The United States could have one of the strongest rosters in the tournament – one that would surely improve upon the fourth-place finish at the NHL-infused 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Remember way back then – when T.J. Oshie became the undisputed shootout king?
The 2026 roster, though, could be one for the ages. Here’s how the lineup could shape up.
Other 2026 Olympic Roster Projections:
Projected Roster for the United States
As a reminder, the Winter Olympics will not be held until Feb. 2026. There’s still plenty of time between now and then. Players will certainly progress and regress during that span. So with that in mind, here’s a glimpse into the future – an outstanding United States hockey team.
| LW | C | RW |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Jack Eichel | Brady Tkachuk |
| Jake Guentzel | Auston Matthews | Jack Hughes |
| Kyle Connor | Dylan Larkin | Tage Thompson |
| Matty Beniers | Vincent Trocheck | J.T. Miller |
| Matt Boldy | Clayton Keller |
| LD | RD | G |
| Quinn Hughes | Charlie McAvoy | Connor Hellebuyck |
| Zach Werenski | Adam Fox | Jake Oettinger |
| Jaccob Slavin | Noah Hanifin | Jeremy Swayman |
| Jake Sanderson | Brock Faber |
None of these players suited up for the United States during the 2014 Winter Olympics – the last that featured NHL participation. That said, there is some Olympic experience here.
Matty Beniers, Brock Faber, and Jake Sanderson both earned a spot on the 2022 United States roster as college players. All tallied at least one point in the tournament.
And though they lack Olympic experience, the rest of the roster should not be discounted.
A top line of Jack Eichel and the Tkachuk Brothers would give the United States a well-rounded offensive attack – they could beat just about anyone with finesse, skill, or physicality. The second line could be just as dangerous, with Jake Guentzel flanking Auston Matthews and elite playmaker Jack Hughes.
There’s good depth throughout the forward lines. Tage Thompson will be 27 when the next Olympics roll around and already has a 47-goal campaign under his belt. In addition, it’s entirely possible Matt Boldy is playing higher in the lineup a year from now.
On defense, the top four might be the best in the world. Charlie McAvoy, Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, and Zach Werenski provide plenty of offense from the back-end and are stout defensively. Jaccob Slavin and Noah Hanifin would be a great shutdown pair for the United States.
Finally, Jake Oettinger could be the best U.S. goalie by February of 2026, even after Connor Hellebuyck served as the starter during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Oettinger’s big-game ability and continued development between now and the tournament should allow him to thrive in net for Team USA.
Final Word
With NHL players participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics, the United States should be a favorite to medal, let alone win the tournament. Their offensive firepower, highly mobile defensive core, and solid goaltending match up well against just about every country.
In my opinion, they are the favorites to take home gold. The talent is certainly there.
Missed the cut: Jason Robertson, Alex DeBrincat, Cole Caufield, Alex Tuch, Brock Boeser, Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, Brady Skjei, John Carlson, K’Andre Miller, Brett Pesce, Luke Hughes, Thatcher Demko, John Gibson, Spencer Knight.