Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson has found himself at the center of Olympic roster speculation ahead of the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.
How Did Jason Robertson React to Potential Team USA Omission?
As Team Canada has already announced its lineup, all eyes are on Team USA, set to reveal its roster on Friday. Rumors have circulated that Robertson could be left off the squad, despite enjoying one of the strongest seasons of his career.
Last year, Robertson missed out on Team USA’s Four Nations Face-Off after a slow start to the 2024-25 campaign. This year, however, the situation is markedly different. Robertson has been a driving force for Dallas. He registered 46 points in 40 games and ranked among the NHL’s most prolific scorers since mid-November. His recent performance has made the idea of him being excluded from the Olympic roster particularly surprising.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo, who closely monitors Team USA selections, indicated that Robertson could still be on the outside looking in. He pointed out that while the U.S. has an abundance of goal-scoring talent, the coaching staff appears focused on maintaining roster balance and defined roles.
“If this is correct, the most scrutiny will fall on leaving Robertson off,” Russo noted. “Boldy leads all American-born NHLers with 25 goals, Robertson is second with 23, and he’s led all NHL players with 20 goals since Nov. 11.”
Despite the buzz, Robertson has stayed grounded. When NHL analyst Bruce Levine asked how he was handling the Olympic talk, he replied, “It’s just outside noise. I want to play good hockey and help the Dallas Stars win.”
Russo also noted that Robertson remains firmly in consideration for Team USA. If he doesn’t make the initial roster, he would likely be the first replacement if injuries occur before the tournament.
USA Hockey General Manager Bill Guerin acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions, saying, “I know I’m going to be delivering disappointing news to some people. But I need to be honest with them and communicate the truth and what reality is. There’s a lot of hockey between now and then, we just don’t know what’s gonna happen and just ‘be ready.’ That’s all I can really say to them, and I will,”
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Other notable potential omissions include Chris Kreider, Cole Caufield, Patrick Kane, Alex Tuch, Alex DeBrincat, Matthew Knies, Logan Cooley, Troy Terry, and Cutter Gauthier, according to Russo.
Regardless of what happens on Friday, Robertson’s approach won’t change as his focus remains on performing for the Stars while keeping an open mind about Olympic possibilities.
