The Athletic asked its NHL staff for one from each team. Here\u2019s what they said.<\/p>\n
Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n
Leo Carlsson, Team Sweden<\/strong><\/p>\n Carlsson wasn\u2019t on Sweden\u2019s initial list of six, but now the bigger question is whether he\u2019ll be the No. 1 center for Tre Kronor. The 20-year-old just had his 11-game point streak end, but he\u2019s gone without a point only three times in his first 17 games and was tied for third in the NHL in scoring as of Friday. He\u2019s becoming a star, and the best-on-best Olympics will be a massive stage. Cutter Gauthier could be playing into Team USA consideration after his blazing start. \u2014 Eric Stephens<\/p>\n Boston Bruins<\/p>\n Morgan Geekie, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n Geekie has not been on Canada\u2019s radar. There are so many Canadian forwards deserving of spots. But since Jan. 1, Geekie has scored 36 goals. Only David Pastrnak (40) has more among NHL forwards. The native of Strathclair, Manitoba, is a late bloomer. But if Canada wants goal scorers, no Canadian has more than Geekie in 2025. \u2014 Fluto Shinzawa<\/p>\n Buffalo Sabres<\/p>\n Tage Thompson, Team USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Rasmus Dahlin has already been named to Team Sweden. Of the rest of the Sabres, Thompson probably has the best shot at making a team. He played for Team USA at the World Championship and scored the game-winning goal in the gold medal game. He has 14 points in 17 games to start the season, but he\u2019s struggled defensively and hasn\u2019t been consistent. He\u2019s not a lock for Team USA, but he still has a shot to make a push for a spot. \u2014 Matthew Fairburn<\/p>\n Calgary Flames<\/p>\n Nazem Kadri, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n Kadri would need an incredible season to move the needle for Team Canada. But he\u2019s a veteran presence who leads his team in scoring, and he just had his best season goals-wise at the age of 34 last year. If nothing else, it\u2019d be a fun story for the Stanley Cup champion who recently played his 1,000th game and called his shot to make the Canadian Olympic team in August. \u2014 Julian McKenzie<\/p>\n Carolina Hurricanes<\/p>\n Seth Jarvis, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n Jarvis was the surprise pick by Canada for last year\u2019s 4 Nations Face-Off, but that doesn\u2019t make him a lock for Milan-Cortina. With young players such as Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard making a push for the team, Jarvis will still need to prove he should be wearing the Maple Leaf in February. He\u2019s doing that so far, scoring at over a 50-goal pace and contributing as an all-situations mainstay for a Stanley Cup contender. \u2014 Cory Lavalette<\/p>\n Chicago Blackhawks<\/p>\n Connor Bedard, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n It was pretty clear Bedard needed a hot start if he had any chance of making Team Canada\u2019s Olympic team. He has certainly done that. He\u2019s scoring more goals. He\u2019s creating more for his linemates. He\u2019s playing better defense. He\u2019s even winning more faceoffs. Aside from putting together a larger sample, there isn\u2019t much more he can do to state his case. \u2014 Scott Powers<\/p>\n Colorado Avalanche<\/p>\n Mackenzie Blackwood, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure Blackwood perfectly fits the category of \u201cmaking a case\u201d to crack an Olympic roster, because he missed the first month of the season after undergoing offseason surgery. But with Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault all off to poor starts, he could easily force his way onto Team Canada\u2019s roster. Gabriel Landeskog was also an option here, as he could end up playing for Sweden, but he hasn\u2019t exactly \u201cmade a case\u201d either, with only 6 points in 18 games. \u2014 Jesse Granger<\/p>\n Columbus Blue Jackets<\/p>\n Zach Werenski, Team USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Werenski was a monumental player for Team USA at the 4 Nations, further cementing his status as one of the red, white and blue\u2019s pre-eminent international players. Along with Charlie McAvoy and the Hughes brothers, Werenski gives the Americans an incredibly talented blue line. His bona fides