Way-Too-Early Team USA Predictions for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Now that the 4 Nations Face-Off is complete, officially bringing back best-on-best international hockey tournaments following a decade absence, the next big event will be the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

It will be the first time NHL players will participate in the Olympics since the 2014 Sochi Games. And based on what we saw over the past week, it will be a hugely anticipated event. It will also be even bigger, with more countries competing and more competition.

So, while international hockey is on everybody's minds, let's take an early look at what a potential 2026 USA Olympic roster could look like.

Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk

Head coach Mike Sullivan united this line at the end of the opening 4 Nations game against Finland, and it was an immediate success.

It brings every element of hockey you could possibly want.

Jack Eichel is a world-class playmaker and bona fide No. 1 center, while Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are the total package as players on the wings. The brothers can both generate shots, are both finishers and can both play a rough, physical game that not only wears down opponents but also frustrates them.

It is the type of line that can play any style of hockey an opponent wants to play, while also being capable of winning any type of game. They can outscore you, outhit you and certainly frustrate you.

On paper it might have been the "second" line in the 4 Nations, but for all practical matters, it is the first line and the one that can define the team.

Jake Guentzel, Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes

While the Eichel line can set the tone and play any sort of game, this is the line that can break a game open offensively for the United States.

Auston Matthews has not always shined brightest in the biggest games from a goal-scoring perspective, but he is still one of the best pure goal-scorers in hockey and capable of putting the puck in the net on any shift and from anywhere on the ice.

Jake Guentzel, meanwhile, does have the big-game gene and has always had a knack for shining in the biggest moments. While he might not be on the same level as Matthews as a goal-scorer, he is still one of the best finishers in the league.

The 30-year-old has also shown he can play alongside the world's best players and deliver. He is not just a passenger on those lines, either. He is a great player on his own merit.

Then there is Jack Hughes. He almost feels like an afterthought in this top six, but he is anything but that.

When healthy, the 23-year-old is one of the best offensive players in the NHL. The only knock on him throughout his career so far is that he has missed some games due to injury. But he is an elite point producer who can play at an MVP level. He should be competing for scoring titles for years if he can stay free of injuries.

Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin and Matt Boldy

It is a testament to how strong the U.S. talent pool is becoming when a player like Kyle Connor, a legitimate 40-goal threat, only first becomes part of the discussion on the third line.

A lot of players get referred to as underrated, but that is usually just code for "great player on a bad team that nobody really watches." Most of the underrated players in the league, or players who are called underrated, are those everybody knows are actually good. Dylan Larkin, however, might actually be underrated. Like, really underrated. He is a perfect fit in the middle of the third line and can bring speed, offense and two-way play to the middle-six.

Matt Boldy is one of the United States’ rising young stars on the wing and has already established himself as a 30-goal scorer.

As far as a third-line is concerned, this is a potent group.

J.T Miller, Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller

This is where we might start to see some changes from the 4 Nations roster.

The fourth line over the past week had veterans such as Brock Nelson and Vincent Trocheck, but there might be an opportunity to bring in some younger talent and fresh legs next year.

Tage Thompson was one of the surprising snubs on the 4 Nations roster, but he should not only have a spot on the roster but also a regular playing role. The 27-year-old brings size, a booming shot and outstanding production to the fourth line.

It is a similar story for Clayton Keller who just continues to produce at a top-line rate. He belongs here.

Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield, Alex DeBrincat

With the way some of the veterans on Team USA performed on Thursday, it might be time for new blood.

Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat did not have a spot on this year's team, but with an expanded roster and more spots, they should definitely be in the running for a spot on the Olympics roster.

All three players have top-line finishing ability and consistently flirt with the 30-goal mark.

They might not be regulars in the lineup, but that again speaks to the depth the United States now has. If you go back to the 2014 and 2010 teams, players such as Robertson, Caufield and DeBrincat would not only be roster locks but also probably playing major roles.

Now, they might simply be extra forwards.

Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox

This would have likely been the top pairing for the United States at the 4 Nations, but Quinn Hughes was unable to play due to an injury.

It's as good a top pairing as you would find on any roster in the Olympics.

Both Hughes and Adam Fox are in the prime of their careers, are top-10 defensemen in the NHL when healthy and already have a Norris Trophy on their resumes.

It would not be a stretch to imagine one, or both, winning another award at some point in their careers.

Hughes is as good of a playmaker as there is on defense anywhere in the NHL, with an underrated defensive game that probably doesn’t get as much credit as it deserves.

Fox is simply an all-around talent who does everything well. He can defend, move the puck up the ice, run a power play and score. They should be locks for the roster and the top pairing at the 2026 Games.

Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy

Zach Werenski has always been a productive player when healthy, but he has taken a massive leap forward during the 2024-25 season and really established himself among the league’s top overall defenders. Especially offensively.

The 27-year-old should get serious Norris Trophy consideration this season.

Charlie McAvoy is already one of the NHL's top defenders, and he made a huge impact in the 4 Nations tournament before being sidelined with an injury.

He is not going to put up the offensive numbers Hughes, Fox and Werenski will, but he isn't a zero with the puck on his stick and is still a 45-50 point scorer in the league. Add in his defensive zone play, and he's a perfect complement to Werenski.

The fact that this is a second pairing is, again, a tremendous sign for how good the United States roster has become.

Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber

This pairing might not have the same star power as the first two, but it's still an outstanding duo.

Jaccob Slavin probably has the least offensive punch of any of the top-six defensemen here, but that doesn't mean he is a liability offensively.

While the 30-year-old may not produce the most points, he is great in transition and moving the play up the ice, and he is arguably the best pure defensive defenseman on the roster.

Brock Faber has taken a small step backwards offensively this season, but he is still a rising star and should just be entering his prime in the coming seasons.

The 22-year-old should be a mainstay on Team USA rosters for the next decade.

Noah Hanifin, Jake Sanderson, Luke Hughes

Let’s get some youth – and another Hughes – into this group with Jake Sanderson and Luke Hughes making the roster. Both players are emerging impact players whose best days are still ahead of them.

Sanderson is in his third season and has improved each year he has been in the league, and could be a major impact player offensively.

Hughes is on a similar trajectory and it might be a good idea to start getting him some international experience given his age. He is one of America’s rising stars on defense and should be a factor on future Olympic and International teams.

Connor Hellebuyck – Jake Oettinger – Jeremy Swayman 

These are the same three goalies from the 4 Nations Face-Off, and there is no real need to change any of them. This is one of the best goalie depth charts any team will be taking to the Olympics, and this alone gives the United States a serious chance at Gold. 

Connor Hellebuyck is a top-two goalie in the world right now, and on any given night he is the best goalie on the planet. He alone is a game-changer.  

Jake Oettinger has not always been completely consistent, but when he is at his best he can also be a game-stealer. He would be a very good starter on this stage. He is an incredible backup.  

Jeremy Swayman has not really handled the No. 1 duties in Boston as well as the Bruins might have hoped, but he still has a track record of success in the NHL and is one of the best USA options.