U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Roster Announced for Milan Games The United States has unveiled its men's hockey roster for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan. The team includes 21 players who participated in the recent 4 Nations Face-Off, alongside four new additions. Defenseman Quinn Hughes, previously named to the Olympic team in June, joins the roster after an injury prevented his 4 Nations participation. Key selections include forwards Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller, who contributed to the U.S. World Championship gold medal, and defenseman Seth Jones. General Manager's Statement U.S. General Manager Bill Guerin acknowledged the difficulty in finalizing the roster. "We’re excited about our team and congratulate everyone named today," Guerin stated. "It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong. There’s nothing like the Olympics and I know our players and staff will represent our country well and work hard to achieve our ultimate goal." Guerin also indicated the possibility of roster changes due to injuries, stating, "If there are injuries, there could be changes, and some of the players that weren’t named to the initial roster could still be with us in a month." Roster Details The roster features 11 returning forwards: Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Matt Boldy, Jake Guentzel, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin, Jack Hughes, Brock Nelson, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck. Chris Kreider, a forward from the 4 Nations tournament, was not included. Defensemen include Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber, Zach Werenski, Jake Sanderson, and Noah Hanifin. Adam Fox was the sole defenseman from the 4 Nations not selected. All three goaltenders from the 4 Nations – Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman – are returning. The roster announcement event for the men's, women's, and sled hockey teams took place on NBC's "Today" show. Notable Omissions and Selection Rationales The non-selection of former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox and Jason Robertson, who ranked second among American players in goals (24) and first in points (48) at the time of the announcement, drew attention. * Jason Robertson: The stated rationale for Robertson's non-selection focused on team fit, with management indicating other players were deemed better suited for specific lineup roles and checking responsibilities. * Adam Fox: Guerin reportedly informed Fox of his exclusion. Reasons cited included concerns regarding his pace of play during the 4 Nations tournament and his involvement in the sequence leading to Canada's championship-winning goal. Fox had expressed that he believed his season's performance and track record warranted selection. Other players not selected include forwards Cole Caufield (20 goals), Alex DeBrincat (21 goals, 41 points), Alex Tuch, Troy Terry, Cutter Gauthier, Matthew Knies, and Patrick Kane. Defensemen Lane Hutson and Jackson Lacombe were also omitted. Conversely, certain selections were made based on specific criteria: * J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck: These forwards were selected based on their overall body of work and established respect within the staff, despite their recent season performances. * Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller: Their inclusion was partly attributed to their defensive play during the World Championship gold-medal game, where Thompson scored the overtime "Golden Goal." Thompson's versatility, size, and scoring, along with Keller's speed, offense, and special teams capabilities, were noted as factors. Former Worlds coach Ryan Warsofsky commented positively on their performance improvements. * Seth Jones: Selected for his penalty-killing, power-play involvement, size, mobility, and ability to play significant minutes. The final defenseman spot reportedly came down to Hanifin and Fox, with Hanifin's reliability in a fast-paced environment being the decisive factor. The defensive corps includes five left-shot and three right-shot players. Tournament Outlook The U.S. men's team aims to win a gold medal in Milan. General Manager Guerin emphasized a philosophy of building a cohesive "team, not an All-Star team," prioritizing players who demonstrate strong defensive play. While acknowledging the absence of players like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, or Cale Makar, the team's leadership believes they possess an advantage in goaltending and a deep, balanced defensive unit. Production from key forwards, including Matthews, Eichel, Connor, and Jack Hughes, is anticipated. The men's tournament in Milan commences on February 11. The United States will play its first Group B preliminary round game against Latvia on February 12. The gold-medal game is scheduled for February 22.