NHL.com Projected USA Olympics Roster: Which Canadiens’ Player Is Missing?

After TSN tried its hand at projecting Team Canada’s roster earlier this week, NHL.com took a stab at projecting Team USA’s roster. At the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Montreal Canadiens didn’t have a single player on the finalists’ roster, but this year, it seems like NHL.com will be different.

Up front, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk have already been named to the roster, and NHL.com would complete the forwards’ corps with Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jack Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Miller, Jason Robertson, Tage Thompson and Canadiens’ snipper Cole Caufield.

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On the blueline, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy have already been chosen, and NHL.com would add Brock Faber, Seth Jones, Brett Pesce, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin, and Zach Werenski. Meaning there is no room on this roster for Canadiens’ standout defenseman Lane Hutson.

The roster is wrapped up with Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman. There’s no denying that it’s a good roster from top to bottom, but it’s at least worth considering Hutson for the blueline.

The projected defense already has two 22-year-olds with Faber and Sanderson, and I guess it makes sense to have some experience there. Still, there’s certainly an argument to be made for Hutson taking Sanderson’s spot or even Faber’s. Although they have more experience, with three NHL seasons and two seasons under their belt, respectively, neither has ever been as productive as Hughes in a single season. However, would they be cast in such a role? Looking at the other names on there, they may be out of offensive roles on the blueline.

If they were to be used in a more defensive role, they would probably prefer their size to Hutson’s. Still, for now, it’s only speculations, and should Hutson have yet another electric start to the season, he may well book a place on the real roster.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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