Jack Eichel named to US roster for 2026 Olympics

Vegas Golden Knights superstar center Jack Eichel was one of six players named to the U.S. Olympic roster on Monday.

The 12 countries participating in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games announced the first six players to their respective rosters, with Eichel joining forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk as well as defensemen Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy in representing the United States.

Of the 72 players named, 61 are currently under contract with NHL teams. That includes Vegas forward Jonas Rondbjerg, who was one of six players named to the Danish roster.

Significantly, this marks the first time since 2014 (Sochi) that NHL players will be eligible to participate in the Olympics.

For context, Eichel wasn’t drafted until 2015. Therefore, this would mark Eichel’s Olympic debut, though he did have the chance to represent his country in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off this past February. Matthews, both Tkachuk brothers as well as McAvoy also played in the tournament, while Hughes was injured at the time. The United States lost 3-2 in overtime to Canada in the Final.

Eichel is coming off the best statistical season of his career, potting 28 goals and a franchise-best and career-high 94 points in 77 games. His points-per-game pace jumped from 1.08 in 2023-24 (68 points in 63 games) to 1.22 in 2024-25. He finished the postseason with one goal and 10 points in 11 games.

Eichel has one year remaining on his contract, which carries a $10 million cap hit. He is due a hefty pay raise and will become one of the highest-paid players in the league. Working on extending him will be a priority for the Golden Knights.

The Olympics will begin Feb. 6, 2026, with the men’s hockey tournament taking place from Feb. 11 to Feb. 22. Team USA will open against Team Latvia on Feb. 12 before taking on Rondbjerg and Team Denmark on Feb. 14 and Leon Draisaitl and Team Germany on Feb. 15.

Preliminary rosters

Team USA

Forwards: Eichel (VGK), Matthews (TOR), Brady Tkachuk (OTT), Matthew Tkachuk (FLA)
Defensemen: Hughes (VAN), McAvoy (BOS)

Team Canada

Forwards: Sidney Crosby (PIT), Nathan MacKinnon (COL), Connor McDavid (EDM), Brayden Point (TBL), Sam Reinhart (FLA)
Defensemen: Cale Makar (COL)

Team Finland

Forwards: Sebastian Aho (CAR), Aleksander Barkov (FLA), Mikko Rantanen (DAL),
Defensemen: Miro Heiskanen (DAL), Esa Lindell (DAL)
Goalies: Juuse Saros (NSH)

Team Sweden

Forwards: Gabriel Landeskog (COL), Adrian Kempe (LAK), Lucas Raymond (DET), William Nylander (TOR)
Defensemen: Rasmus Dahlin (BUF), Victor Hedman (TBL)

Team Czechia

Forwards: Martin Necas (COL), Ondrej Palat (NJD), David Pastrnak (BOS), Pavel Zacha (NJD)
Defensemen: Radko Gudas (ANA)
Goalies: Lukas Dostal (ANA)

Team Switzerland

Forwards: Kevin Fiala (LAK), Nico Hischier (NJD), Timo Meier (NJD), Nino Niederreiter (WPG)
Defensemen: Roman Josi (NSH), Jonas Siegenthaler (NJD)

Team Slovakia

Forwards: Juraj Slafkovsky (MTL), Martin Pospisil (CGY), Tomas Tatar
Defenseman: Erik Cernak (TBL), Martin Fehervary (WSH), Simon Nemec (NJD)

Team Germany

Forwards: Draisaitl (EDM), Lukas Reichel (CHI), Nico Sturm (FLA), Tim Stutzle (OTT)
Defensemen: Moritz Seider (DET)
Goalies: Philipp Grubauer (SEA)

Team Latvia

Forwards: Rodrigo Abols (PHI), Teddy Blueger (VAN), Zemgus Girgensons (TBL)
Defensemen: Uvis Balinskis (FLA)
Goalies: Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ), Arturs Silovs (VAN)

Team Denmark

Forwards: Oliver Bjorkstrand (TBL), Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG), Lars Eller (WSH), Rondbjerg (VGK)
Defensemen: Jesper Jensen Aabo
Goalies: Frederik Andersen (CAR)

Team France

Forwards: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Jordann Perret, Alexandre Texier (STL)
Defensemen: Yohann Auvitu, Jules Boscq, Hugo Gallet

Team Italy

Forwards: Diego Kostner, Daniel Mantenuto, Tommy Purdeller
Defensemen: Luca Zanatta, Thomas Larkin
Goalies: Damian Clara