Meet Team USA: Breaking Down Team USA’s 2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey Roster
- Mayline Ruiz
- 30 minutes ago
- 14 min read
It has been almost 12 years since we have seen players from the National Hockey League participate in the Olympics. The 2014 U.S. Men's Hockey team landed in fourth place with a 2-1-0-0 record. They came out with a 5-2 win against the Czech Republic, but ultimately lost to Canada 1-0 and to Finland 5-0. Since then, players have been itching to return to the Olympics, and they finally have the opportunity. On January 2, USA Hockey released its roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Let’s take a look at who Team USA has and the kind of season they’ve had so far.
Goalies
Jake Oettinger - Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger, entering his fifth year with the Dallas Stars, has played a significant role in the Stars' success, and he will have the opportunity to see his success translate with Team USA. Oettinger has played in 284 games and has 168 wins with 14 shutouts and a .911SV%. In the 2025-26 season, Oettinger has appeared in 33 games, where he has recorded 19 wins and two shutouts, with a save percentage of .902. Oettinger has playoff experience, which helps solidify his ability to play and perform under pressure.
Jeremy Swayman - Boston Bruins
Jeremy Swayman, who made his first playoff appearance in 2022 with the Boston Bruins against the Carolina Hurricanes, will be a key figure for Team USA. Swayman, who has played in 225 games, has 121 wins and 17 shutouts with a .909SV%. Swayman has one shutout this season, where he has appeared in 35 games and has 20 wins for a .903SV%. Swayman made an appearance at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where Team USA won gold, and he went undefeated in seven games. His ability to perform under pressure will allow him to succeed with Team USA.
Connor Hellebuyck - Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck, who was drafted in 2012 in the fifth round as the ninth pick, has played with the Winnipeg Jets for 10 years. Hellebuyck has played in 600 games and has a .917SV% with 45 shutouts. During the 2025-26 season, Hellebuyck has played in 32 games, where he has a .902SV% and 12 wins. Hellebuyck has won the Vezina Trophy three times as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy. Hellebuyck also made an appearance in the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, where he had a 2-1-0 record, which goes to show how he can deliver in important games.
Forwards
Auston Matthews - Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews back in 2016 as the 1st overall pick, and since then, Matthews has played a pivotal role for the Leafs. Matthews has played in 675 games, where he has accumulated 769 points from 343 assists and 426 goals. This season, Matthews has played in 46 games, recording 42 points, 17 assists, and 25 goals. In previous years, Matthews has scored anywhere between 30 and 60 goals and has averaged around 80 points. A veteran player who has a high offensive production is just what Team USA needs.
Jack Hughes - New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes, who was on Good Morning America and the TODAY Show, helped announce Team USA’s roster. Hughes will also be making an appearance in the Olympics following an injury that required him to get surgery after a freak accident where he cut his finger at a team dinner. Hughes has played in 402 games, accumulating 385 points from 153 goals and 232 assists. Just this season, Hughes has played in 34 games, where he has 12 goals and 22 assists, totaling 34 points. Having Hughes on the roster is a perfect opportunity, as he has had experience in playing in important games such as the 4 Nations and the IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
Matthew Tkachuk - Florida Panthers
After winning two Stanley Cup Championships, there is no doubt that Matthew Tkachuk has been called to represent Team USA in the Olympics. Tkachuk has appeared in 646 games, where he has 639 points from 240 goals and 399 assists. Most importantly, he has played in 94 playoff games, where he has 84 points after scoring 32 goals and having 52 assists.
Tkachuk made his appearance this season against the San Jose Sharks, where he was on the ice for nearly 21 minutes and had three shots on goal. His veteran presence will help guide players who may not have playoff experience.
Vincent Trocheck - New York Rangers
Vincent Trocheck, who started the first seven years of his career with the Florida Panthers and spent three years with the Carolina Hurricanes, has been playing for the New York Rangers for four seasons. Just this season, Trocheck has played in 39 games, where he has obtained 33 points from 22 assists and 11 goals. Last season, Trocheck had a 59.3% faceoff percentage, and he also brings a lot of physicality, which will help Team USA’s roster.
J.T. Miller - New York Rangers
In 2011, the New York Rangers drafted J.T. Miller as the 15th pick in the first round. During his time with the Rangers, Miller played in 342 games, where he accumulated 172 points on 72 goals and 100 assists. Miller was then traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018, where he played in 94 games, had 65 points from 42 assists and 23 goals. Once again, he was traded in 2019 to the Vancouver Canucks where he appeared in 404 games and had 152 goals and 285 assists for 437 points.
Ultimately, Miller was traded back to the New York Rangers in 2025. This season, Miller has played in 44 games, where he has 33 points from 14 goals and 19 assists. Miller is a versatile player who has a high hockey IQ after being in the league for 15 years.