as a player who wants to play for his country are well established: Beyond 4 Nations, Werenski has played in three World Championships, two World Juniors and one World U17 Hockey Challenge. \u2014 Aaron Portzline<\/p>\n \n If the Americans are willing to move on from older vets such as Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson, Jason Robertson has a strong case as one of the more consistent producers in the league. (Stacy Revere \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Dallas Stars<\/p>\n Jason Robertson, Team USA <\/strong><\/p>\n There are plenty of locks on the Dallas roster, including Thomas Harley after his 4 Nations fill-in performance in February. But Robertson has a compelling case. If the Americans are willing to move on from older vets such as Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson, Robertson has a strong case as one of the more consistent producers in the league, with 109, 80 and 80 points over the last three seasons. He has size, durability (hasn\u2019t missed a game in more than three seasons) and big-game experience. \u2014 Mark Lazerus<\/p>\n Detroit Red Wings<\/p>\n Dylan Larkin, Team USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Frankly, Larkin\u2019s spot on Team USA was already all but assured after his outstanding performance at the 4 Nations, but his start to this season can only have cemented it. He\u2019s been one of the top scorers in the league, with 10 goals and 21 points through 17 games, and has done it while taking on tough matchups. The latter is more important to the way he\u2019ll be used on Team USA, and his shutdown effort against Connor McDavid earlier this season showed why. \u2014 Max Bultman<\/p>\n Edmonton Oilers<\/p>\n David Tomasek, Team Czechia<\/strong><\/p>\n Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have already been named to their countries\u2019 teams. Struggles from Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm leave them with an uphill climb to crack crowded Canadian and Swedish blue lines. Stuart Skinner, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are long shots to make Canada\u2019s roster for various reasons. That really leaves only Tomasek, a 29-year-old NHL rookie. Tomasek was a member of Czechia\u2019s World Championship win on home ice in 2024. \u2014 Daniel Nugent-Bowman<\/p>\n Florida Panthers<\/p>\n Brad Marchand, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n If there was ever any doubt about putting the 37-year-old back on Team Canada, Marchand has shattered that with his phenomenal start. With another 2 points Thursday, he has 20 in 16 games, putting him into a tie for 20th in NHL scoring with Sidney Crosby and Leon Draisaitl. Only three Canadians have scored more goals than Marchand\u2019s 11 so far this season, and his star turn during last year\u2019s Stanley Cup run was nearly Conn Smythe worthy. He\u2019s on the team. \u2014 James Mirtle<\/p>\n Los Angeles Kings<\/p>\n Drew Doughty, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n With Adrian Kempe (Sweden) and Kevin Fiala (Switzerland) already named to those initial rosters, the focus turns to Doughty and playing in his third Olympics at age 35. He\u2019s healthy after battling back from last season\u2019s ankle fracture and looking to make the team in a defense-focused shutdown role. Doughty isn\u2019t the only one, as Darcy Kuemper\u2019s consistent play this season has put him into Canada\u2019s goaltending mix. \u2014 Eric Stephens<\/p>\n Minnesota Wild<\/p>\n Matt Boldy, Team USA<\/strong><\/p>\n When Boldy made the 4 Nations roster, many accused Wild GM Bill Guerin, who doubles as Team USA\u2019s GM, of nepotism. But the 24-year-old star-in-the-making had a solid tournament and is following it up with a strong start to this campaign, with nine goals and 18 points in 18 games. On a U.S. roster pool filled with quality wingers and stiff competition, Boldy is making the case as a no-brainer selection. \u2014 Michael Russo<\/p>\n Montreal Canadiens<\/p>\n Nick Suzuki, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong was at the Bell Centre twice in a span of a week. He surely had others to look at, but Suzuki was high on his watch list. Before games Thursday, Suzuki had 57 points in 43 games since the return from last season\u2019s 4 Nations, a tournament he was not selected for. That