Something unbelievable just happened in the world of hockey — and it’s left fans across both Montreal and the United States absolutely stunned. Two of the NHL’s most electric young talents, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, have been completely left out of Team USA’s projected roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina.

At first glance, it almost reads like a mistake. Surely, someone at NHL.com must have overlooked the numbers, right? Caufield — who currently shares the NHL lead in goals with some of the biggest names in the league, including Nathan MacKinnon and Jack Hughes — somehow doesn’t make the cut. And Hutson, the 20-year-old defensive phenom turning heads night after night in Montreal with his poise, vision, and control at the blue line? Also missing.

Fans are calling it a “national embarrassment”, analysts are scratching their heads, and even former players are openly questioning how this could possibly make sense. After all, the 2026 Games are still over a year away — which means this isn’t about timing or injuries. It’s about perception, politics, and priorities.

Caufield has been rewriting Montreal Canadiens history this season, shattering multiple franchise records while embodying the spark and charisma of a true American superstar. Yet, in the official Olympic projections, his name is nowhere to be found. The list includes plenty of big American names — Hughes, Matthews, Eichel — but somehow leaves out the player who’s been lighting up the NHL and redefining what consistency means for a scorer of his size.

Then there’s Hutson — the quiet, cerebral blue-liner who’s already being compared to Cale Makar for his hockey IQ and offensive instincts. He’s not only made Montreal’s defense dynamic again; he’s turned every shift into a lesson in creativity. Yet according to these early Olympic projections, he doesn’t even crack the top eight defenders.

It’s hard to call this anything but a snub, and a shocking one at that. Especially when you consider that both players are having breakout years and are central to Montreal’s resurgence this season. So, the question everyone’s asking: What exactly is Team USA thinking?

Is it about seniority? Reputation? Or something deeper — an unspoken bias that keeps young, smaller players like Caufield and Hutson from getting the recognition they’ve earned?

Whatever the reason, this oversight may have just lit a fire inside two of the NHL’s most determined competitors. Both have made careers out of defying expectations, and both now have something to prove — not just to the Canadiens or their critics, but to the entire world of hockey.

Because if history has taught us anything, it’s this: doubting Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson never ends well. And when the puck drops in Milano, Team USA might just regret the names they left off that list.

Cole Caufield and Lane hutson, Team USA Hockey logo

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, two of the Montreal Canadiens’ young stars, are completely left out of the recent Team USA projections for the 2026 Olympic Games.

I’ll admit… I had to read it twice to believe it.

In the latest projection from NHL.com regarding the American roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, two names stand out by their absence. And yes, you guessed it – they’re Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson.

This isn’t a joke – according to them, the two young Montreal Canadiens players supposedly wouldn’t even have a spot on this team…

Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield Snubbed from Team USA Predictions Despite Their Incredible Seasons

Here’s the list in question:

“In their latest 2026 U.S. Olympic roster predictions, NHL dot com does not include Cole Caufield on the team.”

– HabsOnReddit

The most shocking part of all this is that Cole Caufield is currently tied for the NHL lead in goals, alongside Nate MacKinnon, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Jack Hughes.

 

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He also just broke two new franchise records with the Canadiens!

Despite this spectacular performance, he’s nowhere to be found on the list…

As for Lane Hutson, who’s been impressing everyone in Montreal with his composure and creativity at the blue line, he’s also missing from the projected defense corps – a list that includes Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy, and Noah Hanifin.

I mean no disrespect to those players, but clearly, Hutson is just as good – if not better – than several of them.

I find it incomprehensible, especially considering the impact both have night after night with the Canadiens.

“Lane Hutson at 2nd place among the BEST defensemen in the NHL”

– BPM Sports

Personally, I think this “snub” will only serve to motivate them even more.

When you know the mindset of Caufield and Hutson, betting against them would be a big mistake.