Matt Boldy - Minnesota Wild
With just four years playing in the NHL, Matt Boldy is making an appearance in the Olympics. Boldy, who was drafted in 2019 as the 12th pick in the first round, has played in 334 games, where he has scored 130 goals and has 167 assists for 297 points. This season, Boldy is already on track to beat his goal and assist record. In just 49 games, he has already accumulated 53 points from 25 assists and 28 goals. With Boldy’s offensive production, he can use his experience in big games.
Jack Eichel - Vegas Golden Knights
Similar to Tkachuk, Jack Eichel has had consistent playoff experience. Eichel has spent most of his career with both the Buffalo Sabres and the Golden Knights. During his time with the Sabres, Eichel played in 375 games, where he obtained 355 points following his 216 assists and 139 goals. During the 2020-21 season, Eichel played in a few games following a neck injury and was then traded to the Golden Knights. Just two years later, he won the Stanley Cup Championship after defeating the Florida Panthers in five games. With the Knights, Eichel has played in 284 games, where he has 314 points from 119 goals and 195 assists. Eichel has also played in the 4 Nations Face-Off, which will play a big role in how he competes in the Winter Olympics after having experience in big games, such as when the USA played against Canada.
Tage Thompson - Buffalo Sabres
Tage Thompson was drafted by the St. Louis Blues back in 2016 as the 26th pick in the first round. Thompson played with the Blues for 41 games, where he had nine points from three goals and six assists. During the offseason, he was traded to Buffalo for Ryan O’Reilly in 2018. Since then, Thompson has played in 500 games, where he has 204 goals and 176 assists for 380 points. Thompson participated in the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where Team USA won gold against Switzerland in overtime, 1-0. During the tournament, Thompson played in 10 games where he was credited with nine points following his six goals and three assists. It will be important for Team USA to have a player who has played in big tournaments and can produce in important moments.
Brady Tkachuk - Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2018 as the fourth overall pick and has since been a stable piece in their roster. Tkachuk has accumulated 436 points in 544 games, where he has been credited with 233 assists and 203 goals. Tkachuk is a physical player and has been consistent on the ice. His leadership will help bring success to the team, as he can also use his experience based on international games he has played in, such as when he won gold at the 2017 IIHF U18 Worlds.
Kyle Connor - Winnipeg Jets
Kyle Connor, who has played with the Jets his entire professional career, will be a valuable player for Team USA due to his offensive production and consistency. Connor has played in 664 games, where he has 307 goals and 333 assists for 640 points. This season, he has 58 points in 51 games, where he has scored 23 goals and has had 35 assists. Connor has also had 137 shots on goal, which goes to show how he is continuously getting opportunities to score, which will help Team USA get more offensive chances from more than just one player.
Jake Guentzel - Tampa Bay Lightning
Jake Guentzel, who lifted the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016-17, will play a big role with Team USA. Guentzel played with the Penguins for eight years, where he had 466 points in 503 games after scoring 219 goals and getting 247 assists. Guentzel was then traded in 2024 to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he spent one year playing in 17 games, scoring eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points. In 2024, Guentzel was traded to Tampa, and from there, he has played in 130 games and has 65 goals and 69 assists for 134 points. With his offensive production, Guentzel can be a dangerous weapon who has playoff experience.
Brock Nelson - Colorado Avalanche
With Brock Nelson being in the NHL for 15 years, Team USA will have a veteran presence who can help guide the younger players. Nelson has played in 970 games and has accumulated 632 points, with 304 assists and 328 goals. Most importantly, Nelson is versatile and great defensively, but can also score goals. Nelson also comes from a family of Olympians, which includes his grandfather, Bill, and his uncle, Dave Christian.
Dylan Larkin - Detroit Red Wings
During his 10 years playing with Detroit, Dylan Larkin has been an incredible player for the Red Wings. After being drafted in 2014 as the 15th pick in the first round, Larkin has played in 787 games, where he has scored 267 goals and has 356 assists, totaling 623 points. As a captain, Larkin will be able to use his veteran presence and give advice to the younger players. During the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, Larkin gave the U.S. the lead against Canada, where the U.S. won 3-1. His ability to perform in big moments will play a pivotal part in the Olympics.
Clayton Keller - Utah Mammoth
The Arizona Coyotes, who are now known as the Utah Mammoth, drafted Clayton Keller as the seventh pick in the first round in 2016. Keller has played in 653 games, where he has obtained 558 points, with 212 goals and 346 assists. During the 2024-25 season, Keller had an incredible season where he scored 30 goals and was credited with 60 assists in 81 games, totaling 90 points. With his ability to create plays, Keller can help bring offensive opportunities in close games.
