Olympics: 2026 U.S. Olympic Team

[Sdevils42]

Can’t believe the hate Fox is getting in here. Dude’s a 26 year old Norris winner. I’d take him over every single defenseman on this team. You should too. He’s quite simply proven himself better than them.

The pairs were only changed because Hanifin-Faber was shaky. Fox took one for the team that they needed to create more solidity in two pairs. The coach wasn’t gonna move his family member down. I’m happy that Faber did a lot better after getting to play with Slavin, but the player who has looked shaky at any point here is him, not Fox.

And the PP stuff is random. It worked with Werenski because the puck went in the net. It didn’t work with Fox because it didn’t.

Give your head a shake if you’re claiming he shouldn’t be on the team next year. And maybe with a different coach he’ll play a bigger role. Who knows? We don’t even know how this tournament will end, so relax on the insane take about him.

This is a wiiiiild homer take

 

[William H Bonney]

B Tkachuk-Eichel-Guentzel
M Tkachuk-Matthews-Keller
Miller-Hughes-Boldy
Nelson-Larkin-Tuch
Thompson, Trocheck

Hughes-Mcavoy
Slavin-Faber
Werenski-Sanderson
Vlasic, Hanifin

Hellebuyck
Oettinger
Wolf

Feel good about the first 10 forwards, first 6 defenseman, and all 3 goalies. Gets murky after that.

Absolutely no reason to bring back both Nelson and Trocheck.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Truly shocking that some of the guys everyone had issues with playing or being on the team to begin with were the ones that played the worst.

Funny how that shit works.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

You bring back this entire team back mostly:

Add Robertson Tage Keller up front. Take off the Rangers rejects in Kreider/Trocheck, Nelson can f*** off too.

Defensively, hard discussions about Fox, I think he's a tremendous dman but his skating is just not on par with what you need from a dman v elite skating talent teams, he'll most likely be on the team though. Hanifin was mediocre as well for the majority. You'll get Quinn back in 2026. Maybe there's a random person that shoots up the Olympic rankings like a Lane Hutson or Luke Hughes. We'll see.

 

[MTU34]

Absolutely no reason to bring back both Nelson and Trocheck.

I agree I just struggle to see who else fits. No point in bringing guys like Connor or Robertson to play that role. Maybe Beniers on the wing?

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Absolutely no reason to bring back both Nelson and Trocheck.

They won't touch the roster because of them being this tournament + them having atrocious NHL seasons as well. Trocheck in particular.

I agree I just struggle to see who else fits. No point in bringing guys like Connor or Robertson to play that role. Maybe Beniers on the wing?

You 100% bring Robertson, he's been on fire for Dallas since the team USA snub and you need actual finishers regardless if Robertson skates like a fish.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I’m just glad Slavin had a moment in the sun. What he did in this tournament, he’s been doing night in and night out for close to a decade. He went through that phase of being underrated, then a phase where everyone talked about him a lot for being underrated, but not many fans just watch the guy. He really is that good of a hockey player, the extremely rare #1 defensive defenseman.

 

[WarriorofTime]

You bring back this entire team back mostly:

Add Robertson Tage Keller up front. Take off the Rangers rejects in Kreider/Trocheck, Nelson can f*** off too.

Defensively, hard discussions about Fox, I think he's a tremendous dman but his skating is just not on par with what you need from a dman v elite skating talent teams, he'll most likely be on the team though. Hanifin was mediocre as well for the majority. You'll get Quinn back in 2026. Maybe there's a random person that shoots up the Olympic rankings like a Lane Hutson or Luke Hughes. We'll see.

Hutson and L. Hughes are both a ways away. Hutson in particular. Werenski and Q. Hughes (who are both in their prime) lead all DMen in ES Scoring and play the left side and Hutson probably won't be trustable in his own end in Best-on-Best for about five years.

 

[MTU34]

You 100% bring Robertson, he's been on fire for Dallas since the team USA snub and you need actual finishers regardless if Robertson skates like a fish.

And what happens when Robertson struggles the way Connor did? Bringing guys who are all scoring to play down the lineup is how you get outmatched in these games

 

[William H Bonney]

I’m just glad Slavin had a moment in the sun. What he did in this tournament, he’s been doing night in and night out for close to a decade. He went through that phase of being underrated, then a phase where everyone talked about him a lot for being underrated, but not many fans just watch the guy. He really is that good of a hockey player, the extremely rare #1 defensive defenseman.

A damn shame he'll never win a Norris because the award is a fantasy sports award.

 

[Herby]

View attachment 980110
Thank u to both NYC organizations for sending us your best

I would have bet my entire net worth on Brock Nelson being the worst rated player on the ice, not surprising at all.

He should be under zero consideration to make the Olympic team.

 

[William H Bonney]

I agree I just struggle to see who else fits. No point in bringing guys like Connor or Robertson to play that role. Maybe Beniers on the wing?

I could see one of them Nelson or Trocheck hanging on to a spot but not both. Hell, we mostly only played 9 forwards tonight with Matty out and Kreider and Trocheck stapled to the bench for long stretches.

If one stays give me Nelson. At least he's given a damn about USAH over his career. Although I'd rather roll with guys like Miller, Larkin, Tuch, etc. on the 4th line.

 

[MOGlLNY]

I would have bet my entire net worth on Brock Nelson being the worst rated player on the ice, not surprising at all.

He should be under zero consideration to make the Olympic team.

