We’re just about two months away from the onset of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
It’ll be the first time since the 4 Nations Face-Off that the U.S. takes part in an international hockey tournament. After placing second in a heartbreaking loss to Canada last winter, the Americans could, and probably should, make some significant adjustments to the roster ahead of the Olympics.
It’s a major honor to be selected to the international team, and there are a handful of deserving players who didn’t make the cut last February, but have a strong chance at making it this time around.
We’re going to make some projections for the Team USA roster at the Winter Games, but first, let’s remind ourselves of what the team looked like in February of ‘25 at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Team USA 4 Nations Roster
Forwards:
| PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|
| Matt Boldy | Minnesota Wild |
| Kyle Connor | Winnipeg Jets |
| Jack Eichel | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Jake Guentzel | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Jack Hughes | New Jersey Devils |
| Chris Kreider | Anaheim Ducks |
| Dylan Larkin | Detroit Red Wings |
| Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| J.T. Miller | New York Rangers |
| Brock Nelson | Colorado Avalanche |
| Brady Tkachuk | Ottawa Senators |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Florida Panthers |
| Vincent Trocheck | New York Rangers |
Defensemen:
| PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|
| Brock Faber | Minnesota Wild |
| Adam Fox | New York Rangers |
| Noah Hanifin | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Charlie McAvoy | Boston Bruins |
| Jake Sanderson | Ottawa Senators |
| Jaccob Slavin | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Zach Werenski | Columbus Blue Jackets |
Goalies:
| PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|
| Connor Hellebuyck | Winnipeg Jets |
| Jake Oettinger | Dallas Stars |
It was a solid team, blessed with two of the games best goaltenders and a number of top forward and defensive options. But the coaching staff seemed to prioritize experience, bringing along some veterans such as Nelson, Krieder, Trocheck and Miller, over the likes of some younger, breakout talents. This year, they may look for some newer faces, and there are plenty of worthy candidates who have performed at a high enough level to make the Olympic roster.
Among some players worthy of consideration include Canadiens’ sharpshooter Cole Caufield, Stars standout forward Jason Robertson, Sabres star Tage Thompson, and several others.
Each nation must narrow its potential pool of players down to 22 players and three goalies by Dec. 31. So, here’s how we’re projecting the USA to look ahead of the 2026 Games.
Projected 2026 Olympic Roster for Team USA
Forwards:
| PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Boldy | Minnesota Wild | LW |
| Cole Caufield | Montreal Canadiens | RW |
| Kyle Connor | Winnipeg Jets | LW |
| Alex DeBrincat | Detroit Red Wings | RW |
| Jack Eichel | Vegas Golden Knights | C |
| Jake Guentzel | Tampa Bay Lightning | C |
| Jack Hughes | New Jersey Devils | C |
| Clayton Keller | Utah Mammoth | C |
| Dylan Larkin | Detroit Red Wings | C |
| Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | C |
| Jason Robertson | Dallas Stars | LW |
| Tage Thompson | Buffalo Sabres | C/RW |
| Brady Tkachuk | Ottawa Senators | LW |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Florida Panthers | RW |
There are a number of changes to the forwards unit here. Notably, a handful of veterans have been left off this projected roster, including Miller, Trocheck, Kreider and Nelson. In their place, the likes of Robertson, Caufield, DeBrincat and Thompson are due for their first taste of Olympic hockey, and they could be able to provide a needed goalscoring punch.
Of course, attacking is only half the job for a forward, especially on the game’s biggest stages. The ability to play two ways will be crucial for the U.S., an area where both Thompson and Robertson can make significant contributions.
Defensemen:
| PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|
| Quinn Hughes | Vancouver Canucks |
| Lane Hutson | Montreal Canadiens |
| Seth Jones | Florida Panthers |
| Jackson LaCombe | Anaheim Ducks |
| Charlie McAvoy | Boston Bruins |
| Jake Sanderson | Ottawa Senators |
| Jaccob Slavin | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Zach Werenski | Columbus Blue Jackets |
The absence of Hughes was a thorn in the side of the United States at the 4 Nations Face-off. Having him in the lineup will be a huge boost this time around. Lane Hutson will be a welcome addition as a playmaking defenseman, too, capable of setting up his teammates and playing an impact role on the power play. Additionally, Ducks standout Jackson LaCombe has earned his place on the roster, replacing Brock Faber who hasn’t had a great start to the year in 2025-26.
Goalies:
| PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|
| Connor Hellebuyck | Winnipeg Jets |
| Jake Oettinger | Dallas Stars |
| Spencer Knight | Chicago Blackhawks |
There needn’t be any significant changes to the goalies room for the Americans. Hellebuyck and Oettinger are two of the best in the world at their positions, and Knight is a deserving third-stringer.
Changes from 4 Nations Face-Off:
IN: Robertson, Thompson, Caufield, Keller, Hutson, Hughes, LaCombe
OUT: Kreider, Miller, Trocheck, Nelson, Hanifin, Fox, Faber
Other deserving players to consider: John Carlson, Logan Cooley, Alex DeBrincat, Thatcher Demko, Adam Fox, Cutter Gauthier, Matthew Knies, J.T. Miller, Brett Pesce, Nick Schmaltz, Alex Tuch, Trevor Zegras
There’s still some time for the U.S. brass to assess its pool of talent, but after falling short with a veteran-laden roster in the 4 Nations Face-Off, it may be time to yet the young stars have their shot.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Projecting Team USA’s 2026 Olympics Ice Hockey Roster.
