The 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway, but the men’s hockey has yet to start, their first games will start next week, Wednesday, Feb. 11. The last time the NHL took part in the Olympics was 2014 so many of these players have been waiting a long time to get the chance to represent their countries once again or for the first time.
Team USA’s roster has been criticized ever since it was released back in January, but they have a lineup full of talented players. Of course, with every roster, there have been names left off that surprised some, and some picked that were even more of a shock. In this article, we’ll look at a few players, fans should keep an eye on, starting with their defense.
Werenski Shines Bright
Zach Werenski has really made a name for himself the last couple of seasons as he’s led the Columbus Blue Jackets in points the last two seasons. He’s been through a lot over the past couple of seasons, but he’s found a way to persevere. He’s not only one of the best on the Blue Jackets but also in the NHL, as many have taken notice, including Team USA’s general manager Bill Guerin.
In 52 games played this season, he’s put up 62 points as a defenseman, and the season prior, he played 81 games and produced 82 points. He contributes a lot offensively, but he doesn’t let his defense lack either, as he has 65 blocked shots this season. USA will need both sides of his game if they want to compete for the gold medal.
This will be Werenski’s first Olympics, and he’ll be looking to make everyone proud. He was on a seven-game point streak before the break, and hopefully, he’ll be able to bring both that scoring side and defensive abilities with him as USA will need all of it to get past the tough competition.
Boldy’s Thriving
While Matt Boldy is a member of the Minnesota Wild, the team Bill Guerin is also a general manger of, he earned his spot with his play from not only this season but last season as well. He’s continuously found ways to improve his game for the Wild in offense, defense, and physicality. He’s easily one of the Wild’s most valuable players, and he could become that for USA as well.
He’s had at least 60 points in the past four seasons, including 73 points in 82 games played last season, and this season he’s pushing for 50 goals. Boldy has 32 goals and 30 assists for 62 points so far this season in 54 games played. 19 of those points have been on the power play, and it’s likely he’ll get a chance on Team USA’s power play, especially with the shot he has. Like Werenski, he’s heading into the Olympics on a seven-game point streak.
Boldy has shown his speed and puck-handling skills a lot more this season, and his confidence has grown a lot in a short time. He’s more willing to carry the puck and control the play, which is exactly what USA needs, and fans will want to keep an eye on him because that’s when the magic happens.
Oettinger Fun to Watch
Team USA is lucky enough to have three strong goaltenders, and all three will likely see time in the net, but Jake Oettinger definitely stands out from the other two. He’s the Dallas Stars’ starting goaltender, and he has kept them near the top of the standings for the majority of the season. He’s a capable goaltender who’s had a winning record basically since he started back in the 2020-2021 season.
This season, he has a record of 23-10-4, and he’s made 971 saves in 37 games played. He has a strong team in front of him, but he’s stepped up when they needed him the most, and he’s a major reason the Stars have been so successful. He’s even jumped into the offense a bit, as he has an assist, plus he’s recorded two shutouts.
He’s consistently playing against the top in the league, and now some of those players are his teammates, while some he’ll have to make stops against. Team USA has a lot of firepower on their roster, but they’ll need someone strong between the pipes to keep out all the other strong shots coming their way. Hopefully, Oettinger can bring some of that to USA and help them pursue gold.
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It’ll be interesting to see how all of Team USA gets along, as some of the roster have been changed since the 4 Nations Face-Off last season, and obviously, it’s quite a bit different since the last Olympics with the NHL. Hopefully, everyone comes back healthy, and they can continue to send NHL players in future Olympics.
