USA Olympic hockey roster projections: Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel headline best team for 2026 Winter Games

The United States hasn't won gold at the Olympics in men's ice hockey since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" year — the red, white and blue is looking to change that in 2026. 

For the first time in 12 years, the best American hockey players will be at the Olympics. The NHL is heading back to the Games after missing out on the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics. 

The United States enters the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games after settling for silver at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, losing to rival Canada in overtime of the championship game. That tournament in February provided hockey fans with the first international best-on-best competition since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. 

The Tkachuk brothers, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel are locks to be in Italy for the United States — but who else will be on the team?

With the rosters set to be finalized by Dec. 31, here are the latest projections for USA's Olympic hockey team. 

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USA Olympic hockey roster projections for 2026

Forwards

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, and Jack Eichel are all locks. They'll make up four of the top-six forward spots, with Jack Hughes included in that as well. Jason Robertson was one of the final snubs from the 4 Nations roster, but considering he's the Americans' leading scorer this season and has been since the 21-22 season, there is zero reason he shouldn't be in Milano-Cortina. I have him rounding out the first two forward groups. 

Matt Boldy, Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor, and Dylan Larkin are all expected to run it back from the 4 Nations as well, slotting in the bottom-six forward group. Larkin was great at the 4 Nations and should bump up to take over as the third-line center. Put any two of Boldy, Connor and Guentzel with the Red Wings captain, and they are set. 

The United States needs some size in the bottom six, and that's where Tage Thompson and Matthew Knies come in, replacing Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson from the previous international tournament. Like Robertson, Thompson was one of the final cuts at the 4 Nations, but you need another player capable of playing down the middle, and Thompson should fit in nicely with the center group. Knies has experience at the Olympics (he played for the USA in 2022 when the NHL didn't send players), and plays with an edge, filling a role the team needs. 

When it comes to the extras, I think Clayton Keller is one of the more underrated and underappreciated Americans. It's picking between one of Keller, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat, and while Keller isn't a Goliath, he's got more size to him than the other two. 

Now for the final spot, as the Olympics allow 14 forwards rather than the 4 Nations' 13. I'll make this clear — Vincent Trocheck is not necessarily the best  player out of the bubble group that includes Caufield, DeBrincat, and Alex Tuch. However, you need someone with faceoff ability/penalty killing over more pure offense, and that's why Trocheck is in as the 14th forward. 

Just missed:  Cole Caufield (MTL), Alex DeBrincat (DET), (PHI), Cutter Gauthier (ANA), Alex Tuch (BUF), Trevor Zegras

MORE: Projecting Canada's Olympic hockey team for 2026

Defense

The defensive group for the Americans is much, much easier in my mind.

Six of the seven defensemen who represented the red, white and blue at the 4 Nations should be back. Charlie McAvoy and Quinn Hughes were already announced, and they likely will be joined by Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber, Adam Fox, Jake Sanderson and Zach Werenski. 

McAvoy and Slavin should be the first pairing for USA head coach Mike Sullivan. At the 4 Nations, the Hurricanes defenseman showed the world what puck knowers already knew — that he is the best shutdown blue liner in the world. McAvoy brings offensive skill and physicality that match well with any team's top line. 

Hughes and Faber as a second pairing is almost unfair. In their brief spell together since the blockbuster trade to bring Hughes to Minnesota, they've been fantastic as a pairing, with Faber's shutdown ability paired extremely well with Hughes's offensive dynamo. 

Werenski and Fox likely will be the third pairing. Was Fox brutal at the 4 Nations Face-Off? Yes, he was, but he's still an incredibly two-way defender and will be on the USA roster. Don't let a four-game sample get in the way of what has been a stout career for the Rangers' blue liner. Sanderson was great in his limited time with the USA last winter, and likely will be an extra defenseman again.

So what about the eighth spot? Noah Hanifin certainly has a case to return for the USA after playing at the 4 Nations, but his play last spring was fine, and it hasn't exactly improved since that tournament concluded. There are plenty of fans clamoring for Lane Hutson to be on the team, as he has the second-most points of a defenseman among the Americans this season. However, his defense is nowhere near the level it needs to be to compete at the Olympics. 

Jackson LaCombe is an emerging star in Anaheim, but he likely hasn't surpassed his countrymen yet to be included. On the opposite end of the spectrum, 2014 Olympian John Carlson is still getting it done at 35 years old, but he's past his prime and likely won't get a second go at the Olympics. 

My pick? Seth Jones. He's not the No. 1 defenseman he was touted to be, but he has proven to be an excellent second-pairing defender in Florida, helping the Panthers win the Stanley Cup last spring. For an extra defenseman, he's an excellent choice to have on the roster. 

Just missed: John Carlson (WAS), Noah Hanifin (VGK), Lane Hutson (MTL), Jackson LaCombe (ANA)

Goalies

In the crease, it's three familiar faces for the United States. 

Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger both return as the top two options for Sullivan. While Oettinger's numbers in the NHL have been better this year, Hellebuyck was the USA starter at 4 Nations and I don't see that changing. With that said, if the two-time Vezina winner doesn't have his A-game, expect the Star netminder to take over. 

While other Americans like Spencer Knight and Thatcher Demko have been solid, neither has been that  much better than Jeremy Swayman, who was the third string at the 4 Nations. It should be a simple decision to run it back with the same trio. 

Just missed: Thatcher Demko (VAN),  Spencer Knight (CHI)