Team USA, like the other Olympic hockey teams, kicked off practice the past few days. While the women are three games into their Gold Medal quest, the Men’s team play their first game Thursday. They are expected to cruise through Group play with a step up in competition not occurring to the next round.
Team USA lines in practice Monday:
Tkachuk/Eichel/Tkachuk
Guentzel/Matthews/Boldy
Connor/Larkin/Thompson
Miller/Nelson/Hughes
Trocheck some rotating with Nelson
Keller
The top-six is pretty much set in stone with each unit able to score while also able to play a heavy game if needed. Tage Thompson’s addition gives the third line scoring that was lacking in the 4 Nations. He and Kyle Connor nicely bookend Dylan Larkin as a scoring trio.
Who dresses on the fourth line may vary from game to game. This has been the case in each of the first two practices. Jack Hughes is ill-suited to a fourth line checking role, which is why he has seen some time on the third line. He missed New Jersey’s final three games before the break, but is ready to roll in the Olympics, which I am sure pleases the Devils’ fanbase (sarcasm dripping).
JT Miller and Vincent Trocheck may be battling for the final active spot. Both have the ability to add grit and bite on a. type of checking line, though that is not the role each currently plays. Two forwards will be unhappy in every contest, sitting in the press box. Of course, this argument would be moot if GM Bill Guerin had selected Jason Robertson and/or Cole Caufield.
Team USA defense pairs
Hughes/McAvoy
Slavin/Faber
Sanderson/Werenski
LaCombe/Hanifin
Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber were stellar in the 4 Nations. I am surprised coach Mike Sullivan appears to have decided not to go with familiarity, using teammates Faber and Quinn Hughes as a pair, but separating them, Maybe that changes before or as the tournament continues, but as of now, the duo is not together Jake Sanderson and Zach Werenski bring an offensive mindset to the blueline, so it will be interesting to see how they are deployed in terms of zone starts and matchups.
Connor Hellebuyck appears likely to start in Game 1 of the Olympics. Given the “easier” schedule, Sullivan and his coaches could give each goalie (Helly, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman) one game, then pick one for the medal round. The other option is to ride a hot goalie straight through. It will be interesting to see which direction they go.
Leadership
Auston Matthews. captain of the Maple Leafs, was named captain of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. Matthew Tkachuk, an alternate captain for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, and Charlie McAvoy, an alternate captain for the Boston Bruins, were named alternate captains of Team USA.
I have to admit I was a little surprised at this move. Not by who is part of the leadership group but the configuration. I expected Matthew Tkachuk, based on his 4 Nations performance and how hard he worked to return from injury, to get the C with Matthews and McAvoy the A. In addition, he helped Florida win two Cups and is more of a vocal leader, so I felt he deserved the captaincy. Time will tell if Sullivan and management are correct.
