U.S. Hockey team Announces Roster for Upcoming World Championship with NHL All-Stars Leading the Way

The US Hockey team has announced plans to send a star-studded roster to an upcoming world championship as NHL players prepare to return to the Olympics in 2026. The team, which includes several NHL All-Stars, will be led by Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, who will be making his senior world championship debut at the age of 24. Other notable players on the roster include seven-time All-Star Johnny Gaudreau, five-time All-Star Seth Jones, three-time All-Star Dylan Larkin, and two-time All-Star Zach Werenski. Luke Hughes, a 20-year-old defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, is the youngest player on the team. This roster boasts the most All-Stars for a U.S. team since 2019.

Despite the star power of the roster, many top NHL players do not participate in world championships due to playoff commitments or a desire for rest after a long regular season. Players such as Auston Matthews, Quinn Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck are currently competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The U.S. worlds team is typically composed of 23 players, with additional players expected to be added closer to the start of the tournament in Czechia on May 10. The team will be coached by John Hynes, who also serves as the head coach for the Minnesota Wild.

The US team has had recent success at world championships, finishing fourth in the last two years and making the semifinals 12 times since the introduction of a bracketed playoff round in 1992. Their best finish during this period was third place (six bronze medals). The team’s last silver medal at worlds was in 1950