USA Hockey Announces Star-Laden Roster for World Championship in Preparation for NHL Players’ Return to Olympics

USA Hockey is gearing up for the upcoming world championship in Czechia with one of its most star-laden rosters in recent history. The team, which was announced on Wednesday, includes some of the biggest names in the NHL, with five players who have made at least one NHL All-Star team.

Leading the pack is Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, who will be making his senior world championship debut at the age of 24. He is joined by seven-time All-Star forward Johnny Gaudreau, five-time All-Star defenseman Seth Jones, three-time All-Star forward Dylan Larkin, and two-time All-Star defenseman Zach Werenski. The youngest player of the first 15 named to the team is 20-year-old Luke Hughes, a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils.

In recent years, most U.S. rosters at worlds have only included one or two players with All-Star experience, making this year’s team particularly star-studded. Many top NHL players do not typically participate in the world championship due to their teams still being in the Stanley Cup playoffs or opting for rest after a long regular season. Players like Auston Matthews, Quinn Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck are currently in the playoffs with their respective teams.

The team is expected to add more players closer to the start of the tournament on May 10. Head coach John Hynes, who is also the head coach of the Minnesota Wild, will lead the team in their quest for a strong finish. The U.S. has finished fourth at worlds in the last two years and has made the semifinals 12 times since 1992, with a best finish of third and six bronze medals.

Additionally, it was recently announced that NHL players will be participating in the Olympics in 2026 for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games, adding even more excitement to the upcoming world championship and future international competitions.