It’s just day two of practice for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. On day one, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes didn’t have a clearly defined role. However, on Monday his role became a little clearer.
Sunday’s practice for Team USA confirmed one thing. Their top-six was going to look mostly the same, five of the six same forwards intact from last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The odd-man out?
At least at the beginning of the Olympic hockey camps, Hughes’ place in the top-six next to his 4 Nations Face-Off linemates, Auston Matthews and Jake Guentzel, now belongs to Matt Boldy. Hughes skated in an uncertain bottom-six with the remaining Team USA forwards with an undefined role.
On Tuesday, his role—so far—has been revealed.
Hughes is lining up on the fourth line for Team USA, which is occupied by New York Rangers forwars J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson, and Hughes.
Important context to remember here is that for the Olympic games, 13 forwards and seven defensemen dress.
Hughes, playing right wing on Team USA’s fourth line, appears to be a regular among the 12 forwards in the group, as Trocheck took rotations with Nelson as the 13th forward.
On Monday, Sullivan declared Hughes a “full-go,” ruling out a decreased role this in the Olympic tournament—as opposed to his top six role in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament—due to injury.
According to Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas, here’s Team USA’s lineup as of Tuesday:
Forwards
Brady Tkachuk—Jack Eichel—Matthew Tkachuk
Jake Guentzel—Auston Matthews—Matt Boldy
Kyle Connor—Dylan Larkin—Tage Thompson
J.T. Miller—Brock Nelson/Vincent Trocheck—Jack Hughes
Clayton Keller
Defensemen
Quinn Hughes—McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin—Brock Faber
Jake Sanderson—ZackWerenski
Jackson LaCombe—Noah Hanifin
Team USA drops the puck for their first game in the preliminary round on Thursday against Team Latvia at 3:10 P.M. ET.
