Connor McDavid couldn't lead Canada to the gold (Hockey Canada)
Well, you could say I moved on quickly.
In actuality, I still feel incredibly torn up about the result of Sunday's instant classic Olympic gold medal final between Canada and the United States of America. It feels cruel that we must wait another four years before an Olympic rematch between these two hockey powerhouses, as I desperately want another bite at the cherry before I accept the fact that Canada is no longer the king of the hockey world for the first time in over 16 years. However, my disappointment is masked by my excitement regarding the supreme quality of hockey with which we were treated and the potential for even more best-on-best competition in the coming years.
If you were expecting an overreaction from me about the game, you won't find it here. It sucks to lose, obviously, and losing to the Americans makes the result far worse. You don't have to be highly interested in Canadian politics (as I am) to feel aggrieved and downright furious by President Trump's threats against our sovereignty, but it's fair to say my hatred for our noisy neighbours has never been as vitriolic as it is currently. However, I largely think that the Americans handled their victory with grace (Kash Patel's appearance in Dylan Larkin's Instagram story notwithstanding). The Johnny Gaudreau tribute was the far more classy approach than to lean into the moronic and disrespectful 51st state rhetoric, as they did during the Four Nations Face-Off final. Maybe Matthew Tkachuk will say something about Trump over the next few days that will want me to put my head through a meat grinder, but I usually try to ignore the politics of a guy that looks like an orc from The Lord of the Rings.
On the sporting side of the spectrum, I don't believe that this match represented a dramatic tilting of the scales in the broader hockey universe in the Americans' favour, as some pundits have suggested. In fact, my take is the exact opposite. I thought that Canada's undeniable 5-on-5 dominance of the U.S.A. was remarkably telling of our hegemonic status in global hockey, especially considering the injuries that Canada has faced and the coin-flip odds that the betting markets presented prior to puck drop.
In my admittedly extreme partisan view, the 2026 Olympic tournament was the Americans' perfect opportunity to shed the "bridesmaid" label and sucker-punch Canada off our throne. With no Sidney Crosby in the picture, a phenomenally talented roster that matched Canada from a depth perspective, and the incalculable goaltending advantage, the States should have been considered slight favourites going into the medal game. Yet, it was still decided by the 50/50 lottery of 3-on-3 overtime. To be fair, the US team warrants credit. They withstood multiple potential knockout blows from a Canadian group firing on all cylinders during the final. In 15 years, nobody will care that Connor Hellebuyck's wizardry was the only reason that the scoreline was remotely close. With that being said, the Americans should be worried about the next era of international hockey.
Although USA Hockey continues to churn out talent at an absurd rate, the mid-2020s appear to be ushering in another Canadian golden generation. I've already made my feelings on Macklin Celebrini quite clear, while it is very feasible that the likes of Connor Bedard, Matthew Schaefer, Gavin McKenna, Landon Dupont, and Alexis Joseph settle in as prime-age NHL superstars within the next decade in the tier below Celebrini. Canada's monopoly on the top end of the recent NHL drafts is an exciting trend for supporters of Hockey Canada.
So, as the Americans partied the night away on Sunday, I sat in solemn silence, pondering how we can knock our fiercest rivals off their high horse. As a fun little thought experiment, I thought that I would compile my predictions for the 2030 Olympic rosters of these hockey superpowers to consider how the balance of power may shift in the coming years.
TEAM CANADA
Forwards
Projected Lineup:
Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini have been the two best hockey players in the world for the past two weeks. McDavid was a chance-creating machine from start to finish, while Celebrini displayed his unnaturally dogged puck pursuit and lethal shot en route to leading the Olympics in goals as the second-youngest player in the men's tournament. I feel utterly confident proclaiming that they will be the unanimous two best players in the world when the French Alps Olympics commence in 2030, probably sooner. Jon Cooper used this dynamic duo like a bar of soap in the knockout games and it seems clear that the Celebrini-McDavid pairing will form the foundation of Canada's hopes of supplanting the Americans, regardless of who the coach is. On their right wing, I opted for Dylan Guenther, a 22-year-old winger who has been one of the most efficient even-strength scorers in the league for the Utah Mammoth this season. Guenther is one of the handful of players in the world who arguably has a better shot than Celebrini. As the winger alongside two generationally gifted playmakers, he would thrive, especially considering he plays with the requisite physicality to dominate on a smaller ice surface, which was the logic that led Cooper to throw Tom Wilson on the first line.
