Team USA players celebrate after a golden goal in overtime by Jack Hughes during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Five Team USA players pass on Donald Trump's White House invite

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Feb 25, 2026 8:02 AM ET

Team USA has certainly been enjoying themselves — and they should be — in the aftermath of winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, courtesy of a golden goal from Jack Hughes to beat their bitter rivals from Canada in overtime.

The celebration hasn’t stopped since the moment that shot hit the back of the net, and on Tuesday, the Americans are set to attend the State of the Union after receiving an invitation from Donald Trump during a postgame locker room phone call with FBI Director Kash Patel.

That, of course, has drawn headlines and sparked debate. As the event approaches, however, details have emerged about a handful of players who decided to pass on the invitation.

Reports have confirmed that Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Jackson LaCombe, Brock Nelson and Jake Oettinger are either en route to their home cities or have already arrived in preparation for the resumption of the NHL season.

The Hockey News' Diandra Loux got word on Guentzel’s decision in particular, revealing that the Lightning gave him the green light to attend, but he ultimately made the personal choice not to go.

To be clear, Jake’s decision to stay in Tampa was to rest & prepare for the game tomorrow (and for the rest of the #GoBolts season) https://t.co/XcqPiD04h0
— Diandra Loux (@Diandra_loux) February 24, 2026

Photos circulating online suggest that the rest of Team USA went to Washington D.C., after traveling on a military plane to visit President Trump. They also attended the State of the Union, where President Trump announced that star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Honor.

Those who are attending will face a quick turnaround, with eight games scheduled around the NHL on Wednesday night, including matchups involving the teams of Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Auston Matthews and Tage Thompson.

It’s a difficult situation for the players to manage, especially compared to the aftermath of winning the Stanley Cup, when everyone’s season is over. The Olympics come right before the most critical stretch of the year, and while you can’t fault them for celebrating such an incredible accomplishment, you can also understand why fans and their respective teams might not be thrilled by it all.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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