Team USA’s Lineup Choices Don’t Make Any Sense

Somebody please explain what’s happening with Kyle Connor on Team USA, because right now, it’s just baffling. The guy’s been a 30-plus goal scorer every single season in the NHL, and yet here he is at the 2026 Olympics, watching from the bench yet again. Connor was healthy scratched in the 4 Nations Face-Off final last year, and now in Italy, his ice time has shrunk in the first two games—and for the third game against Germany? Bench duty.

Interestingly, Team USA’s Forward Depth Isn’t That Strong

It’s even weirder when you think about the state of Team USA’s forward depth. They left some scorers at home and brought in role players like Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller to fill niches. But when you’re staring down powerhouses like Canada and Sweden, do you really bench a guy who can be a game-changer in a single shift? Kyle Connor isn’t just another body—he’s a proven scorer, a playmaker, and a guy who can tilt a tight game with one goal or one big play.

Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton recently broke it down on Daily Faceoff Live, and their frustration was clear. Yaremchuk said it straight up: “I’m stunned they don’t want to play Kyle Connor. There’s clearly something this coaching staff is not seeing.” Hutton added that Connor can “be valuable in any single role with his skating,” and he’s not wrong. On a team like this, you want guys who can make a difference in a blink, not just fill a spot on the roster.