Team USA catches many off guard with latest roster decision
Team USA's roster decisions caught many hockey fans off guard on Wednesday.
With Wednesday's release of the Team USA roster, General Manager Bill Guerin has deflated the excitement with an announcement.
The games in Milan, Italy, are upon us in February, and rosters had to be submitted by December 31st. Many of the decisions made have puzzled fans.
The official roster will be presented on NBC's "Today" on Friday. In the midst of the controversy, Team USA General Manager Bill Guerin has addressed the fans:
He's asked fans to be patient while engaging with players who have made the team via phone call.
«I know I'm going to be delivering disappointing news to some people, but I need to be honest with them and communicate the truth and what reality is,» Guerin said. «There's a lot of hockey between now and then, we just don't know what's gonna happen and just 'be ready.' That's all I can really say to them, and I will.»
One Red Wings player, Dylan Larkin, is anticipated to make Team USA's lineup in 2026.
Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Matt Boldy, Jake Guentzel, Dylan Larkin, and Kyle Connor will likely fill the top nine.
With many players who made the Four Nations Face-Off team last season, there seems to be continuity between the two rosters, as very little has changed from initial projections.
Team USA's projected Olympic roster for 2026
A head-scratching announcement was made, revealing that Seth Jones, Clayton Keller and Tage Thompson will be a part of Team USA, which slims Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane's chances at making the roster.
ESPN reporter Emily Kaplan has reported there's been a change in the roster, with Seth Jones, Clayton Keller, and Tage Thompson added in continuity from the Four Nations Face-Off.
However, on Wednesday afternoon, Emily Kaplan reported that "Clayton Keller, Tage Thompson and Seth Jones were named to the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team - all adds from Four Nations."
To give you an idea of who could play in Milan, here's a roster from Michael Russo of The Athletic:
Already named to the roster (4): Likely captain Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk
Rest of our projected forwards (10): Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Tage Thompson and Vincent Trocheck
Already named to the roster (2): Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy
Rest of our projected defensemen (6): Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin, Seth Jones, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin, Zach Werenski
Our projected goalies (3): Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman
Rest of our projected forwards (10): Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Tage Thompson and Vincent Trocheck
Already named to the roster (2): Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy
Rest of our projected defensemen (6): Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin, Seth Jones, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin, Zach Werenski
Our projected goalies (3): Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman
We await the official release on Friday.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 69 ANSWERS Team USA catches many off guard with latest roster decision Did Team USA's roster for the 2026 Olympics catch you off guard with how many players General Manager Bill Guerin has snubbed? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 81.2 % |
| No | 13 | 18.8 % |
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