Canada forces Team USA into bold, unexpected roster decisions

The United States officially unveiled its 25-man men’s hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday morning, and while several additions stood out, it was the omissions that quickly became the focal point of the discussion.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller, and Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones were among the notable additions compared to last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster. But for many observers, the bigger takeaway was who didn’t make the cut.

Jason Robertson headlines the list of surprising snubs. The Dallas Stars winger ranks second among Americans in goals (24), is tied for ninth in assists (24), and leads all American players in points (48). Leaving that level of offensive production off an Olympic roster immediately raised questions.

Defenseman Adam Fox’s exclusion was another eye-opener, and the omissions didn’t stop there. Forwards Cole Caufield, Alex DeBrincat, Alex Tuch, Troy Terry, Cutter Gauthier, and Matthew Knies were all left off, as were defensemen Lane Hutson and Jackson Lacombe. Even future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane saw his hopes of representing the U.S. on the Olympic stage come to an end.

According to analyst Matt Larkin, the decisions may reveal more than just roster preference. Speaking with Jeff Marek after the announcements, Larkin suggested that for all the talk about Canada building its roster to counter the United States, the opposite may be true.

“When you look at who the Americans brought in and who they left behind, it’s pretty clear Canada is in their heads,” Larkin said.

USA general manager Bill Guerin spoke with media after the official reveal, but refused to say more on players who didn’t make the roster.

Whether that assessment proves accurate will ultimately be decided on the ice in Milano Cortina. But for now, Team USA’s Olympic roster has ignited debate, not just about talent, but about mindset.