Kreider and Nelson being on this roster instead of Tage Thompson and Jason Robertson is gross. Not like the former are bringing any extra nastiness anyways.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Hutson and L. Hughes are both a ways away. Hutson in particular. Werenski and Q. Hughes (who are both in their prime) lead all DMen in ES Scoring and play the left side and Hutson probably won't be trustable in his own end in Best-on-Best for about five years.

Luke would have a better case if the ice was a Europe sized rink because of his skating and you wanted to have a black Ace type of player but he's probably for 2030 or even the tournaments before if he rounds out his game before then. Quinn, Slavin, Werenski will be the left side automatically. The right side will be McAvoy, Fox, Faber. Sanderson as an extra.

And what happens when Robertson struggles the way Connor did? Bringing guys who are all scoring to play down the lineup is how you get outmatched in these games

It's way better than seeing the atrocious dogshit that was Brock Nelson and Vincent Trocheck this tournament. JT Miller can do what Trocheck does and then you still have guys who can score/play drive. If you don't want Robertson, then pick someone else that can skate and play drive. This isn't the days of us having Justin Abdelkader and other mediocre players playing in the top 9 lol. Alex Tuch is another guy who I just thought of too that would've been better than the fourth line minions they picked.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Alex Tuch is a guy I see sneaking on in one of those "4th line guy" type roles. It's a bit interesting since the 'best of the rest' list is pretty heavily filled with scorers that don't do much when they don't score which you already got a good number of as is. Jack Hughes has gotta figure out how to be more of a contributor.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Kreider and Nelson being on this roster instead of Tage Thompson and Jason Robertson is gross. Not like the former are bringing any extra nastiness anyways.

I much rather the roster mistakes being made in this tournament than the Olympics. Olympic Gold is the goal as much as tonight sucks for some fans

 

[William H Bonney]

Luke would have a better case if the ice was a Europe sized rink because of his skating and you wanted to have a black Ace type of player but he's probably for 2030 or even the tournaments before if he rounds out his game before then. Quinn, Slavin, Werenski will be the left side automatically. The right side will be McAvoy, Fox, Faber. Sanderson as an extra.



It's way better than seeing the atrocious dogshit that was Brock Nelson and Vincent Trocheck this tournament. JT Miller can do what Trocheck does and then you still have guys who can score/play drive. If you don't want Robertson, then pick someone else that can skate and play drive. This isn't the days of us having Justin Abdelkader and other mediocre players playing in the top 9 lol. Alex Tuch is another guy who I just thought of too that would've been better than the fourth line minions they picked.

Trocheck's face off prowess was a big part of him making this team and they didn't even trust him to take face offs tonight. He lost the only 4 he took. I think it's the last time he wears the US jersey.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Was impressed by Fox and Jack Hughes

 

[William H Bonney]

Alex Tuch is a guy I see sneaking on in one of those "4th line guy" type roles. It's a bit interesting since the 'best of' list is pretty heavily filled with scorers that don't do much when they don't score which you already got a good number of as is. Jack Hughes has gotta figure out how to be more of a contributor.

Same. Tuch is big, skates well, can play physical, and has a good amount of skill. He can reasonably slot in on any lines but I really like a Miller-Larkin-Tuch fourth line on paper.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Trocheck's face off prowess was a big part of him making this team and they didn't even trust him to take face offs tonight. He lost the only 4 he took. I think it's the last time he wears the US jersey.

Yeah, hard lesson for hockey personnel realizing faceoffs aren't the end all be all that they're touted of being. You don't build a roster around it. It also would've helped if they let Jack Hughes played his natural spot instead of looking like a doofus on the wing all tournament. Matthews/Eichel/Jack Hughes/Larkin would be my centers next year.

 

[William H Bonney]

Yeah, hard lesson for hockey personnel realizing faceoffs aren't the end all be all that they're touted of being. You don't build a roster around it. It also would've helped if they let Jack Hughes played his natural spot instead of looking like a doofus on the wing all tournament. Matthews/Eichel/Jack Hughes/Larkin would be my centers next year.

Jack needs to earn that role. He was trash even if playing out of position a bit.

 

[MTU34]

Was impressed by Fox and Jack Hughes

Are you Canadian by chance?

 

[MTU34]

I’ll bite and bring a bit more offense
B Tkachuk-Eichel-Guentzel
M Tkachuk-Matthews-Keller
Boldy-Hughes-Thompson
Miller-Larkin-Tuch

Thompson’s inclusion slides Miller down and gives Jack a big time shooter. Banking a lot on Boldy to handle dirty work on that line though

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

B Tkachuk-Eichel-Guentzel
M Tkachuk-Matthews-Keller
Miller-Hughes-Boldy
Nelson-Larkin-Tuch
Thompson, Trocheck

Hughes-Mcavoy
Slavin-Faber
Werenski-Sanderson
Vlasic, Hanifin

Hellebuyck
Oettinger
Wolf

Feel good about the first 10 forwards, first 6 defenseman, and all 3 goalies. Gets murky after that.

Larkin on line 4 seems like waste.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Jack needs to earn that role. He was trash even if playing out of position a bit.

Trust me, I've seen the guys entire career as a Devils fan, he was putrid cheeks when he played wing for us early in his career. His game just simply doesn't translate there, his time and space are based on cutting and looping a ton at the blue line. He basically plays like a worse Panarin at the wing and we all know Panarin's struggles come big games. If you really want to get Jack and not deal with his face-offs then play him with a winger who can take them and boot them out as soon as the puck is dropped. He's utterly useless at the wing.