The Athletic Hockey Show Olympic roster breakdowns: should Jason Robertson be on Team USA?
Jan 5, 2026
The hosts dive into the freshly unveiled Olympic rosters, debating shocking snubs like Jason Robertson and Adam Fox. They explore the balance between role-based selections versus fielding the best athletes. Conor Bedard's absence from Team Canada sparks discussion on reputation's influence in roster decisions. As they analyze betting odds, Canada, USA, and Sweden emerge as top contenders. Squeeze in predictions for 2026 NHL highlights, including a breakout season for Matt Boldy and an impressive future for Logan Thompson.
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Robertson Feels Like A Big Offensive Miss
- Mark Lazerus argues leaving Jason Robertson off Team USA feels like a self-inflicted mistake that reduces scoring upside.
- He emphasizes Robertson's strong offensive metrics and power-play impact compared to some picks.
GM Must Back High-Stakes Roster Choices
- Jesse Granger says Bill Guerin must back his roster philosophy fully or face job risk if the team fails.
- He advises that choosing role players over obvious scorers is a high-stakes, deliberate gamble.
Don't Overweight Four Nations Performance
- Max Bultman and Mark argue Four Nations results shouldn't dictate Olympic rosters because that short event is fluky.
- They recommend prioritizing best players for Olympic success rather than a single prior short-tournament role fit.