Nathan MacKinnon was clearly battling through something during the last few games of this tournament, because his shot was clearly lacking some venom. Regardless, he's a cold-blooded winner who could absolutely still be a top-5 player in hockey when we return to this stage in 2030. If Canada can ever get him and McDavid going on separate lines, they will have an unmatched fastball. Connor Bedard's exclusion from this team drew some flak, especially considering Canada's occasionally lacklustre bottom-six; however, I truthfully don't know if he was ready for this moment quite yet. In four years, he'll be a lock. He has world-class puck skills and an elite shot that will be a weapon on any power play unit. Wyatt Johnston is currently having a historically productive season on the man-advantage. With Sam Reinhart showing consistent signs of struggle in a Canada jersey as well as the likes of Mark Stone and Sidney Crosby likely aging out of a prominent PP role, guys like Johnston and Bedard will be necessary to fill the void left on the 5v4 units. I thought Canada needed more lethal finishers on the 2026 iteration, so adding Guenther, Bedard, and Johnston to the mix would be a hardcore, but possibly necessary, way to address this oversight.
As much as I'd like to throw shade on former Leaf Mitch Marner, I thought he was utterly excellent during the majority of this tournament. Even beyond his spectacular OT winner against Czechia, he was consistently one of Canada's most dangerous playmaking threats. Marner can play anywhere in the lineup, as he did in Milano-Cortina, and he tends to link up well with any teammate around him. He'll be 32 in 2030, but he's one of the slowest superstars in the NHL, so declining foot speed won't drastically alter his impact. He found some chemistry with Nick Suzuki at times, who had the unenviable task of deputizing for Canada's beloved captain, Crosby. Suzuki didn't wow me at this tourney, but he's still a young player who has elevated his game on an annual basis. In 2030, I'd be stunned if the Canadiens were not one of the best teams in hockey, which will help Suzuki's case for this team if he remains the 1C in Montreal. Adam Fantilli is among the more uncertain projections here. His raw tools jump off the page, but his on-ice metrics are slightly more sketchy. Nevertheless, he has a fantastic shot and his first-step acceleration is otherworldly. This Canadian forward corps would be fast, but aside from some obvious exceptions, it wouldn't be filled with total burners, especially if MacKinnon slows down at age-34. Fantilli has the burst to create something of nothing on the rush. He also has an impressive 50.7% face-off percentage as a 21-year-old, so he could potentially develop into a useful option to take draws with more practice.
The fourth line is where my predictions might become slightly more outlandish. Jarvis seems like a good bet to be here in 2030 after playing a useful role at the 4 Nations tourney and the 2026 Olympics. He brings an element of pace and some much-needed nastiness, while he also happens to be one of the NHL's best penalty-killers. He can play up and down the lineup, but will always be a good option to turn to in a pinch. Byfield hasn't lived up to the expectations after his draft year, but the raw package is still so intriguing. He is already one of the best young defensive Cs in hockey, but his offensive game hasn't translated. He clearly possesses high-end skill, but his decision-making is somewhat unpolished. Nevertheless, I would not be surprised at all if he was a PPG 1C with outsized defensive impacts in 2030, which would definitely warrant a depth role on this team. Easily my hottest take for this forward group is Zach Benson. Benson, despite being in his third full season, is still one of the NHL's youngest players. He has so much room to improve, yet he is already a quality NHLer. Benson is one of the most disruptive forecheckers in hockey with legitimate playmaking skill. There are some more proven options to seize the 4LW job, but if Benson starts accruing Selke votes and flirting with 50 assists, which I think is absolutely reasonable, he could be a great under-the-radar option, especially on a team loaded with pure finishers.
I'm in the camp that believes that Sidney Crosby will still be playing into his forties. If he is still an even semi-competent NHLer by age 42, which he absolutely will be, Canada will feel pressed into bringing Captain Canada as a depth forward, especially after they let him down in Milan. Crosby's point production has remained so impressive for Pittsburgh. In 2030, I still think he'll be capable of scoring above 60 points, but his defensive game will likely be completely neglected. That won't matter to Hockey Canada. The 14th forward could be anybody, but I stuck with a safe choice and gave it to Sam Reinhart. Reinhart has been poor in his Canada outings, but he's a world-class defensive winger who will still be very instinctive and strong with his stick as a 34-year-old. As a two-time Cup champ, he'll also have the winning pedigree that is valued by international squads.
Snubs:
Realistically, four years is an extremely long time in NHL terms. In 2022, Brandon Hagel was a solid per-60 depth scorer on the loaded Tampa Bay Lightning, Seth Jarvis was a somewhat promising young sophomore winger, and Macklin Celebrini was playing in the USHL. It is possible the depth forwards of this future Canadian team are not hotly tipped prospects, but rather hidden gems. With that being said, here are some players who could be in contention:
Brayden Point will be 36 in 2030. As a player that relies a lot on his speed, it's fair to worry if his best goal-scoring days will be behind him when the French Alps Games roll around. Still, he's one of Canada's most dynamic offensive players and was clearly missed by the team in the gold medal game.
Hagel could definitely be in the discussion. He's still one of the best even-strength goalscorers out there and he plays with some snarl that coaches love.
