"Eichel and the Tkachuks played on the same line for coach Mike Sullivan. Matthews was the team captain, and it's hard to imagine Team USA without him provided he's still scoring goals at his current clip in the NHL. Quinn Hughes was Team USA's best all-around defenseman, and Werenski was in the conversation, too. McAvoy was usually second to Hughes in average ice time during the tournament."
"That fact that Jack Hughes' status was never in question for the 2026 team is a testament to how much Team USA values his singular talents. He battled through injuries in the NHL regular season. He looked lost as a winger at 4 Nations. But he rewarded that faith but being one of the team's most productive offensive forces in Milan, looking more like Patrick Kane 2.0 than a center flailing on the wing."
The 2026 Winter Olympic men's hockey tournament concluded with Team USA earning medals and planning for 2030 in the French Alps. The NHL and NHLPA agreed in the collective bargaining agreement to allow NHL players to participate in 2030. Many 2026 players are strong candidates to return, while aging and the rise of new American talent will force roster turnover. Candidates were organized into tiers with projected ages for 2030. A core 'locks' group contains the first six players named to the 2026 roster and other key contributors. Eichel and the Tkachuks skated together under coach Mike Sullivan. Matthews served as captain. Quinn Hughes was the top all-around defenseman; McAvoy often ranked second in average ice time.
Read at ESPN.com
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