USA Olympic Hockey Risks Failure Without Jason Robertson

The U.S. Olympic hockey team might be about to make a huge mistake – again. As they get ready to pick their roster for the 2026 games in Italy, it looks like they’re planning to leave one of their best scorers at home.

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson, who’s having an incredible season, might not make the cut.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Robertson is currently the NHL’s fourth-highest goal scorer with 23 goals. He’s got 45 points total, putting him eighth in the entire league. No American player has scored more this season.

But here’s the crazy part: Team USA seems more focused on recreating their 4 Nations Face-Off team – a squad that didn’t even win that tournament.

"They want physical players with good chemistry," says The Athletic’s Michael Russo, who’s been following the selection process closely.

That’s the same thinking that’s hurt Team USA for decades. They keep trying to build tough, defensive-minded teams while leaving their most talented scorers at home.

How’s that working out? Well, America hasn’t won Olympic hockey gold since 1980. Remember the "Miracle on Ice"? That was 44 years ago.

The competition in 2026 will be even tougher. Canada, Sweden, and Finland are all bringing their best scorers. Meanwhile, Team USA is considering players like J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, or Brock Nelson over Robertson because they’re more physical.

It’s like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

These international tournaments always end the same way for Team USA – they play tough defense but can’t score enough goals when it matters most.

If they’re serious about winning gold in Italy, they need their best scorers on the ice. And right now, there’s no American scoring better than Jason Robertson.

The question is: Will Team USA finally learn from past mistakes, or are they headed for another disappointing Olympics?