Rangers star not among 1st 6 players named to Team USA Olympics roster after 4 Nations fallout
A lot has changed in the past year for the New York Rangers. That appears to include the standing of some of their best players on the world stage.
Not a single Rangers player was named Monday to be one of the first six to represent his country in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. A year ago at this time, Adam Fox (United States) and Mika Zibanejad (Sweden) of the Rangers were among the first six players selected to play for their country at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
This time, though, Fox was not included on the first group of six chosen for the United States’ preliminary Olympics roster, with two defensemen included instead of him — Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks and Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins.
Team USA general manager Bill Guerin was direct when asked why forward Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators was selected this time instead of Fox.
“The impact that Brady had on the team [at the 4 Nations] and his role in how we play, that was a big part of it,” Guerin said. “Adam, his tournament was fine. It wasn’t as well as he could’ve played. His season wasn’t up to his standards, but he’s very much in the mix [for the 2026 Olympics]. This is just a list we had to come out with, and I just felt more comfortable with Brady on it this time around.”
Likewise, Zibanejad was passed over this time by Sweden for the first six players, that included forwards Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings), Gabe Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche), William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings), and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres) and Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning).
Though his production dropped considerably with the Rangers last season, when Zibanejad scored 20 goals and finished with 62 points, well off his 39-goal, 91-point output two years prior, it’s expected the 32-year-old will represent Sweden in the Olympics in February. Zibanejad’s still among their best players, even if he didn’t make their “top 6.” The Rangers forward had one goal in a pair of 4 Nations games, and five goals and eight points in nine games for Sweden at the World Championships.
Related: Rangers rumors: Mika Zibanejad trade speculation picks up after Chris Kreider deal
Rangers’ Adam Fox needs to be ‘highly competitive’ to earn spot on USA Olympics roster
Fox’s standing with Team USA clearly took a hit after he received some heavy criticism in the aftermath of his showing at the 4 Nations tournament. The 27-year-old was notably outplayed by several of his U.S. teammates, including defenseman Zach Werenski, and was defending on-ice when Conor McDavid scored the tournament-winning goal in overtime of the championship game for Canada.
This take by Guerin didn’t exactly shine well on Fox, whose ice time decreased throughout the tournament.
“We looked back at the 4 Nations tournament, and the one thing we all took away — I think everybody can take away — is that there’s just no room out there,” Guerin explained. “You have to be able to play in tight hockey games. You have to be highly competitive, and I think these six players represent that.”
Fox, of course, was the 2021 Norris Trophy winner as top NHL defenseman. So, the pedigree is there. He finished with 61 points (10 goals, 51 assists) and his underlying numbers and metrics were the best on an underperforming Rangers team this past season.
Like Zibanejad, Fox very likely will play in the Olympics once the full rosters are selected. That would be the case even if his new coach with the Rangers, Mike Sullivan, wasn’t also the coach of Team USA.
Each of the 12 countries taking part in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics revealed their first six players Monday. Here’s the complete list of those named for each country.
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