Although the Team USA Olympic Roster will not be officially announced until Friday morning, Emily Kaplan of ESPN shared that Clayton Keller, Tage Thompson, and Seth Jones were named to the team. Kaplan went on to update that Adam Fox will not make the cut for Milan.
Each indicate a change relative from last season’s Four Nations tournament, as each of Keller, Thompson, and Jones are additions, while Fox is a subtraction. Final word is still in the air, but as noted by Kaplan, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy, Quinn Hughes, and Jack Eichel are all locks for the team.
Keller, 27, took a major step in Utah’s inaugural season, reaching the 90 point mark. This season has been a step back, with 33 points in 40 games, but the Missouri native has dealt with the unexpected loss of his father, and he is still tied for the team lead in scoring.
Thompson, a 6’6″ sniper, was a questionable subtraction from last year’s Four Nations team, but the 28-year-old has helped resurrect the Sabres this season, as he leads the team in scoring along the way in their current nine game winning streak.
Both Keller and Thompson donned the red, white, and blue last summer in the 2025 IIHF World Championship, with Thompson burying the overtime winner to earn gold.
The implications from today’s news are that Jason Robertson and Cole Caufield‘s statuses are unknown. Both young stars absolutely deserve a look on paper, but in terms of roster construction, it appears that Guerin will opt for more veteran presence from players such as Brock Nelson and Vincent Trocheck, both of whom are true centers who played on the Four Nations team.
American icon Patrick Kane has an outside shot at this point also, news which would have seemed unbelievable not long ago. the 37-year-old surely wanted one more chance at a gold, but may have been passed up in favor of veteran centers more capable of playing shutdown roles.
Speaking to the blue line, Jones has earned his spot in the midst of a great season with the Panthers. Facing decline over the past few seasons as a Blackhawk, Jones was brought over to Florida in a bit of a gamble, given his contract, but the Texas native has 24 points in 39 games, helping the club stay in contention despite their key absent stars.
Outside of an injury which Fox has just returned from, nothing has necessarily forced the New York hometown hero out. The 27-year-old has 28 points in as many games this season, playing at his usual elite level.
The decision from GM Bill Guerin was surely difficult, as Fox’s own Rangers GM Chris Drury, along with his coaches Mike Sullivan and David Quinn are all involved with the team, but it is a testament to the United States’ tremendous depth on defense. It has been speculated management was concerned about his play at times in last year’s international tournament, especially in the Finals, but eyes will be on Jones to play at a high level in place of Fox. Passing on a Norris-winning #1 defender in the prime of his career is a decision that will be scrutinized in February.
With the roster set to be officially announced Friday morning (8 a.m. ET) on NBC’s TODAY show, Guerin’s final choices will come to light as the United States looks for their first gold medal since 1980.
I can’t believe Fox was snubbed for Seth Jones!! How did Mike Sullivan let this happen?!
championship pedigree matters
It definitely matters but that doesnt mean you take the worse player just because he was on a championship team. Also not to mention it’s not like Fox doesn’t have playoff experience he has plenty.
I think Jones is better defensively & they’re opting for the better defender than the better offensive threat
It’s Karma I tell ya. Jones is a much more “team” player than Fox. Fox has been, is, and always will be a “me” first player. An attitude a team doesn’t need in an environment like the Olympics.
Maybe Mike Sullivan is the main reason why Fox was kept off the team. Think about it a moment…
They don’t need a one way defenseman and have multiple PP QB options. Fox’s value comes from the power play and O-zone starts against inferior opponents.
My guy looked LOST in the 4Nations in best on best.
I think that’s the main reason for the decision…..
How does that make any sense???
Seth Jones isn’t just a championship player – he’s a championship player who helped locked down and contain Connor McDavid on the world’s highest stage. I firmly believe his choice was an eye on the gold medal game (which means it’ll be funny if that’s not the matchup).
Jones is there as the 7th/8th Dman, so it’s likely he won’t see much action unless injuries occur. Hughes, McAvoy, Werenski, Sanderson, Slavin and Faber are the top six.
That’s what I was thinking, Fox plays for Sullivan so he must be a liability along with being softer than baby poop.
no Robertson on team usa should result in treason for ol Billy Guerin.
Jones has easily been Florida’s best defenseman this year.
Taking both Trochek & Miller over Robertson is idiotic. You don’t need both Miller & Trochek on the team. Leave one off and take Robiertson
Taking Miller AND Trocheck is a bit redundant. I’d have taken Trocheck and Robertson. Miller’s play has really declined this year but much like Canada taking Cirelli, coaches always give their guys the edge.
If Brock Nelson’s old slow ass is on this team….
There were two players from 4 Nations that clearly were a step behind, and that was Nelson and Trochek. Both good NHL players on most nights, but not elite.
Obviously you haven’t been watching him this season as he has been a total stud as a #2 C-man fir the Avs!
Most NHL teams are not made up of all star talent like Olympic rosters are. Big difference.
Does Kaplan realize that the Olympic roster is 25 players, not 23? Jones (allegedly) being on the roster doesn’t mean Fox is off.
Kaplan is a joker.
No Fox is a mistake.
DeBrincat would be better than Keller.
Cat has 20 goals to Keller’s 12
Keller’s game is more suited to play in a bottom 6 role than DeBricant’s. That’s why Keller is on over him.
I wonder if that is what Yzerman told StLouis when he was snubbed.
(It did not matter as StLouis was picked as an alternate and got his medal anyway)
DeBrincat or Caufield would be better choices, especially due to them both being righthanded shots. The whole top 6/bottom 6 thing might apply in the NHL where most teams are lucky if they have enough talent to make up two scoring lines, but there’s no need to limit yourself to that when you have the abundance of talent USA or Canada has.
The Cat is better defensively than Caufield. The DeBrincat line has not been scored on in the month of December!
Fox is U.S.A Bouchard If on Team only plays power plays or blowouts. Please make Mathews Captain. Miller assistant . Two great Great Leaders LMAO
There’s 14 Americans in the top 40 in scoring, and if these reports are correct, 7 of them will be left off the Olympic roster. And we wonder why we don’t win these events.
On a 8-man D roster, you need 3 offensive defensemen, 3 stay-at-home guys and 2 backups.
Fox didn’t make it into the 3 ODs. Hughes and Werenski are clearly ahead of him and he must have lost out to either Sanderson or McAvoy.
In the backup spots, you need all-rounders to have flexibility when one of the top 6 goes down. Jones offers more of this flexibility than Fox, so he is in and Fox is out.
With all bios put aside, that is a very honest take on why they would leave Fox off and bring Jones. Thanx for the break down Jolly Rogers. It does make perfect sense.
Now back to slamming Fox! (As the Flames fans would say).
What does the Fox say? “mememe…memememe…me”
I think the difference between a Canadian hockey player and a American hockey player is…
The Canadian will give the puck saying you take it, no you take it, sorry for taking it too long.
The American will say give me the puck, give it to me, let me take the shot.
I think the USA brass wants more Canadian type players…not (Fox) American type players.
Just my thoughts…..