Penalty-killing is an underappreciated strength and it is Anthony Cirelli's forte. If Cooper returns as Canada's coach for France, I'd expect Cirelli to have a job.
On the same note, Bo Horvat was great as a penalty killer and face-off winner that could finish chances around the net. He would be 34 in 2030, but that experience and age might be prized by Canadian management.
Shane Wright has carved out a nice role for himself in Seattle and could definitely fit a similar role to the one that Bo Horvat filled in this tournament.
Beckett Sennecke has lit up the NHL as a rookie and would be getting a lot more Calder buzz if not for the generational Matthew Schaefer. As a 6'3 winger who skates well, he'll get a look, even though he would only be 24.
Sennecke's teammate, Mason McTavish is the prototypical Canadian Olympian. Big, strong, gritty, and a world-class shooter. The more I think about this, the more I think I should have had MacTavish on my team.
I'm so outrageously high on Ben Kindel. He reminds me of Logan Couture, who got a chance for Team Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. If Crosby steps away, it would make sense if he gave a ringing endorsement to a kid that seems entirely capable of taking over his 1C role.
Robert Thomas might fall into the Mark Scheifele category of players who never end up getting a chance to play best-on-best, because of intense positional competition. Thomas is a solid face-off man and one of the best pure passers in the NHL. However, he may need to escape a sinking ship in St. Louis to keep his reputation up. It's hard to be a pass-first, defensively solid center on a team going through a transitional phase.
Gavin McKenna has lit up the NCAA in recent weeks and looks to be a real potential difference-maker. I still consider him to be a possible superstar, but taking an all-offence guy who relies on the power play to pick up points might not be the best course of action for a team that is already loaded with skill at the top of the lineup.
Logan Stankoven is still only 23. His pressure game and puck pursuit are top-tier, but he may need to extract more offensive juice from his game to make a real push for a roster spot.
Like his 2020 draft mate Byfield, Alexis Lafrenière hasn't taken like a duck to water in the NHL. However, he has shown flashes of All-Star play-driving in isolated moments. On a team of goalscorers, his playmaking might be a welcome addition.
Michael Misa is still very young and has the foot speed to make plays in transition. He'll still be quite young in 2030, but if he cements himself as a great 2C in San Jose, he could potentially be on this team.
If you want two totally left-field sicko suggestions, here you go: Luke Evangelista and Will Cuylle, two completely different player profiles. Evangelista has been so good for Nashville this year and he makes something cool happen with every puck touch. Cuylle would be more in the Hagel-tier. He's a heavy, complementary player that can get active on the cycle and seems bound for a big season out of nowhere that puts him in contention.
Defensemen
Picking a Canadian D-corps was incredibly difficult. There were only two obvious locks for me and Cale Makar was one of them. In my opinion, he's the best defenseman in the world and he will likely remain in that conversation in 2030. His pace and power combination really wowed on Sunday, aside from one fatal mistake that led to Matt Boldy's opening goal. Josh Morrissey's absence has hurt Canada's ability to move the puck in two crucial matches against the Americans. Nevertheless, he has established himself as an elite NHL blueliner. Will he be held to that same standard at 34? I'm not sure, but I don't think Canada has enough overwhelmingly impressive options to pass up his playmaking and experience.
Matthew Schaefer was the other lock on this D corps in my estimation. He's currently posting the most impressive rookie defenseman season in the 21st century and seems to be a borderline generational prospect. At the age of 18, he looks to be one of the ten most dynamic rearguards in the world. One must salivate when imagining what he will be at the age of 22. Noah Dobson is a polarizing figure, because he is prone to mistakes, but he moves the puck through all three zones extremely well and has a strong point shot. As with Suzuki, I expect Montreal to be so good in 2030 that any of their options will have a shine attached to them. That might be enough to get Dobson a call.
Thomas Harley has been probably Canada's third-best defenseman in best-on-best competition over the past 12 months. His ability to link up with Canada's forwards on the rush is a dangerous tool for offensive production. Owen Power seemed like a breath of fresh air in Canada's blueline cupboard, but his growth had stagnated until the 2025-26 season. On the resurgent Sabres, Power has looked like the exact type of player that Canada has been missing: a strong, physical D-man with enough puck-moving chops to break out with relative success and not be a black hole offensively.
To be completely frank, I had no idea who to pick for Canada's seventh and eighth defensemen. I'm a huge fan of Brandt Clarke, but his coaches have never seemed to place the utmost trust in him, which tends to be a prerequisite for extra defenders. Nevertheless, I figured if I love his game this much as a 23-year-old, he might be too impressive to ignore when he reaches his prime. Canada has historically prized experience lower in their lineup, so I opted for Devon Toews. I definitely don't think Toews is a lock, as he will be 36 in 2030 (he's also the fifth left-handed defender on this roster), but his track record will work in his favour.
