nations event, however there is not any purpose to depart him dwelling for the Olympics. For the reason that begin of final season, the New York Rangers have a plus-28 aim differential with him on the ice at five-on-five, per Pure Stat Trick.
Lastly, a fast observe on Seth Jones. If you happen to advised me at the beginning of final season that I’d be projecting him on the Olympic workforce, I’d have checked out you cross-eyed. As an alternative, Jones has been glorious since becoming a member of the Florida Panthers. His dimension and puck-moving means make him an amazing match for this blue line.
Goalies
Group USA’s largest benefit is within the web, the place it boasts a humiliation of riches. A number of good goaltenders can be left off the roster with competitors as stiff because it’s ever been.
Let’s begin with the straightforward one. Three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck is the No. 1 goaltender for the People. If Group USA reaches the gold medal recreation, Hellebuyck can be within the crease.
From there, I really feel like Jake Oettinger has executed sufficient to keep up his spot on the roster from the 4 Nations Face-Off. He hasn’t had the perfect begin to the 2025-26 season, however goaltending is extraordinarily unstable, and Oettinger has constructed up an amazing physique of labor in his younger NHL profession.
The third spot was the hardest, however Spencer Knight has performed his method into the Olympics. With 12.7 objectives saved above common and a .919 save proportion, Knight is a professional Vezina Trophy candidate on a Chicago Blackhawks workforce with some defensive holes. Give this man his flowers with an Olympic nod.
