Team USA reacts with unexpected roster changes amid Canada factor

The players chosen—and just as importantly, those left out—paint a telling picture of Canada’s growing influence on Team USA’s thinking.

Team USA officially revealed its 25-man men’s hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday, and while a few selections immediately caught the eye, the omissions quickly became the main talking point.
Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller, and Florida Panthers blueliner Seth Jones were notable inclusions compared to last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad.

However, much of the reaction centered on the high-profile names missing from the list. Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson stood out as the most surprising omission. He currently sits second among American players in goals with 24, is tied for ninth in assists with 24, and leads all U.S. skaters in total points at 48—numbers that made his exclusion particularly puzzling.

Defenseman Adam Fox was another unexpected absence, and the list of snubs extended further. Forwards Cole Caufield, Alex DeBrincat, Alex Tuch, Troy Terry, Cutter Gauthier, and Matthew Knies were all overlooked, along with defensemen Lane Hutson and Jackson Lacombe. Even veteran star Patrick Kane, a future Hall of Famer, was left off the Olympic roster.

According to analyst Matt Larkin, these decisions may signal more than simple selection choices.

Speaking with Jeff Marek after the announcement, Larkin suggested that despite frequent claims that Canada has been constructing its roster to match up against the United States, the reality may be the opposite.

By examining who Team USA selected—and who they chose to exclude—Larkin argued it’s clear that Canada’s presence is weighing heavily on American decision-making.