Team USA’s controversial roster choices for the 2026 Olympics are already looking smarter after their opening game against Latvia.
Brock Nelson, one of the most questioned selections, showed exactly why GM Bill Guerin wanted him on the team. The Colorado Avalanche center netted two goals and nearly had a third one (it was disallowed in the first period).
The decision to pick Nelson over flashier wingers like Cole Caufield, Alex DeBrincat, and Jason Robertson had plenty of critics scratching their heads before the tournament.
But Nelson didn’t just score – he dominated in other areas too. He won 75% of his faceoffs and played more than 13 solid minutes on the ice.
Here’s the thing about Team USA’s roster – they’ve already got tons of scoring talent. What they needed was versatility, and that’s where Nelson comes in.
“Either of those players would’ve needed top-six roles and consistent power-play time to make an impact,” one team source explained about Caufield and DeBrincat. The coaching staff wasn’t willing to shuffle their top lines that much.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was how well Jack Hughes played on the fourth line alongside Nelson. Despite being moved down from his usual center position, Hughes picked up two assists and looked completely at home.
The Nelson-Hughes combo (with J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck rotating in) was so good, they ended up getting as much ice time as the third line of Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin, and Tage Thompson.
Thompson did manage to score on the power play late in the second period, and he’ll likely keep being a key player when Team USA has the man advantage.
Sure, there are still some fair questions about other roster choices – like picking Trocheck and Miller over Robertson. But Nelson’s performance has definitely silenced his critics, at least for now.
The real test will come when Team USA faces tougher competition. Can Nelson bring this same level of play against the tournament’s powerhouses? That’s what everyone’s waiting to see.