Snubs:
As I said, this feels more like a Team Canada defense that I would assemble, rather than one that the talking heads in the Hockey Canada organization would consider, but I couldn't quite find the right mix of physicality, stability, and puck-moving that Canada needed to break the puck out more consistently against the best cycle teams of the 2026 tournament.
I obviously thought of Evan Bouchard, but unless Hockey Canada significantly changes its process, it doesn't feel like he fits their "type." If prime Bouchard, who is leading the NHL in scoring among defensemen and quarterbacking the #1 ranked Oilers power play couldn't get a look in, I'm not sure that Bouchard will be a given for this team at the age of 30. Clarke is also an offence-first player, so maybe Bouchard gets the jump there. I simply don't think a team can take Bouchard and Dobson to a tournament with a one-game elimination format.
Jakob Chychrun feels like one of the more egregious snubs from the 2026 team. His ability to attack downhill off the pass from the other defenseman would have been a great way to generate secondary offense in the tight games against Czechia, Finland, and the United States. Like Bouchard, he might just not be the player they want in depth minutes.
Colton Parayko could be 2030's answer to Drew Doughty. He has a Cup on his resume and his long reach was useful for Canada's in-zone defending in Milano-Cortina. Unfortunately, his puck-moving deficiencies were far too pressing.
Travis Sanheim was one of the more pleasant surprises for Canada. I thought he did his job exceptionally well after some shaky moments in the 4 Nations final. As a wily veteran that can play effectively on both sides, he'd be a very prototypical Canadian 7th D choice for France 2030.
Shea Theodore is just the ideal extra defenseman. He can play either side well and doesn't need many puck touches to make a positive difference.
Josh Manson, despite being born in the US, considers himself to be a Saskatchewan boy. If the Avalanche win a Cup during this contention window, he makes sense as a body-moving type that might struggle to push the pace, but will be a reliably good shutdown depth player.
My favourite sleeper choice is Denton Mateychuk. He has looked really good in moments for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He's so good at finding the soft ice that is immensely valuable in tight Olympic hockey. If Clarke doesn't take the step that I expect of him, or if Harley's performance falls off, I'd be all-in on Mateychuk as an offensive D-man for this team.
Left defense is much less of a concern than right defense for this Canadian generation, so Thomas Chabot gets left off again. As disappointing as it is, I don't think Chabot will be considered more valuable than Morrissey, Harley, or Schaefer in four years and he doesn't have the defensive game to be a reliable 7th D.
Darren Raddysh is in the midst of one of the most extreme breakouts in NHL history, but I'd like a larger sample size of shutdown play alongside JJ Moser before I seriously consider him for this squad. For now, his booming slapshot would be the only reason you could advocate for his inclusion.
This one feels like a real shot in the dark, but Louis Crevier is a 6'8 defenseman in Chicago that has put together a pretty decent sophomore season. He is a great penalty killer already and can absolutely lay people out, as you would expect from a guy that weighs 230 pounds.
I don't love Sam Dickinson as a young defenseman so far, but smarter pundits than me have given him the time of day, so he probably merits a shoutout here.
Unlike Dickinson, I'm very enamoured with Zayne Parekh. Unfortunately, his best-case scenario in the NHL is probably similar to current Evan Bouchard, so if Bouchard doesn't get onto the team, Parekh feels like a long shot.
Neither of these guys are known quantities, but Keaton Verhoeff and Landon DuPont seem like true blue-chip defensive prospects emerging from Western Canada. The issue is that Verhoeff still looks quite raw to me and will take some time to blossom, while DuPont would be just 20 years of age in 2030, which seems a bit too inexperienced for a Canadian Olympic team.
Beyond the various interesting young defensemen (of which Mateychuk is my personal favourite flier), there are several boring, safe veteran guys who could slot in as a 7D or 8D, like Adam Pelech, Kaiden Guhle, Kevin Bahl, Nicolas Hague, Ryan Pulock, and Aaron Ekblad. Ekblad would be the most likely candidate, in my opinion, given his Cup-winning history.
Goaltenders
I don't want to scare any Canadian fans, but there isn't an obvious solution to Canada's debilitating goalie crisis. Although Canada has seen some young goalies break out in the junior circuit recently, 2030 might be too soon for any of them to make their mark. On the bright side, the NHL is increasingly becoming a shooter-driven league. As Jordan Binnington's performance at this tournament showcased, an All-Star team can definitely get by with solid goaltending, even though he was convincingly outplayed by a once-in-a-generation performance by his American counterpart. Goaltending varies tremendously on a yearly basis, so there's no methodology for my three goalie picks here, aside from personal opinion.
