Hockey Daily Reaction Show
FloHockey 24/7
Peoria vs Quad City
NJ Bears vs Philly Little Flyers
Notre Dame vs Okanagan
WC Tigers U13 vs Anaheim
RHA Winnipeg vs BWC
PMHA vs Winnipeg
Edge vs Yale
Huskies vs Spirit
North Island vs East Kootenay
PCHA vs Coeur d’Alene U15
CIHA U15 Prep vs Edge
Team USA will open its highly-anticipated Olympic men’s hockey tournament Thursday against Latvia. Coming off of last year’s thrilling 4 Nations Face Off tournament and entering the Olympics as the defending world champion for the first time since 1933.
The American squad will, of course, look more like the 4 Nations roster than the won at Worlds, but there are participants from both events that will play a role in the Olympics. When USA takes the ice against Latvia, it will be our first real glimpse of this American roster and how head coach Mike Sullivan will deploy it.
At the Olympics, teams can dress 20 skaters as opposed to the 18 typically dressed for NHL games. Team USA has a roster of 25 players, which means three will not dress. It is likely that the U.S. will go with 13 forwards, seven defensemen and the two goalies.
The expected starter – though unconfirmed by Mike Sullivan – is Vezina and Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Though he has struggled this season in front of a Winnipeg Jets team that has underwhelmed, Hellebuyck is among the best goalies in the game today.
Here’s how the rest of Team USA is expected to look based on practice reports from The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
Brady Tkachuk – Jack Eichel – Matthew Tkachuk
Jake Guentzel – Auston Matthews – Matt Boldy
Kyle Connor – Dylan Larkin – Tage Thompson
Jack Hughes – Brock Nelson – J.T. Miller
Vincent Trocheck
Quinn Hughes – Charlie McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin – Brock Faber
Jake Sanderson – Zach Werenski
Noah Hanifin
Connor Hellebuyck
TBD (Jeremy Swayman OR Jake Oettinger)
Scratches: Clayton Keller, Jackson Lacombe, TBD
Team USA’s strength is from the net out. They have depth at all positions, but have arguably the best goaltending trio of any nation in the Olympics. Additionally, the blue line is loaded. From top to bottom, USA’s defense can skate, they can move pucks and they have the ability to take care of their own end.
Up front, the U.S. is balanced with scoring and some grit, too. They’ve got size up front, with scorers on every line.
It will be interesting to watch how Jack Hughes is deployed as he’s obviously not a natural fourth liner. We’ll see if he ends up more like the 13th forward than one of Brock Nelson and Vince Trocheck, who reportedly were rotating in. Clayton Keller is another option off the bench if someone in the top nine falters as a high-end facilitator.
According to Russo, Team USA’s power play units will look like this…
PP1: Matthews, Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Thompson
PP2: Brady Tkachuk, Boldy, Connor, Werenski, Guentzel
This looks to be the best U.S. roster on paper since the 1998 team in Nagano, which was a major disappointment in hindsight. That team lasted just four games. This year’s group will be far different.
The U.S. opens the tournament against Latvia, then has Denmark Saturday and Germany on Sunday. USA is considered to have the weakest bracket among the power nations, but nothing can be taken for granted at the Olympics. Getting the bye to the quarterfinal is mission No. 1 for Team USA on their quest for gold and it starts Thursday.
Viewers in the United States can watch the 2026 Olympic Winter Games streaming live via Peacock and the NBCOlympics website. It is also available through your TV provider via NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and NBCSN.
Viewers in Canada can watch Milan Cortina 2026 via CBC through your TV provider or stream for free on the app or at CBCGem.ca.
Watch professional and junior hockey live streaming throughout February on FloHockey including the American Hockey League (AHL), ECHL, and many of North America’s top junior leagues: OHL, QMJHL, and USHL.
All times Eastern.
Women’s Group A
Men’s Group A
Men’s Group C
Men’s Group B
Men’s Group A
Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups
Men’s Group B
Men’s Group C
Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups
Men’s Group A
Men’s Group C
The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don’t miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.
FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.
Tags:
Get the most important Hockey stories delivered straight to your inbox.
©2006 – Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hockey News