Team USA would be setting itself up for Olympic failure if Stars' Jason Robertson is left off roster

The United States Olympic hockey team is getting closer to announcing its roster for the 2026 games, and it seems like it could be on the verge of making the same mistake it always makes: not taking the best players and overthinking the entire process.

The player who might get left out in the cold: Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson.

Jason Robertson must be on Team USA

The Athletic's Michael Russo detailed some of the roster decisions that could be on the horizon, and in his view, Robertson could be on the outside looking in when it comes to the team's final roster.

From what Russo is hearing, the USA Olympic team is going to be very similar to the 4 Nations Face-Off team, with only minimal changes. That is especially true at forward. The thinking is that team had good chemistry, played a physical brand of hockey and had the identity and mindset that USA management wants in its team. 

There are several problems with that approach.

The first is that 4 Nations team did not win, finishing in second place in a four-team tournament. This tournament is going to be deeper and better with more teams involved, meaning it is going to be even more difficult to win. 

The second problem is that team lost in the same manner almost every American team loses in these best-on-best tournaments. It always comes back to a lack of goal-scoring in the biggest games, on the biggest stage and against the best teams. 

They always overthink the process and do not take their best talent. That produces a team that is never able to score enough goals against the best teams and ends in disappointment.

Robertson should have been on the 4 Nations team. 

He should be in Italy for the Olympics.

As things stand entering play on Tuesday, Robertson's 23 goals are fourth-most in the entire NHL. His 45 points are eighth-most in the entire NHL. He leads all American-born players in both categories. 

There would be no rational argument for leaving Robertson off the team. If he is not there, they are only setting themselves up for the same type of failure they always have in these tournaments, and they are not even putting together a serious team. 

If they are going to win gold, or even compete for it, they must place a premium on goal-scoring and talent. Canada is going to do that. Sweden and Finland are going to do that. If they leave Robertson at home to take the likes of J.T. Miller (New York Rangers), Vincent Trocheck (Rangers) or Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche) because they can check and play more physical hockey, it is going to leave them in the same situation they are always in. Coming back home empty-handed and trying to figure out why they have not won Olympic Gold since the 1980 Olympics.