Olympics: 2026 U.S. Olympic Team

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I wouldn’t overthink this stuff. Hanifin is the worst defenseman of the guys that were picked. Sanderson might be able to overtake him, but because he’s very young it’ll be tougher. The same would apply for Luke Hughes or Hutson compared to Hanifin. I think the rest of the guys are locks on the defense.

 

[Bonin21]

No way Cooley works his way into the convo? Given one more year I think it'd be obvious but it'll be a bit too early. Selfishly would love to see him and Faber out there.

 

[William H Bonney]

No way Cooley works his way into the convo? Given one more year I think it'd be obvious but it'll be a bit too early. Selfishly would love to see him and Faber out there.

He's in contention for me. People love to throw around the other smaller guys like Keller, Caufield, etc. but if Cooley is producing, I'd take him over guys like that. He's a good two-way player.

 

[StreetHawk]

I wouldn’t overthink this stuff. Hanifin is the worst defenseman of the guys that were picked. Sanderson might be able to overtake him, but because he’s very young it’ll be tougher. The same would apply for Luke Hughes or Hutson compared to Hanifin. I think the rest of the guys are locks on the defense.

Only a year from now. So, like 80 NHL games in regular season (likely closer to 60 as the teams would be picked around the beginning of the 2026 calendar year) and the 2025 PO to see someone really step up their game.

You basically need to be right on the fringe now to get the call for 2026. Unlikely to see someone come up from no where.

I don't see Hutson on the team. Not when you already have Hughes, Fox, Werenski who can handle PP1 duties. Luke Hughes needs a strong PO performance to land like the final spot on the roster.

Don't see much changing from Slavin, Hughes, McAvoy, Fox, Werenski as the top 5. With Faber as the lead for #6.

 

[William H Bonney]

Barring a big performance from Fox on Thursday or one of McAvoy / Faber losing their games, I think Fox will be on the outside looking in for the 2026. It's the same staff for the Olympics and they have demoted him a lot in this tournament. I think they'll go with a more mobile puck mover over him when they get a roster redo.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

What are we looking at for 2026? Here's the way I'm leaning:

Goaltenders (x3):

Hellebuyck
Oettenger
 Wolf

Defensemen (x8):

Q. Hughes/Slavin
Fox/McAvoy
Werenski/Faber
L. Hughes/Hutson

Forwards (x14):

M. Tkachuk/Matthews/J. Hughes
Connor/Eichel/Boldy
Keller/Cooley/B. Tkachuk
Guentzel/Larkin/Beniers
Thompson/Robertson

I'll eat my hat if beniers makes the team

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Barring a big performance from Fox on Thursday or one of McAvoy / Faber losing their games, I think Fox will be on the outside looking in for the 2026. It's the same staff for the Olympics and they have demoted him a lot in this tournament. I think they'll go with a more mobile puck mover over him when they get a roster redo.

I really doubt that. I don't think any of the RHD are changing.

Fox has played fine. There's no reason to think anyone's upset with him. But there are a lot of egos in the room and parts are going to move around from time to time and McAvoy and Faber have big proponents there to get them increased ice time at Fox's expense. Sullivan's son in law is McAvoy. Hynes coaches Faber. Fox's first NHL coach (who loved him) is one of the assistants (Quinn) and his GM is part of the management, so he has his proponents also. I think all three have safe roster spots.

Fox has played fine. There's no reason to think anyone's upset with him. Not picking your best defenseman for a mobile puck mover would be stupid. Hanifin is the mobile puck mover, and he's the worst defenseman on the roster. The way you win is picking your best players. Trying to come up with a bunch of role players is what they did the last Best on Best, and the team spectacularly failed.

 

[William H Bonney]

I really doubt that. I don't think any of the RHD are changing.

Fox has played fine. There's no reason to think anyone's upset with him. But there are a lot of egos in the room and parts are going to move around from time to time and McAvoy and Faber have big proponents there to get them increased ice time at Fox's expense. Sullivan's son in law is McAvoy. Hynes coaches Faber. Fox's first NHL coach (who loved him) is one of the assistants (Quinn) and his GM is part of the management, so he has his proponents also. I think all three have safe roster spots.