Logan Thompson is a really good NHL goalie and Canada doesn't have many of those. He's a consensus top-10 goaltender in the league and should remain a strong option between the pipes after securing an extension with the Capitals last year. At 28 years old now, he'll still be young enough to take on a starter's role at a major international tournament. Thompson is obviously a tier below the likes of Hellebuyck and Andrei Vasilevskiy, but he is a high-floor option that will keep Canada in every game.
In my 2026 Olympic roster predictions, I shouted out Jet Greaves, a 6'0, 24-year-old goalie who is enjoying a splendid season in Columbus. I'm a huge fan of Greaves and his per-game advanced metrics are highly promising. Greaves is Canada's best shot at having a top-5 NHL goalie in a while, even if his size may hold him back. As Columbus' young core blossoms, Greaves seems like he will be highly rated around the league by 2030 if he holds on to the starter's reins.
The 3rd goalie could be literally anybody. Generally, management groups for international teams want either a stable veteran or an athletically gifted goaltender to get hot in a crisis situation. Blackwood could potentially fit both criteria. He'll be 33 in 2030, likely with a few long playoff runs under his belt as a member of the Avalanche. He's 6'4 with tremendous lateral movement, but his injury history is concerning, so more strain on his body might not be beneficial to his 2030 Olympic hopes.
Snubs:
As I said, goalies are incredibly unpredictable and there is no rhyme nor reason to their performance in any specific year, so any Canadian goalie currently active has a shot at making this team. If you want me to order the most likely candidates, I would probably go: Joel Hofer, Binnington, Stuart Skinner, Tristan Jarry, Samuel Montembeault, Scott Wedgewood, Adin Hill, Colten Ellis, and Connor Ingram.
The biggest wild cards for this list would be a group of prospects, Joshua Ravensbergen, Carter George, Sebastian Cossa, and Jack Ivankovic. I'm a huge fan of Ravensbergen's size in the net, while George and Ivankovic have been excellent in their own right and have the requisite draft pedigree to be studs. The issue is that projecting goalies as prospects is a dangerous game and these players won't likely be 1A starters in 2030. It might be too soon to guarantee them a spot on this team.
TEAM USA
Forwards
As you can tell from the relative continuity at the top of this roster, America's forward reinforcements are not quite as spectacular as the skating youngsters coming out of Canada. Nevertheless, America will go into the French Alps Olympics with a remarkably gifted forward group capable of rivalling the Canadians.
Auston Matthews became the first American to captain his team to men's Olympic gold since Mike Eruzione, the hero of the Miracle on Ice game against the USSR in 1980. He's obviously one of the most elite goalscorers of his generation, but it was his defensive play that shone in Milano-Cortina. Injuries have been a recurring concern for Matthews in recent years, but there is no indication that he won't be one of the best centers in the league at the age of 32. Jack Hughes really broke out at this tournament after attracting some criticism for his play in New Jersey this year and he is still somehow only 24. He should establish himself as one of the elite playmakers of the league by 2030, which would partner nicely with Matthews and elite goalscorer Matt Boldy. Boldy has the true talent to pot 50 goals in this league while being one of the premier defensive wingers in hockey. This is a perfect line of complementary skillsets.
Eichel's quiet dominance through a highly detailed and power-driven game will be a necessary addition to this US team in the near future. In 2030, Eichel will be considered one of the veteran leaders of the American squad at the ripe age of 33. He might not be a consensus top-10 forward in hockey by then, as he is now, but he will nevertheless be an impactful 2C. Eichel established instant chemistry with the two Tkachuk brothers at this showcase. Although I'm less enamoured by their individual games than most people, their rough, playoff-style game and importance to American hockey culture ensures that they are absolute locks for this 2030 roster. Brady always steps up to the plate in an American jersey, even though his gold medal game performance was oddly awful. Matthew's Cup-winning experience will be valuable if the US embraces their incoming youth up front to fill out the bottom-six.
In this hypothetical universe, the makeshift third line would be completely constructed from non-2026 Olympians, but all of these players strike me as potential future superstars for USA Hockey. Although GM Bill Guerin was vindicated in his decision to load up on defensive solidity in the forward group after Mike Sullivan's PK unit went a perfect 18/18, I still think that Vincent Trocheck and JT Miller were dragging back the US team at even strength far too often. An injury to Logan Cooley eventually made Guerin's decision to exclude him very easy, but I believe his speed and ability to push the pace of play through the neutral zone would have been very welcome on this 2026 team. In 2030, with four years of development under his belt, I reckon that Cooley will add a much-needed injection of skill to an aging US forward contingent. Cole Caufield is one of the most clutch scorers in hockey and as his responsibilities have grown in Montreal, his secondary game as a forechecker and passer has started to flourish. By the time the France Games roll around, he may be the highest-scoring American player in the league, which would be difficult to ignore. Ryan Leonard might be a controversial pick, but I have so much confidence in Leonard to develop rapidly into a top-15 winger in the league sooner than some may expect. He's so deceptive, effectively shielding his intention until the last moment, yet he has real strength to body defenders easily off the puck. I think casual fans are going to be surprised when Leonard inevitably explodes offensively, but they really shouldn't be shocked.
