We’re getting our last look at Team USA as they prepare for the 2026 World Junior Championship as they take on Finland in their final pre-tournament game Tuesday night in Duluth. 

The U.S. has just two spots left on their roster and will have to cut one defenseman and one forward before finalizing their list for Dec. 26. 

Here’s a look at how USA is lining up against Finland, followed by some analysis about what this means for Team USA’s final roster.

Team USA Lineup Vs. FinlandForwards

Will Horcoff (PIT) – James Hagens (BOS) – Brodie Ziemer (BUF)

Cole Eiserman (NYI) – Max Plante (DET) – LJ Mooney (MTL)

Will Zellers (BOS) – Cole McKinney (SJS) – Ryker Lee (NSH)

Teddy Stiga (NSH) – AJ Spellacy (CHI) – Brendan McMorrow (LAK)

Kamil Bednarik (NYI)

Defense

Cole Hutson (WSH) – Adam Kleber (BUF)

Blake Fiddler (SEA) – Logan Hensler (OTT)

Luke Osburn (BUF) – EJ Emery (NYR)

Asher Barnett (EDM) – Chase Reid (2026)

Goalies

Caleb Heil (TBL)

Nick Kempf (WSH)

Scratched: Shane Vansaghi (PHI), Jacob Kvasnicka (NYI), Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, Brady Knowling (2026)

Analysis

Team USA had to make some adjustments up front with the unexpected loss of Trevor Connelly to injury. He will not be available for the tournament, which shuffles Team USA’s top six. That forces some restructuring overall, but you also don’t want to leave your third line without scoring pop in this tournament.

The first player to get the look in the role that would have been occupied by Connelly is L.J. Mooney, who plays for head coach Bob Motzko at Minnesota. We’ll see if it stays that way or if Ryker Lee also gets a look after a strong first pre-tournament game. 

Also of note, USA moved Cole McKinney into the No. 3 center spot vs. Finland, which could be a good spot for him. It’s probably between him and Kamil Bednarik for the center roles, but USA is also getting A.J. Spellacy in the middle on the fourth line to see if that is an option. I had long thought the best fourth line for Team USA was a combination of Shane Vansaghi, AJ Spellacy and one of Bednarik or McKinney. We’ll see if that holds, but this is more to say I don’t think Vansaghi will be out of the lineup when the games matter.

USA’s center depth has been a concern the whole time and when you see Max Plante in the middle, that seems like an adequate way to plug the hole. He’s not big, bug he is tenacious and is one of the smartest players on the team. He could be a real driver and has run with Cole Eiserman before. They can work off each other well.

The defense decisions to be made are interesting. Cole Hutson and Adam Kleber are locked in as the No. 1 pairing, but after that, USA is still trying to figure out what works. They are heavy on right-shot defense and have tried EJ Emery and now Blake Fiddler on their off-hand side. If either did well enough there, it could make one of Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen or Asher Barnett expendable on the left side, which is the shallower of the positions.

The battle between Luke Osburn and Chase Reid for No. 2 power play seems very legitimate. Reid has been awesome at scoring and making plays in the OHL this year, but Osburn has shown well both this summer and during pre-tournament play. I personally think Reid is the better overall option, but Osburn’s play has dictated he gets an extended look there. 

USA still has some work to do on figuring out its correct structure, but this lineup is about as close as we’ll see to the final roster until the puck drops.

Team USA World Junior Championship 2026 ScheduleFriday, December 26

  • 6:00 p.m. ET – Germany vs USA

Saturday, December 27

  • 6:00 p.m. ET – USA vs Switzerland

Monday, December 29

  • 6:00 p.m. ET – Slovakia vs USA

Wednesday, December 31

  • 6:00 p.m. ET – USA vs Sweden

2026 World Junior Championship Teams

View the list of teams, by group, for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Group A

  • USA
  • Germany
  • Switzerland
  • Sweden
  • Slovakia

Group B

  • Canada
  • Czechia
  • Latvia
  • Denmark
  • Finland

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