Defensemen
Quinn Hughes - Minnesota Wild
Quinn Hughes, who spent most of his career with the Vancouver Canucks was drafted by them in 2018 in the 1st round as the 7th pick. Hughes spent eight years with Vancouver, where he played in 459 games and accumulated 432 points by scoring 61 goals and 371 assists. Hughes was then traded to the Minnesota Wild on December 12, 2025. It was a shocking trade that people didn’t see coming, and in the 21 games he’s had with Minnesota, Hughes has scored two goals and been credited with 23 assists. Hughes has also won the James Norris Memorial Trophy and has had experience in international tournaments. Team USA needs a defenseman who can create a lot of offensive production and can dominate both sides of the ice.
Brock Faber - Minnesota Wild
During the 2020 NHL Draft, the Los Angeles Kings drafted Brock Faber in the 2nd round as the 14th pick. In 2022, the Kings decided to trade Faber to the Minnesota Wild, and in those three years, he has played in 215 games, where he has garnered 108 points, 79 assists, and 29 goals. Faber also won gold in 2021 during the IIHF World Junior Championship. Faber does a great job at transitioning and being able to handle defensive zones, which helps the Wild maintain a close game. Having experience in these international games can help him play smoothly when making an appearance in the Olympics.
Jake Sanderson - Ottawa Senators
Jake Sanderson, son of Geoff Sanderson, a former NHL forward, was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2020 as the fifth pick in the first round. Sanderson has played in 52 games so far this season, where he has gained 41 points from 31 assists and 10 goals. Sanderson appeared in the 4 Nations Face-Off following Quinn Hughes’ injury. During the 4 Nations, Sanderson played in two games where he scored one goal. While he had limited playing time, we were able to see how he plays in high-stakes games and can step into big roles. Sanderson can move the puck well and make smooth transitions, which will be an asset to Team USA.
Jackson LaCombe - Anaheim Ducks
Seth Jones, defenseman from the Florida Panthers, was supposed to play at this year's Olympics, but sustained an injury against the New York Rangers and was moved to the long-term injured reserve. Due to this circumstance, the Team USA roster was able to make room for Jackson LaCombe from the Anaheim Ducks.
LaCombe has played 201 games since his debut during the 2022-23 season, with 22 goals and 72 assists for 94 points. Just this season in 53 games, he has scored six goals and has been credited with 28 assists for 34 points. LaCombe has made multiple appearances at IIHF tournaments, bringing experience to the roster. In fact, LaCombe scored five points during the IIHF 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship with two goals and three assists. He also averages about 20 minutes on the ice, which can bring reliability in tight situations.
Noah Hanifin - Vegas Golden Knights
The Carolina Hurricanes drafted Noah Hanifin in 2015 as the fifth pick in the first round, where he played 3 seasons with the team before getting traded to the Calgary Flames. In the 10 years Hanifin has played in the NHL, he has played in 800 games, where he has obtained 345 points, scored 74 goals, and has been credited with 271 assists. Hanifin made an appearance during the 2014 U-17 World Hockey Challenge, where he won the gold medal, and he also won gold in the 2014 World Junior Under-18 Championship. As a defenseman, Hanifin can contribute offensively by creating plays, and his puck mobility can help with defensive passes.
Zach Werenski - Columbus Blue Jackets
In 2015, the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Zach Werenski, and since then, he has played a pivotal role with the Blue Jackets. Werenski, who debuted with Columbus on October 13, 2016, against the Boston Bruins, got his first point with an assist off a goal from Alexander Wennberg. Since then, Werenski has played in 614 games, where he currently holds 439 points from 307 assists and 132 goals. Werenski averages 24 minutes on the ice, which can help Team USA have consistency. Werenski also made an appearance in the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where in the seven games he played, he scored one goal and had five assists. Not only are we seeing Werenski dominate in the NHL, but we’re also seeing him excel in international tournaments.
Jaccob Slavin - Carolina Hurricanes
Drafted by the Hurricanes in 2012 in the 4th round as the 29th pick, Jaccob Slavin has been a key player on their roster. While Slavin has spent part of the season dealing with injuries, he has shown the ability to create a lot of offensive plays. Slavin has played in 757 games, where he has scored 55 goals and has been credited with 246 assists, for a total of 301 points. Slavin has also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy twice, which demonstrates his sportsmanship. Having a player who can demonstrate great sportsmanship can help him be a role model for younger players on Team USA.
Charlie McAvoy - Boston Bruins
Charlie McAvoy was drafted by the Boston Bruins back in 2016 in the first round as the 14th pick. McAvoy has played in 545 games, where he has 64 goals and 270 assists, totaling 334 points. He also had the opportunity to play with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and won gold during the 2015 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. Since then, McAvoy has played with the Bruins and has gained a lot of playoff experience, which will help him when he plays in the Olympics.
What do you think about Team USA’s roster? Is there a player you would’ve liked to have seen on the roster? Let me know what you think!
Edited by Mary Merensky
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