After another excellent two-way performance at a best-on-best showcase, I think Dylan Larkin is a borderline lock for this team, even if he takes a matchup role to free up the Cooley line to cook offensively. He’ll be 33 and the captain of a promising Red Wings team. He's also an excellent face-off taker, which coaches love to prioritize lower in the lineup of their international clubs. Tage Thompson doesn't feel like a surefire bet to me, because he has had some signs of inconsistency in recent years, but I believe he has really stamped his reputation as a top-2 even strength goalscorer in the league this year. Is it possible that the US decides to choose only one of Caufield and Thompson to prioritize a Swiss Army knife, two-way guy instead? Definitely, but if they are both tracking to score 50+ goals, I simply can't see either of them missing out. Matthew Knies fits the gritty forechecker mould that can play up and down the lineup and get minutes on both special teams units. Although he hasn't had his huge breakout yet in the league, his passing has definitely impressed in spurts this year with a heavier playmaking burden after Mitch Marner's departure.
This feels like it's on the lower end of the spectrum of Will Smith's outcomes in the next four years, but the US is a loaded side that could restrict him to a 13th forward slot. Don't confuse this with me being skeptical of Smith's superstar potential in this league, but rather take it as my ringing endorsement of the Americans' ridiculous forward depth. Still, if he's a 90-point scorer by 2030, he could be knocking rather intensely on the door for a middle-six slot. This US team is remarkably skilled, but it doesn't have the same variety of defensive skillsets that the team has prized. Shane Pinto fills that void. He tackles extremely difficult matchup minutes for Ottawa and usually tilts the ice pretty effectively. He's a reliable face-off taker as well with plenty of PK reps as a member of the Senators.
Snubs:
Again, Jason Robertson gets the short end of the stick and misses out on a spot on the American Olympic team. Similarly to my Bouchard logic, if the US couldn't appreciate this current version of Robertson, I'm not sure that they will be able to do so in four years when he is 30 and when the competition around him is even fiercer. However, if Leonard doesn't pan out as I expect him to, Robertson would be a pretty clear profile fit for that role in the lineup.
My closest snub was Jake Guentzel. Guentzel is one of the most under-appreciated forwards in the NHL. His skillset of finding open ice and ripping shots with zero space probably won't regress significantly in his old age. If the US decides to prioritize experience, Guentzel probably gets in somewhere, because he will undoubtedly remain a useful player in time for the 2030 Games.
I was seriously considering doubling down on elite forechecking Buffalo Sabres after picking Benson for Canada by advocating for Josh Doan on the American roster. Doan has been an absolute revelation for the Sabres this season with his pickpocket skills and dog-on-bone mentality in any offensive zone shift. If you want a fun exercise, look at his "with or without you" xGF% stats among his Buffalo teammates. He is already one of the NHL's best at elevating the players around him. I genuinely think he is a very realistic bet.
The States prioritized shooting talent with their roster this year, but one of their most lethal scorers was left at home. Cutter Gauthier is a throwback power forward with the ability to score 40+ in the NHL. It would be easy to subsume him into a pure goalscorer mould, but he is also a pretty solid two-way winger who isn't afraid to lay a guy out in open ice.
Alex Tuch would be a less fashionable choice than some of the other candidates for this team, but he is a reliable veteran that chips in on both ends of the ice with a strong stick and good hockey IQ. He’s a winning veteran, but his lack of high-end traits should probably keep him out of contention for this team.
Although he was ignored by Sullivan in the crucial matches of this tournament, Clayton Keller brings an element of speed and skill, while being quite familiar with the US team from World Championships outings. However, if players like Cooley and Caufield take the leaps that are expected of them, he’ll probably be on the outside looking in.
I’ve mentioned the “shine” that gets attached to players on blossoming, fun teams that helps players secure a spot on national teams. If the Blackhawks become a contender that successfully leverages their prospect cupboard, Frank Nazar will be a big part of the team. Unfortunately, his speed and stickhandling overlaps too much with other American forwards.
The American superpower in Italy was their perfect penalty kill. If they want to replicate that, San Jose’s Collin Graf could be an intriguing choice. He hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves yet, but when the Sharks break through in the West, he’ll earn his rightful place as one of the best defensive forwards in the league.
His stock has fluctuated massively, but Trevor Zegras is undoubtedly a gifted playmaker. However, and I’m starting to sound like a broken record, the US is not lacking skill players, so Zegras might have a hard time making his way onto the team unless he can break out for 90+ points.
