Team USA has added forwards Clayton Keller and Tage Thompson, along with defenceman Seth Jones, to its men's Olympic hockey roster, according to reports. These players, who missed the recent 4 Nations Face-Off, bring added depth ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 tournament. The full roster will be revealed on Friday.
The United States men's Olympic hockey team is taking shape with the reported inclusion of three key NHL players: Utah Mammoth forward Clayton Keller, Buffalo Sabres centre Tage Thompson, and Florida Panthers defenceman Seth Jones. ESPN's Emily Kaplan indicated that these selections come after the players were omitted from the 4 Nations Face-Off team in February.
Keller, aged 27, has recorded 12 goals and 33 points in 40 games this season with the Mammoth, following three consecutive seasons where he exceeded 30 goals. Thompson, 28, netted the winning goal for the U.S. at the World Hockey Championship last spring and has 18 goals and 34 points in 38 games this year, after leading the league with 44 goals in the previous season. Jones, 31, revitalized his career following a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Panthers last winter, contributing four goals and nine points in 23 playoff games en route to a second straight Stanley Cup. He has six goals and 24 points in 39 regular-season games this year.
General manager Bill Guerin emphasized building a balanced roster focused on checking and size, inspired by the 4 Nations tournament. He aims to end the U.S.'s best-on-best drought since 1996, despite silver medals in Vancouver 2010 and Salt Lake City 2002, and a recent 4 Nations final loss to Canada. Guerin acknowledged potential criticism over decisions involving players like Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson and Montreal Canadiens stars Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, who was absent from the summer orientation camp.
"Listen, I make my decisions and I move ahead," Guerin told The Athletic. "I don’t care what people say on social media. I don’t care what the experts say. All I care about is the team. I have a job to do, I’m doing it to the best of my ability. If I’m right, I’m right. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong, and we think we have put together the best team we can to help bring us a gold medal."
Previously announced players include forwards Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, and Matthew Tkachuk, plus defencemen Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy. Team USA opens the Olympics against Latvia on February 12, followed by Denmark on February 14 and Germany on February 15 in Group C. The preliminary round will determine direct quarter-final qualifiers and set up a qualification round for others.
