Like their northern counterparts, USA Hockey will host an orientation camp later this month as NHLers prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the first time they’ll be at the event in 12 years. Their event will take place in their headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, on Aug. 26 and 27 and is “largely an administrative and team-building event and includes no formal on-ice activity or public component,” the organization said.
Their list is comprised of 44 players – two more than Canada’s – but will need to be reduced to a maximum of 25 (22 skaters and three goalies) by the time final rosters for the event are due. Orientation camp rosters are non-binding – others can still work their way in – but it’s certainly an uphill battle for anyone not viewed as an outside contender six months out from the tournament.
All countries suiting up for men’s hockey had to lock in six players to their roster earlier this summer. For the U.S., that was Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy, Brady Tkachuk, and Matthew Tkachuk.
Here’s the full orientation camp roster, with an asterisk by each of the six players already locked into the roster:
Forwards
Matt Boldy (Wild)
Cole Caufield (Canadiens)
Logan Cooley (Mammoth)
Kyle Connor (Jets)
Jack Eichel (Golden Knights)*
Conor Garland (Canucks)
Jake Guentzel (Lightning)
Jack Hughes (Devils)
Patrick Kane (Red Wings)
Clayton Keller (Mammoth)
Matthew Knies (Maple Leafs)
Chris Kreider (Ducks)
Dylan Larkin (Red Wings)
Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs)*
J.T. Miller (Rangers)
Frank Nazar (Blackhawks)
Brock Nelson (Avalanche)
Shane Pinto (Senators)
Jason Robertson (Stars)
Bryan Rust (Penguins)
Tage Thompson (Sabres)
Brady Tkachuk (Senators)*
Matthew Tkachuk (Panthers)*
Vincent Trocheck (Rangers)
Alex Tuch (Sabres)
Defensemen
Brock Faber (Wild)
Adam Fox (Rangers)
Luke Hughes (Devils)
Quinn Hughes (Canucks)*
Noah Hanifin (Golden Knights)
Seth Jones (Panthers)
Jackson LaCombe (Ducks)
Charlie McAvoy (Bruins)*
Brett Pesce (Devils)
Neal Pionk (Jets)
Jake Sanderson (Senators)
Brady Skjei (Predators)
Jaccob Slavin (Hurricanes)
Alex Vlasic (Blackhawks)
Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets)
Goaltenders
Joey Daccord (Kraken)
Connor Hellebuyck (Jets)
Jake Oettinger (Stars)
Jeremy Swayman (Bruins)
Is Dustin Wolf not American?? Seems like an obvious choice to be the 3rd Goalie and gain some experience.
He told CGY media last week that he’d heard nothing from USA Hockey
That’s criminal. He is far better than Daccord.
Based on what NHL statistics?
Daccord is just there as a thank you for playing at the Worlds.
No Thatcher Demko? When healthy he’s as good as anyone.
Thompson and Caufield need to be on the team due to being much needed RH shots. Eichel and Trochek were the only two RH shots on the 4 Nations team.
Matty Beniers?
Beniers plays a great 2 way game but he’s out of his league amongst names like these.
Glad to see my favorite Hawk Vlasic getting the recognition. Likely a long shot on a pretty deep American blue line but good to see him on the initial group.
I think the USA brass did the players who won gold at the Worlds a solid by inviting them to the camp. Classy move actually.
Pretty classy yes, but how are the same players invited from the 4-nations gonna do for them? Didn’t help them against 3 other teams…how is that gonna get them gold when they are playing against a better overall class of teams. Don’t get the mentality, especially with Wolf not invited over Daccord as just an example.
Just my opinion but Vlasic can play with almost everyone on that list. Heck he’s had to cover for Jones since he’s been in the league so I’m sure he’s happy he’s gone.
Except that Jones was a beast in the playoffs on his way to winning his first cup. There is always that.
Also, be careful what you say there. Vlasic will probably be paired with Jones, at least for the orientation.
Replace Kreider and Nelson with Thompson and Caufield and you have an upgrade at RW. You can dress 13 forwards at the Olympics, so maybe Trochek is there as only a face-off/PK guy, which allows for maybe Keller or Robertson to grab a roster spot.
The US is set at goalie bud, Wolf not getting an invite isn’t that crazy.
The DeBrincat snub is sort of interesting.
Now they just need jimmy snuggerud(aka) jimmy snipes to go with faber,knies, and cooley and they have most of the Gophers dominant top line from 2-3 years ago.
Connor – Eichel – M. Tkachuk
B. Tkachuk – Hughes – Boldy
Kneis – Thompson – Miller
Geuntzel – Larkin – Tuch
Ex: Matthews, Trochek, Caufield
McAvoy – Q. Hughes
Jones – Werenski
Fox – Slavin
Ex: Sanderson, Hanafin
Ottinger, Swayman
Ex: Hellebuyck
Guentzel led the team in goals at the Four Nations, he’s not gonna be on L4. Especially with Sullivan as the HC. Flip him and Connor.
Mathews isn’t going be scratched in favor of TT or Larkin.
Sanderson over Fox. He was brutal in best-on-best and he’s not a PP need.
Let’s assume that both Tkachuk’s and McAvoy end up getting hurt before Olympics or early on and this is the Lineup I would have:
Connor – Eichel – Guentzel
Robertson – Matthews – Tuch
Keller – Hughes – Caulfield
Boldy – Thompson – Cooley
EX: Knies – Miller
Werenski – Q. Hughes
McDonagh – Fox
Hutson – Carlson
EX: Samberg, Pionk
Hellebuyck, Wolf
EX: Oettinger
Yes, have Q. Hughes playing on his off side but these guys are so good that it won’t be a problem.
Auston Matthews as your 13th forward? So you are admitting that you are not being serious and/or have very little hockey knowledge.
Start with this: Guerin and Sullivan will not win gold for the USA. There was no “success” at the 4 Nations; there was failure based on a flawed, undisciplined roster and ineffective coaching strategy…if there even was a strategy. Beyond that, argue about whomever you want on the roster, but if Lane Hutson ISN’T EVEN INVITED you know the GM is incompetent.