was third in the NHL, 3 points ahead of Connor McDavid. He can play center and wing, on the power play and the penalty kill. He has made it impossible for Armstrong not to take him. \u2014 Arpon Basu<\/p>\n Nashville Predators<\/p>\n Filip Forsberg, Team Sweden<\/strong><\/p>\n This should be a formality, right? But unlike with teammates Roman Josi and Juuse Saros \u2014 Switzerland and Finland \u2014 Forsberg has not been officially named to the team. He continues to play at a high level at age 31, despite the Preds\u2019 offensive struggles overall, and should be a lock. Steven Stamkos (Canada) and Erik Haula (Finland) are hopefuls with less strong cases. \u2014 Joe Rexrode <\/p>\n New Jersey Devils<\/p>\n Luke Hughes, Team USA <\/strong><\/p>\n The Devils already have five players named to their countries\u2019 preliminary rosters \u2014 Ond\u0159ej Pal\u00e1t (Czechia), \u0160imon Nemec (Slovakia) and Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler (Switzerland) \u2014 and Jack Hughes (USA) and Jesper Bratt (Sweden) are all but locks. That leaves Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce as the only other Devils with outside shots. Luke Hughes hasn\u2019t been amazing to start the year, but he\u2019s still playing a career-high 22:56 and has 9 points in 17 games. \u2014 Peter Baugh<\/p>\n \n Matthew Schaefer is thriving while playing big minutes on Long Island. (James Guillory \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n New York Islanders<\/p>\n Matthew Schaefer, Team Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n Having strong leaders and veterans tends to be prioritized in an international setting. But how about some game-changing skill? Schaefer is thriving while playing big minutes on Long Island, and that should be enough to earn some Olympic consideration. Maybe he isn\u2019t ready to play every game \u2014 but it would help to have him as an option as a No. 6 or 7. That opportunity would likely be a learning experience to help him prepare for becoming a Team Canada mainstay one day. \u2014 Shayna Goldman<\/p>\n What can’t this kid do?!?! \ud83e\udd29 pic.twitter.com\/wLTMR3Zijz<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHL (@NHL) November 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n New York Rangers<\/p>\n Adam Fox, Team USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Fox took a lot of heat after an underwhelming performance at the 4 Nations, but it\u2019s hard to argue he hasn\u2019t been one of the league\u2019s six-best U.S.-born defensemen to begin this season. He ranks second on the Rangers and fourth among all NHL D with 15 points (three goals and 12 assists) and has been stout in a shutdown role with new partner Vladislav Gavrikov. His 3.0 defensive rating sits eighth overall, according to Hockey Stat Cards, highlighting his high-level impact in all facets. \u2014 Vincent Z. Mercogliano<\/p>\n Ottawa Senators<\/p>\n Jake Sanderson, Team USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Sanderson\u2019s coming-out party occurred during the 4 Nations Face-Off, helping the United States reach the championship game against Canada before scoring in the final. His two-way play, size, skating ability and familiarity with Team USA\u2019s brass make his case the strongest of anyone on the Sens whose spot hasn\u2019t been cemented. Shane Pinto is an honorable mention after a strong start and helping the U.S. win the World Championship this summer. \u2014 Julian McKenzie<\/p>\n Philadelphia Flyers<\/p>\n Trevor Zegras, Team USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Zegras might be reaching new career heights with the Flyers, contributing 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) in 17 games. He\u2019s easily been the Flyers\u2019 most consistent offensive player, both at five-on-five and on the power play. Something that could help his Olympic consideration is his prowess in the shootout, where he\u2019s 16 for 24 in his career: the best mark of all time for anyone with more than 20 attempts. \u2014 Kevin Kurz<\/p>\n Trevor Zegras is 16 for 24 in his career in the shootout. <\/p>\n Just unreal. \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/Bkk1ZXOvu2<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2245220473-scaled.jpg\")
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