The best current American NHL prospect is the Bruins’ James Hagens, who has taken a big step in his NCAA sophomore season. 2030 is probably too early, especially considering the US center depth, but he could absolutely be an heir to the slots that Eichel, Matthews, and Larkin currently hold on the men’s team.
If Will Smith and Ryan Leonard make this team, it will be a narrative that Gabe Perreault doesn’t join them. Personally, I think Perreault is far off their respective levels, but he will probably be pushed into a big role for the Rangers fairly soon. I wonder if the New York media attention and the prospect of reuniting the former college linemates pushes Perreault into the picture.
If the US wants utility in their team, Oliver Moore could be worth a look. He has already established himself as one of the most blisteringly rapid players in the NHL. He’ll likely need to refine his offensive game, but he has a history of representing the US excellently in junior competitions.
Defensemen
Realistically, the US could absolutely return their entire defensive group from Milano-Cortina in four years and not miss a beat. If Quinn Hughes inks an extension in Minnesota and continues to play alongside Brock Faber, that seems like an obvious pairing for the near future. Hughes is a top-six player in the sport and arguably the best defenseman in hockey, but he needs a strong stabilizing force next to him to help wreak his usual havoc. I'm not immensely high on Faber, as some people are, but the Americans aren't loaded with RHD and his simple meat-and-potatoes game has been invaluable to this US group in the past two best-on-best tourneys.
Zach Werenski has established himself as the clear #3 defenseman in the world this season. At age 28, there is no reason to think that he won't continue to push on throughout the rest of his prime. When the US is trailing, their coaching staff can load up on the nuclear pairing of Werenski and Hughes to dominate the flow of play and maximize offensive zone time. In a neutral game state, it makes sense to split them up. Alongside a more traditional defensive, stay-at-home rearguard in McAvoy, Werenski would be free to attack on the rush to his heart's content.
Jackson Lacombe was USA's 8th defenseman in Italy, but it's very easy to envision him stepping into a bigger role as soon as the presumptive 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Every Lacombe action is beautifully smooth and he is such a powerful skater. Although his calling card right now is his offensive production, he'll gradually grow into Anaheim's undisputed #1 D-man and he'll start to handle the heaviest defensive assignments. Once you add Jake Sanderson into the fray, you have an ideal modern defensive tandem. Sanderson excels in every area that is necessary to be considered elite in the current NHL landscape. He can break the puck out with his feet or his passing ability, play effectively on both sides, and shut down forwards with his long reach and veteran smarts.
The US will have plenty of options on the left side of their defense, but Jaccob Slavin will surely still be a high-end defensive defenseman in a few years. He is a human safety blanket that snuffs out plays as well as anybody in hockey. While his retrieval game may be hindered by age, he will probably still be the same fearless shot-blocker at 35 as he currently is at 31, so I see no reason to exclude him. The 8th defenseman was a much harder decision. It wouldn't make sense from a roster construction perspective to pick six lefties and two righties, which forces us into restricting the player pool. After some thought, I opted for Sam Rinzel. It will be hard for Rinzel to excel in a porous Chicago defensive environment, but I think he can absolutely reach a level where he is considered a strong top-4 defender because of his disruptive reach, his in-zone defensive positioning, and his physicality. Retrievals might be a sore spot, but this US team is already loaded with puck-moving juice, so they can afford to swing on Rinzel as the 8D.
Snubs:
Given my slightly unconvincing case for Sam Rinzel, it would make sense that Adam Fox should be in the conversation, which I imagine would be the case. However, it doesn't seem like Fox has many major advocates among the U.S.A. brass, which could limit his chances. With that being said, if Fox wins another Norris Trophy before 2030, which is fairly conceivable, he would likely make the cut over Rinzel, even if his role for the team wouldn't be primary defensive matchups.
Lane Hutson is probably the toughest cut. Again, this is my prediction of the 2030 rosters, not my personal choices. I love Hutson as a player, but I don't see how he breaks into the Hughes tier, which would be necessary for him to make this team as an undersized offensive defenseman. Personally, I believe he's a far more capable defender than people give him credit for, but that isn't the consensus opinion in the hockey world. There's a chance that his brother, Cole, comes out of the gates flying as well, but if Lane isn't on the team, I'd be astonished if Cole is actually a candidate.
Noah Hanifin will only be 33 in 2030 and if the Americans want experience on the right side, rather than Rinzel's youth, he is the obvious choice, given he just helped them to win a gold medal in 2026.
Seth Jones has revitalized his career in Florida and he has a longer history than most players of representing the States in hockey, but Americans should be hoping they won't have to rely on a 35-year-old Jones for minutes against a breakneck Canadian team.
Some hockey fans will make their case for Luke Hughes, but Hughes is another offense-first D-man on a team that doesn't necessarily need more puck-moving. More damning to his chances is that he hasn't been a positive contributor for the Devils in the past two seasons; I'm not sure he'll ever be good enough as an overall player to seriously contribute for a stacked American defensive corps.
