TEAM USA
Final Roster (25 Players)
Forwards (14):Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthews, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Tage Thompson, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Vincent Trocheck
Defensemen (8):Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin, Quinn Hughes, Seth Jones, Charlie McAvoy, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin, Zach Werenski
Goaltenders (3):Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman
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This group is obviously dominated by the team that came within one goal of winning the 4 Nations tournament. But this is a very different tournament…as Canada has already shown in its roster decisions.
There is no fighting in this tournament. None. If you fight…you’re gone. That matters…a lot.
This roster also reinforces something I’ve been talking about for years…these players have two careers. One is their NHL career…and the other is their Team USA career. And in many ways, what they do for their NHL teams has very little to do with their standing when it comes to international play. Showing up, fitting in, and performing for Team USA matters more than anything else.
This is also another example of Team USA’s ongoing commitment to building a team rather than simply selecting an All-Star roster. And sometimes, I get that. Many times, I get that. But there are also moments where it feels like that idea is used as an excuse to include certain players…and snub others.
You can’t form a team in a few weeks. You can’t make a group play like a cohesive unit in a few weeks. So by leaning so heavily on the 4 Nations roster, this feels like an attempt to put the band back together.
I don’t buy it.
When you’re going up against the kind of skill Canada has…the kind of speed they bring…you aren’t going to shut them down. You’re going to have to outscore them. And this team left off three major players, all of whom would absolutely be considered massive snubs if they were Canadian and left off Team Canada.
#1 Jason Robertson
One of the most discussed omissions is Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars. Robertson has been one of the most consistent American scorers this season and ranks near the top of U.S.-born NHL goal scorers.
The issue? Robertson isn’t a Bill Guerin-type player.
He’s more of a Canadian-style skill forward…nothing like Vincent Trocheck or J.T. Miller, both holdovers from the 4 Nations team…and both having very disappointing seasons. Leaving off a player with Robertson’s offensive impact in favor of familiarity feels like a mistake…especially in a tournament where goals decide everything.
#2 Cole Caufield
Cole Caufield is another shocking omission.
The Montreal Canadiens winger is currently on pace for a breakout offensive season and has been among the top American goal scorers in the NHL. His exclusion is particularly surprising.
Caufield is basically the Patrick Kane of his generation. He’s a game-changer. He has elite speed. He scores big goals in big moments. He’s having a fantastic season and couldn’t have done anything more to earn a spot.
As I’ve said before…you are going to have to outscore Canada. I don’t see these games being low-scoring at all…especially because penalties in Olympic play lead to power plays that traditionally score at extremely high rates.
There is ZERO reason Jake Guentzel should be on this roster over Cole Caufield.
#3 Lane Hutson
If you asked me which of these three was the biggest lock…it would have been Lane Hutson.
Right now, I believe Hutson is the second-best American defenseman in the world…behind only Quinn Hughes. Here’s a player who has consistently shown up and delivered for Team USA…winning gold and playing a major role in international tournaments.
Team Canada made a huge point of keeping Schaeffer off its roster…but in my opinion, Hutson is better than Schaeffer at this stage. With his NHL experience…including playoff hockey…he is clearly ready for the biggest stage.
I predicted Hutson would be among the Norris Trophy finalists this season and that he would help lead the Canadiens to a division title. I took a lot of heat for that prediction…and yet here we are…only a few points off.
So I’ll ask it again…How does Noah Hanifin make this team over Lane Hutson?
What say you?
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