A lot has changed since USA TODAY Sports’ last prediction on who could make the U.S. Olympic hockey team, most of it involving injuries.
Of the first six named, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes missed five games with an injury but is back. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (lower body) is due back soon, as is Brady Tkachuk (thumb surgery). Defenseman Charlie McAvoy had surgery after being hit in the face by a puck. Forward Matthew Tkachuk continues his rehab from offseason hernia surgery.
Among those likely to be named, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck had knee surgery and is out four to six weeks. New Jersey’s Jack Hughes had surgery on his finger after being injured at a team dinner.
It sounds like everyone will be back before the Olympics. The roster deadline is Dec. 31.
Here is USA TODAY Sports’ prediction on who could make Team USA (*-already named):
Possible U.S. Olympic forwards
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights*
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs*
Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators*
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers*
Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
Analysis: Robertson, who’s on a tear, is in and J.T. Miller is out from the previous list. Miller has been off to a slow start this season, though he did score twice on Nov. 20. He’s day-to-day with an injury. Jack Hughes won’t play until early-to-mid-January and he’ll be re-examined before the Dec. 31 deadline. If he can’t make it, perhaps the Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck would get the call, as he did in the 4 Nations. Utah’s Logan Cooley is another possibility. He had 12 points during the USA’s gold medal run at the world championships and had a four-goal game for the Mammoth on Nov 24. Or does USA Hockey bring in two-time Olympian Patrick Kane?
This team is deep down the middle and has scoring throughout the lineup. The Tkachuks are gritty and can drive offense. Robertson, who didn’t make the 4 Nations team, leads U.S.-born players with 14 goals and 31 points and is on a seven-game goal streak. Keller has slowed a little after a strong start, but he did have 90 points last season and was captain and one of the leading scorers for the USA at the worlds. Guentzel is the NHL leader in high-danger shots.
Possible U.S. Olympic defensemen
Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks*
Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins*
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Seth Jones, Florida Panthers
Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Analysis: Jaccob Slavin is out and Seth Jones is in. Slavin, a shutdown defenseman, remains out with an injury. Jones plays a different role, but he did win a Stanley Cup last season. Jackson LaCombe and Alex Vlasic, who played at the worlds, plus 2024-25 rookie of the year Lane Hutson could get consideration.
This is mostly the 4 Nations defense, minus Slavin and adding prolific scorer Quinn Hughes and Jones. There’s a lot of mobility on this blue line.
Possible U.S. Olympic goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Analysis: No changes from the last predictions. This is the 4 Nations goaltending trio and will be one of the best at the Olympics. Hellebuyck is the reigning Vezina/Hart Trophy winner and Oettinger has reached the conference final the last three years. Swayman was 7-0 at the world championships and is second in MoneyPuck’s goals saved above expected. Chicago’s Spencer Knight, who leads the NHL in that category, is worth a look, but he’s 24, so he might be saved for future tournaments.