Now that the 2026 Winter Games have wrapped up, the next Olympic showcase on the NHL’s calendar will take place in 2030 when the world gathers in the French Alps.
Team USA will once again be a favorite to win gold at the tournament. But who will be on the 2030 roster? Here’s an early projection for the next Winter Olympics.
Projected Roster for 2030 United States Hockey Team
| LW | C | RW |
| Brady Tkachuk | Auston Matthews | Matthew Tkachuk |
| Jason Robertson | Jack Eichel | Matt Boldy |
| Clayton Keller | Jack Hughes | Tage Thompson |
| Cutter Gauthier | Dylan Larkin | Cole Caufield |
| Kyle Connor | Will Smith |
| LD | RD | G |
| Quinn Hughes | Charlie McAvoy | Jake Oettinger |
| Jake Sanderson | Brock Faber | Jeremy Swayman |
| Zach Werenski | Jackson LaCombe | Spencer Knight |
| Lane Hutson | Noah Hanifin |
- 2026 Olympic participants: 19
- First-time Olympians: 6
It goes to show how young Team USA’s 2026 squad was when 19 of the 25 players stand to return for another tournament. Dare I call it a golden era of USA hockey?
Up front, the top six remains mostly in place. The only difference is Jason Robertson replacing Jake Guentzel, who will be 35 when the next Olympic Games take place. Otherwise, Team USA can count on Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and the Tkachuk brothers to lead the charge. All will be in their prime still when 2030 rolls around.
Further down in the lineup, Kyle Connor, Cole Caufield, and Tage Thompson give the roster multiple shooting threats from distance and off the rush. Younger pieces like Cutter Gauthier and Will Smith inject speed and creativity, while Matt Boldy and Clayton Keller offer playmaking touch in tight spaces.
On defense, mobility defines the group. Quinn Hughes is the engine – once again. He’ll be surrounded by familiar faces who will have accumulated plenty of big-game experience by then. I fully expect Jake Sanderson and Jackson LaCombe to have bigger roles in 2030 compared to their respective 2026 deployments. The two have emerged as outstanding No. 1 defensemen, playing in all situations for their NHL teams.
Perhaps the only question mark on defense is Noah Hanifin. His own-zone play is the reason why he made the 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympic teams. But could a more offensively-inclined blueliner like Adam Fox, Luke Hughes, or Zeev Buium unseat him given the fact that he’s slotted for a depth role?
Related: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
In goal, the trio of Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman, and Spencer Knight is both talented and age-aligned. Oettinger projects as the starter, but Swayman and Knight ensure internal competition and insulation against volatility.
It is strange, though, to leave out Connor Hellebuyck. He’ll be 36 when the next Winter Games kick off, and might not be suited for the starting role anymore. And if he’s not starting, perhaps Team USA is better-suited to bring in a younger goalie like Knight or even Jacob Fowler. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hellebuyck challenged for a spot on the team in 2030.
Final Word
The defining characteristic of this roster is pace. Nearly every defender can skate the puck out cleanly, and the forward group thrives in transition. Overall, this team has the depth, edge, and goaltending to legitimately challenge for a second-consecutive gold medal.
Missed the Cut
Matt Beniers, Logan Cooley, Alex DeBrincat, Josh Doan, Jake Guentzel, Matthew Knies, Shane Pinto, Troy Terry, Alex Tuch, Trevor Zegras, Zeev Buium, Adam Fox, Luke Hughes, Seth Jones, K’Andre Miller, Mattias Samuelsson, Jaccob Slavin, Trey Augustine, Brandon Bussi, Joey Daccord, Jacob Fowler, Connor Hellebuyck, Dustin Wolf.