Olympics: 2026 U.S. Olympic Team

[MOGlLNY]

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.

Tuch is who they thought they were getting with Nelson lol

 

[Zero Pucks Given]

Whatever the roster is, they better not be in an overtime situation with Canada

We've already seen enough of that to know how it usually ends

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Larkin on line 4 seems like waste.

Larkin PK's and if his line is going, you can easily play that line a little bit more. That's the entire point of best on best rosters.

 

[MTU34]

Larkin on line 4 seems like waste.

Only way to accommodate Hughes in the middle. Think he makes a big impact regardless of whatever number his line is designated

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

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

I love those lines

 

[William H Bonney]

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.

I've watched him his whole career, too. I'm not saying you don't try to get him where he's more comfortable, but after this type of showing, he needs to work his way back up to a prime center role.

 

[William H Bonney]

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

I like this, although Hughes will need to earn that spot. We had too many forwards no show here (Connor, Hughes, Kreider, Nelson, Trocheck) to run it back. Some fresh faces needed for sure.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I've watched him his whole career, too. I'm not saying you don't try to get him where he's more comfortable, but after this type of showing, he needs to work his way back up to a prime center role.

He should be fine, I think it's also worth noting that the Devils also haven't played big games with him in the playoffs besides 1 year. This was probably highest competition he's played in, not an excuse, just an observation. I think with a few Devils playoff runs, he'll be on par with the bigger guys on the Team USA roster. You can also hide him much easier on the center spot than wing. He's a top 6 player on the wing and probably 3C if he's down the middle.

 

[William H Bonney]

My main hope is that the staff sends a very vocal message to the player pool that if they didn't make the 4-Nations team, or they did and it didn't go well, they have to show up to the World Championships if available.

Prove you want to be on this team.

No more guys like Trocheck making it on this type of team with the apathy they've shown for the program. Sends the wrong f***ing message and he's not good enough to earn the free pass.

 

[WarriorofTime]

My main hope is that the staff sends a very vocal message to the player pool that if they didn't make the 4-Nations team, or they did and it didn't go well, they have to show up to the World Championships if available.

Prove you want to be on this team.

No more guys like Trocheck making it on this type of team with the apathy they've shown for the program. Sends the wrong f***ing message.

You gotta bring the best players regardless of World Championship attendance, imo.

 

[William H Bonney]

You gotta bring the best players regardless of World Championship attendance, imo.

For the truly best players, yes. You're not going to leave home the Eichels, Slavins, Matthews, etc. based on WC participation. But players like Trocheck absolutely should be held to a higher standard. He's not good enough to never invest in USAH but then make our best teams. No way.

 

[MTU34]

My main hope is that the staff sends a very vocal message to the player pool that if they didn't make the 4-Nations team, or they did and it didn't go well, they have to show up to the World Championships if available.

Prove you want to be on this team.

No more guys like Trocheck making it on this type of team with the apathy they've shown for the program. Sends the wrong f***ing message.

I know guys like Keller and Thompson have shown up before but this is REALLY the year you have to go if you want a look next February. Guys like those two, Tuch, Caufield, Beniers, Vlasic need to be on the team in May. Just have to be

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Trocheck making it after the year he had in 23/24 was fine, he was tremendous for NYR and arguably their 1C over Zibanejad. There's gonna be a few guys we look back in a few years time and say how the f*** did that guy make it? Hell, Canada has some of those guys too. Hagel made their roster from having an absurd year this year.

 

[ColbyChaos]

You gotta bring the best players regardless of World Championship attendance, imo.

Then Taige would have played instead of Trocheck and Kreider's bum asses. Too many Rangers infested the team with the spirit of losing

 

[Matty Sundin]

Don’t see much changing other then maybe a few young guys that make the next step in a year to push out a few vets. Team USA probably just wants to be more healthy next year than this tournament.

 

[WarriorofTime]

For the truly best players, yes. You're not going to leave home the Eichels, Slavins, Matthews, etc. based on WC participation. But players like Trocheck absolutely should be held to a higher standard. He's not good enough to never invest in USAH but then make our best teams. No way.

Yeah I expect the non-Playoff guys that want a shot at sneaking on to go to Copenhagen. Playoff performance should matter just as much (probably more actually) though. Most of the 'IIHF Warriors' are guys whose teams never make the Playoffs anyways.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Trocheck making it after the year he had in 23/24 was fine, he was tremendous for NYR and arguably their 1C over Zibanejad. There's gonna be a few guys we look back in a few years time and say how the f*** did that guy make it? Hell, Canada has some of those guys too. Hagel made their roster from having an absurd year this year.

Not a high bar considering the Rangers have always lacked an elite center in my lifetime

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I know guys like Keller and Thompson have shown up before but this is REALLY the year you have to go if you want a look next February. Guys like those two, Tuch, Caufield, Beniers, Vlasic need to be on the team in May. Just have to be

We'll 100% get a better roster this year pre Olympics. Guys will want to show out that they deserve to make it for Italy. There's probably 7-8 locks up front on forward and then it's a free for all. They legit could have 2-3 new wingers in Italy. The defense/goaltending will be the same most likely.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

My main hope is that the staff sends a very vocal message to the player pool that if they didn't make the 4-Nations team, or they did and it didn't go well, they have to show up to the World Championships if available.

Prove you want to be on this team.

No more guys like Trocheck making it on this type of team with the apathy they've shown for the program. Sends the wrong f***ing message and he's not good enough to earn the free pass.

I am going to make a guess that a large majority of players that participated in this tournament will be taking a rain check on World's this year for both Canada and USA.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Then Taige would have played instead of Trocheck and Kreider's bum asses. Too many Rangers infested the team with the spirit of losing

Should drop Matthews too, honestly.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Not a high bar considering the Rangers have always lacked an elite center in my lifetime

Not wrong, but I'm just trying to say that the decisions for the roster made sense at the time. This isn't the equivalent of us taking Justin Abdelkader in 2016 over Phil Kessel or some dumb shit like that lol.

2016 U.S. World Cup of Hockey Roster

teamusa.usahockey.com

This is pretty f***ing bad btw, we should take solace how far we've come as hockey country roster wise.

 

[William H Bonney]

I am going to make a guess that a large majority of players that participated in this tournament will be taking a rain check on World's this year for both Canada and USA.

Oh, for sure. But if they're healthy and available I won't feel bad for the guys like Fox, Nelson, Kreider, Connor, Trocheck, etc. that don't take the opportunity to redeem themselves. If they don't, they shouldn't make the Olympic team.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I am going to make a guess that a large majority of players that participated in this tournament will be taking a rain check on World's this year for both Canada and USA.

The majority of players are also locks, re-read the post, the poster is saying players who didn't make it.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

The majority of players are also locks, re-read the post, the poster is saying players who didn't make it.

You are right, that's my bad!

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Oh, for sure. But if they're healthy and available I won't feel bad for the guys like Fox, Nelson, Kreider, Connor, Trocheck, etc. that don't take the opportunity to redeem themselves and hopefully hurt their chances for the Olympic roster.

Nelson, Kreider, Trocheck shouldn't sniff the roster. Hard discussion about Fox whether he's suited to play best on best with his skating being very abysmal for a defenseman. Kyle Connor might legit make it based on tonight's game. If they had a finisher in the lineup, they probably kill Canada in the third on the scoreboard and beat them in OT. Caufield/Tage have to take the opportunity to go to the World Championships this year

You are right, that's my bad!

No worries, long night for all of US fans