Fox has played fine. There's no reason to think anyone's upset with him. Not picking your best defenseman for a mobile puck mover would be stupid. Hanifin is the mobile puck mover, and he's the worst defenseman on the roster. The way you win is picking your best players. Trying to come up with a bunch of role players is what they did the last Best on Best, and the team spectacularly failed.

Fox has been the most out of place player on the team. He's been very underwhelming. That doesn't mean he won't be a strong candidate for the 2026 team, but he's easily behind McAvoy and Faber in the pecking order right now for the RHD, and behind Hughes and Werenski as the offensive defenseman. He can make the team, especially as we are much deeper for LHD than RHD.

It's not about anyone being upset with him, it's about his foot speed being exposed at both ends of the ice when it's best on best competition.

 

[StreetHawk]

Fox has been the most out of place player on the team. He's been very underwhelming. That doesn't mean he won't be a strong candidate for the 2026 team, but he's easily behind McAvoy and Faber in the pecking order right now for the RHD, and behind Hughes and Werenski as the offensive defenseman. He can make the team, especially as we are much deeper for LHD than RHD.

It's not about anyone being upset with him, it's about his foot speed being exposed at both ends of the ice when it's best on best competition.

In terms of RHD, what are the options for the US. Cause, their ideal top 6 is perfectly setup with Hughes, Slavin, Werenski as Left shots with McAvoy, Fox, Faber as Right shots.

A lof of left shot options in Sanderson, L. Hughes, Vlasic if they wish to go young. Have the vet Hanifin if they don't. For the right side though?

 

[William H Bonney]

In terms of RHD, what are the options for the US. Cause, their ideal top 6 is perfectly setup with Hughes, Slavin, Werenski as Left shots with McAvoy, Fox, Faber as Right shots.

A lof of left shot options in Sanderson, L. Hughes, Vlasic if they wish to go young. Have the vet Hanifin if they don't. For the right side though?

That's the biggest thing that will keep him a strong contender: the RHD depth isn't as competitive. Outside of Carlson and Pionk, I don't think there are strong contenders unless they staff chose to going very specialized and went for a more shutdown guy like Pesce.

Fox has a great shot for the 2026 team, but I'd probably put my money on an LHD playing the right side given how much depth we have there. But I'll probably be wrong

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Barring a big performance from Fox on Thursday or one of McAvoy / Faber losing their games, I think Fox will be on the outside looking in for the 2026. It's the same staff for the Olympics and they have demoted him a lot in this tournament. I think they'll go with a more mobile puck mover over him when they get a roster redo.

I wonder if he is hurt in all honesty. This isn't really the player I have seen throughout the years. Different setup and I understand that, but even his puck retrievals to break out which he has crushed people at for years have really been a struggle at times in this tournament. I think he can bounce back, but I agree that his spot is far more tenuous than I thought it would be.

 

[William H Bonney]

I wonder if he is hurt in all honesty. This isn't really the player I have seen throughout the years. Different setup and I understand that, but even his puck retrievals to break out which he has crushed people at for years have really been a struggle at times in this tournament. I think he can bounce back, but I agree that his spot is far more tenuous than I thought it would be.

Yeah, same. It's quite possible. And it's not like any of the Rangers are doing well here, so their tough season probably isn't helping.

I've never been Fox's biggest backer but he's definitely better than what he's shown here so far. Hopefully he bounces back with a big championship game.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Fox has been the most out of place player on the team. He's been very underwhelming. That doesn't mean he won't be a strong candidate for the 2026 team, but he's easily behind McAvoy and Faber in the pecking order right now for the RHD, and behind Hughes and Werenski as the offensive defenseman. He can make the team, especially as we are much deeper for LHD than RHD.

It's not about anyone being upset with him, it's about his foot speed being exposed at both ends of the ice when it's best on best competition.

I mean, he was quite literally our highest rated player in the expected goals chart in the Canada game. I didn’t see the chart yet for the Sweden game (or Finland), but I don’t think he’s been on for a goal against all tournament.