Zeev Buium plays a similar style to Luke Hughes, but I think his ceiling is a bit higher and his defensive game should be slightly more polished during their respective primes. I imagine Zeev will be in the discussion, but he will only be 24 for the French Alps Olympics, so he might need to wait until 2034 for his chance.
I've been really impressed by the heavy workload that K'Andre Miller has absorbed on a Hurricanes team decimated by injuries this season. Carolina is a great environment for talented players to succeed. In the world where Miller supplants Slavin as Carolina's most reliable D-man and helps them to a Cup, he will absolutely have a place on this roster.
If Slavin falls off massively, Alex Vlasic seems like a good choice to slot in as the defensively conscious 7D. He has played for the US at the World Championships before, stands tall at 6'6, and will have a major shutdown role for the Blackhawks for the next eight years at least.
If you follow my Twitter account, you probably would have seen the continuous Sam Malinski prop that I run. He's one of my personal favourites in the NHL today, because he can carry the puck with such impressive gusto and his recovery speed has come along nicely. He will always be overshadowed by Makar, but if Devon Toews ever regresses to the point that Malinski gets elevated to be Makar's partner, he could play himself into Team USA consideration.
John Marino has been one of the most underrated players in hockey this year for a young Mammoth team. He definitely fits the mould of the safe, reliable player that a team may want amidst their depth.
He has disappointed me after being traded by Utah in the summer, but Michael Kesselring still possesses an unbelievably fun skillset as a massive, right-handed blueliner with a great skating stride. If he can package that together, he could certainly rival Rinzel for the final spot on this team.
Goaltenders
Don't expect the Americans' convincing goaltending edge over the Canadians to dissipate in the near future. Their next generation of goaltenders is potentially even better than the crop they had in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
After his Dominik Hasek-esque performance in the gold medal game, Connor Hellebuyck will be the Americans' starter until he puts forth conclusive evidence with his NHL club, whether it be Winnipeg or someone else, that he is not fit for the duty. Hellebuyck is the best goaltender of his generation and a successful playoff run would put him in the top-10 of all time discussion.
Spencer Knight was likely in the conversation to make the 2026 roster, but a dry spell in the weeks leading up to the roster announcement ended his case. Nevertheless, he's very young for a regular 1A NHL starter, has unmatched draft pedigree, and has shown Vezina-caliber flashes in Chicago so far. I imagine he'll be looked at in a similar light to how Jake Oettinger is viewed now in four years.
A veteran third goalie is always a safe choice, but Hellebuyck will be 36 in 2030, so the US won't necessarily feel obliged to opt for experience in their backup netminders. Dustin Wolf has been so impressive behind a meager Flames team in his first two full seasons. He stands at just 6'0, but his movement is spectacular and highly projectable. In the circumstance where Calgary returns to winning ways by 2030, I think Wolf's stock will be high enough that he will get a spot on this roster.
Snubs:
The Americans have such an embarrassment of riches between the pipes. It's frankly unbelievable. As a Canadian, I'm very jealous of their depth. It is a testament to the US goalie talent that Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman, both of whom are elite NHL goalies that made the 2026 team and will likely be even better in four years don't make my projected team. Honestly, I think Oettinger would give Knight or Wolf a real run for their money, but it's hard to choose between the three.
Brandon Bussi has been a revelation for Carolina this year in a difficult defensive environment. He won't ever be a Vezina-caliber guy, but he makes the saves needed to win games. He'd probably be a shoo-in for the Canadian crease if I was being honest.
Jacob Fowler has drawn lofty Carey Price comparisons after a solid start to his NHL career in Montreal. I wouldn't go that far, but Fowler's movement and ability to fight through traffic are highly impressive. He will be a quality starting goalie for a long time in this league.
At times, Joseph Woll looks like a high-end starter, whereas sometimes he seems more like a good 1A. Unfortunately, "good 1A" won't cut it if he hopes to crack this team, so he needs to find his consistency in the blue paint with the Maple Leafs.
Anthony Stolarz has one of the most impressive statistical track records among goalies in the 2020s. He'll be 36 in time for the Paris Games, which might diminish his odds, but he could be a good third goalie for this team if Hellebuyck isn't raring to go.
Along the same lines as my Stolarz shout, John Gibson is a 32-year-old with the ability to make some spectacular, highlight-reel saves. Unlike Stolarz, Gibson is a bit hit-or-miss, but when he's on his game, there are few better.
In my 2026 Olympic roster prediction, I shouted out Canadian citizen Joey Daccord and cursed his decision to not push to play for the Canadian men's team. At the end of the day, he's probably his own harshest critic for that decision. While the path to a starter's job is clear for Daccord on Canada, he probably isn't even in the top-five options for the American squad.
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