The 2026 Winter Olympics are just a couple of months away, and NHL players will participate for the first time since 2014. Team USA will have a great chance to end its 46-year gold medal drought as the American talent pool has never been greater.
Team USA general manager Bill Guerin has some tough decisions to make over the next month, but it's a very good problem to have. And part of the work has already been done.
Back in June, Team USA announced the first six members of its Olympic roster. Jack Eichel (Golden Knights), Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs), Brady Tkachuk (Senators), Matthew Tkachuk (Panthers), Quinn Hughes (Canucks) And Charlie McAvoy (Bruins) I'm going to Italy. Which 19 players will join them?
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That's the question I've tried to answer by proposing the final Olympic roster for Team USA, which will be released in early January. This is a great time for American hockey, and Team USA will be able to field a team capable of winning gold.
Here's what decisions on Team USA's Olympic roster should look like:
*denotes an already announced player
Forwards
- Matt BoldyWild
- Cole Cofield, Canadiens
- Kyle Connor, Jets
- Alex DeBrincat, Red Wings
- Jack Eichel, Golden Knights*
- Jake Guentzel, Lightning
- Jack Hughes, Devils
- Clayton Keller, Mammoth
- Dylan LarkinRed Wings
- Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs*
- Jason RobertsonStars
- Take Thompson, Sabers
- Brady Tkachuk, Senators*
- Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers*
I have a feeling Guerin will overestimate his group of forwards, neglecting more experienced players due to size and tenacity. These qualities no doubt have their place in hockey, but the level of skill in Italy will be off the charts. The Americans need to bring in their top 14 forwards, and they still have plenty of staying power in the Tkachuk brothers, Eichel and defensemen like Jacob Slavin.
With the list above, I think they do just that. Players like Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat don't have much power, but they make up for it with their ability to put the puck in the net. These two combined for 28 goals on the season, and I don't think their presence takes away from the size and strength of the Americans.
This brings me to Jason Robertson, who was inexplicably left out of the fourth list. Clash of Nations list. The 6-foot-3 winger is one of the NHL's top scorers with a total of 168 goals since the start of the 2021-22 season. Only 12 other players have more in that time frame. If Robertson is removed from the Olympic roster, Guerin would be doing his team a disservice.
The battle for the 14th and final forward spot was tough. I felt like JT Miller, Chris Kreider And Vincent Trocheck were in the mix. However, I think Tage Thompson has a higher ceiling (and is one of 12 players with more goals than Robertson since the 2021-22 season).
Defense
The Americans did not invite Quinn Hughes to the Four Nations due to injury, so his presence alone represents a big improvement. Beyond that, I really think Team USA has a good mix of offensive skills and shutdown capabilities on their blue line.
Lane Hutson falls into that spectrum of experienced players, and I think the 2025 Calder Trophy winner deserves a trip to Italy. Again, there may be bigger and more defensively responsible players, but the Olympics will be a battle of star power. Hutson has it in spades.
Jake Sanderson was replaced due to injury at the 4 Nations but has earned a permanent place in the Olympic squad. He has developed into an excellent two-way defender and has good size at 6'2. I know Adam Fox was criticized for his performance at the Four Nations, but there is no reason to leave him at home at the Olympics. Since the start of last season, the New York Rangers have a plus-28 goal differential when he takes the ice at five-on-five. for each trick with natural stats.
Finally, a quick note about Seth Jones. If you had told me at the beginning of last season that I would be nominating him for the Olympic team, I would have looked at you askance. Instead, Jones has been great since joining the Florida Panthers. His size and ability to move the puck make him an ideal player for this blue line.
Goalkeepers
Team USA's biggest advantage lies at the gate, where it boasts enormous wealth. Several good goalkeepers will be left out of the lineup as the competition will be as tough as ever.
Let's start with something simple. Three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck is the number one goaltender for the Americans. If Team USA wins the gold medal, Hellebuyck will be the winner.
From this point on, I feel like Jake Ettinger has done enough to keep his place on the list after the 4 Nations Face-Off. He hasn't had the best start to the 2025-26 season, but goaltending has been extremely inconsistent and Oettinger has amassed great experience in his young NHL career.
Third place was the hardest, but Spencer Knight made it to the Olympics. With an above-average 12.7 saves and a .919 save percentage, Knight is a legitimate Vezina Trophy candidate on a Chicago Blackhawks team with some holes on defense. Give this person flowers with an Olympic bow.