I think Faber and McAvoy have looked very tough and intense, but have actually made some errors that have led, at least partially, to goals. Fox doesn’t look as physical and intense and maybe that doesn’t fit everyone’s idea of what they want, but he’s calm and methodical and he’s been relatively steady without doing anything too great so far. Of course he can do better, but I think you’re being harsh.

Frankly, Faber and McAvoy have a lot more to prove than Fox. Fox had a higher reputation coming in. Just as Matthews could stink it up and make the Olympic team, Fox can also do the same. There are probably like another 5 players that could do the same and still make it.

And I think all the Rangers have been fine, if not better. Kreider scored our only goal the last game for crying out loud!

 

[Bonin21]

Faber is a lock with another year he'll be even more of a beast.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Tallying Up Dom L at the Athletic's rating system, this is how he ranks the defensemen through the three games. This is only one rating system, so take it for what it's worth, but I decided to seek out more data after the discussion above.

Werenski: .98, -.03, .52=1.47
Sanderson: .32 (only played Sweden game)=.32
McAvoy: .63, -.40 (didn't play Sweden game)=.23
Hanifin: .01, .03, .17=.21
Fox: .34, .08, -.27=.15
Faber: .21, .26, -.36= .11
Slavin: .34, .09, -.56=-.13


Takeaways:

Werenski has had two great games and one break even game.
Sanderson did well in his only game.
McAvoy had a good game and then a bad game, but generally more good than bad in only two games. Hanifin has basically slightly broke even in every game.
Fox has slightly more than broke even with a good and a bad game thrown in, yet relatively close to even in each game.
Faber is pretty much the same as Fox, but his best game a little worse and worst game a little worse. Slavin had two solid games, and then struggled against Sweden. Not terribly underwater, but slightly.

 

[kingsfan28]

Yeah, same. It's quite possible. And it's not like any of the Rangers are doing well here, so their tough season probably isn't helping.

I've never been Fox's biggest backer but he's definitely better than what he's shown here so far. Hopefully he bounces back with a big championship game.

It'd be nice if he actually scored, you know the thing he's known for . Never seen so many guys unable to score from the back end on a USA team before. Only 2 guys have points, all assist which mostly came in a blowout win vs the Fins. If they put these same guys on the 2026 team, and solely rely on Hughes, they're going to have the same problems.

 

[Bonin21]

Tallying Up Dom L at the Athletic's rating system, this is how he ranks the defensemen through the three games. This is only one rating system, so take it for what it's worth, but I decided to seek out more data after the discussion above.

Werenski: .98, -.03, .52=1.47
Sanderson: .32 (only played Sweden game)=.32
McAvoy: .63, -.40 (didn't play Sweden game)=.23
Hanifin: .01, .03, .17=.21
Fox: .34, .08, -.27=.15
Faber: .21, .26, -.36= .11
Slavin: .34, .09, -.56=-.13


Takeaways:

Werenski has had two great games and one break even game.
Sanderson did well in his only game.
McAvoy had a good game and then a bad game, but generally more good than bad in only two games. Hanifin has basically slightly broke even in every game.
Fox has slightly more than broke even with a good and a bad game thrown in, yet relatively close to even in each game.
Faber is pretty much the same as Fox, but his best game a little worse and worst game a little worse. Slavin had two solid games, and then struggled against Sweden. Not terribly underwater, but slightly.

"Advanced stats" are such a waste of time

 

[StreetHawk]

It'd be nice if he actually scored, you know the thing he's known for . Never seen so many guys unable to score from the back end on a USA team before. Only 2 guys have points, all assist which mostly came in a blowout win vs the Fins. If they put these same guys on the 2026 team, and solely rely on Hughes, they're going to have the same problems.

They have the talent to produce offensively. The 4N is a quick, start and end. No weaker nation to pad the stats and make you feel better about your game. These are 4/5 top hockey nations, missing just Russia. Czechs and Slovaks have been down lately, but hopefully improving.