Team USA Olympic Hopefuls Dazzling As Thanksgiving Approaches

Cole Caufield and Clayton Keller have been among the standouts so far this season, playing some of the best hockey of their careers in 2025-26. Both have played for the United States at various points in their careers. This has given them valuable international experience that will no doubt come into play during roster decisions. 

Caufield is making his case with his goal-scoring ability, a facet of his game that has been on display all season. The forward paces the Montreal Canadiens with 13 goals through 21 games this season. He has showcased his skills as an elite goal scorer, which might come in handy when it’s time for Olympic selection. 

Keller, who captained Team USA to its first gold medal at the World Championships in 92 years last summer, has proven he can be trusted to lead on an international stage. For a program that values leadership and loyalty, Keller could be the missing piece they need to perform well in Italy. He brings a lot of offensive ability to the table as well, with 20 points so far in 2025-26. This could be an invaluable combination for the Americans as roster selection gets closer.

Jason Robertson Took Team USA 4 Nations Face-Off Exclusion Personal

Although one of the more underrated American forwards in the game, Robertson was a bit of a surprise exclusion for Team USA last February. The Dallas Stars’ forward has been lights out since then, leading them in goals (13) and points (28) through 22 games. He’s upped his production on a team with great goal scorers like Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen. Robertson is proving that he can be the number one option on a team filled with great players. 

It would be great to see Robertson’s hard work pay off in the end, especially with some of the players from the 4 Nations Face-Off roster not producing. He might just find himself on a plane headed for Italy in early 2026, and it’s more than deserved at this point.

Tage Thompson’s Team USA Chances Increasing With Injuries

The United States has dealt with injury blows over the course of the NHL season, most recently to 4 Nations Face-Off captain Auston Matthews and key forward Jack Hughes. That opens the door for Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson, who scored the winning goal for the United States at the 2025 World Championships. 

Thompson’s exclusion from the 4 Nations Face-Off roster came as a shock to some because of his size and athleticism. Those traits make him a valuable asset against teams like Canada and Finland, but he might just get his chance to represent the stars and stripes after all. His presence will largely depend on injury status, in my opinion, but I’d pencil him in as things stand right now.

Team USA Needs A Leader: Is Patrick Kane The Man For The Job?

The United States has quite a few leaders at their disposal heading into Olympic selection, but none quite like Patrick Kane. He is one of the only players left in the NHL with Olympic experience. He represented the USA in 2010 and 2014, the last time NHL players were allowed to compete. 

With so many questions about how players will respond to playing such high-pressure games on a tight schedule, Kane’s guidance and experience might just make him the perfect man for the captaincy. The 19-year veteran has been part of three Stanley Cup championships and an Olympic silver medal run for the USA. This allows him to bring invaluable experience to the team if selected.

End Of My Team USA Rant 

Team USA has a problem. There are so many choices to be made and routes they could take, which will make roster selection that much more difficult. The nation’s heartbreaking loss in the 4 Nations Face-Off served as a lesson for what they need to improve upon to ensure a better result in the Olympics. These players might just be what they need to secure the gold medal, and selection will call for some tough choices to be made. 

A lot of hockey is still to come between now and when rosters are announced closer to the Games. With that being said, the NHL season just passed the quarter mark, which means crunch time for consideration has begun. A lot of players have their destiny in their own hands at this point, so it’s up to them to build upon great starts in hopes of making the Olympic team.