Team USA “coaches may riot” if Brock Nelson not named to Olympic roster

As the NHL heads into Christmas, the downtime allows pundits to figure out how the rosters for the 2026 Olympics will take shape.

One particular team, the United States, is overflowing at the brim with talent. The American squad could easily ice two separate teams and still compete for gold. Alas, only one squad will hit the ice in Milano-Cortina. And that makes roster spots scarcer than original Picasso paintings.

The usual suspects include players like Quinn Hughes, Jack Eichel, and Auston Matthews. But one player who SHOULD be on the roster is Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson.

Nelson was on the Team USA squad for the 4 Nations Face-Off while still a member of the New York Islanders. He played very well in a middle-six role. In many ways, he was like the responsible adult among a bunch of raucous teenagers.

The Avalanche center’s candidacy for Milano-Cortina is so important that Michael Russo of The Athletic wrote the following in a December 23 piece:

“Guerin has insisted that you have to be able to check and be trusted in defensive situations if you’re going to make this team. It’s not an All-Star team. The coaches may riot if Nelson’s not a part of it. That’s how much he’s respected by the staff of Sullivan, John Hynes, John Tortorella and David Quinn.”

Interestingly, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin is also the GM for Team USA. And Nelson has not gone unnoticed. In fact, the Avalanche’s 5-1 win over the Wild last week put Nelson firmly on the map.

Russo added the following:

“Nelson scored a goal and two assists and did all those little things that Guerin and the coaching staff, led by Mike Sullivan, value during Sunday night’s 5-1 Colorado Avalanche win over the Wild.”

Yes, Brock Nelson is a direct competitor of Guerin and the Wild. But this isn’t NHL business. It’s a matter of national pride. Nelson gives the Americans the best chance to win a gold medal. So, it doesn’t matter how much Nelson and the Avalanche torched them on the ice. What matters is having the pieces to take their first Olympic gold medal since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

Nelson with one eye on Olympics during win over Wild

Brock Nelson had two particular objectives during the last meeting between the Avalanche and Wild. One was to defeat the Wild. That Nelson and the Avalanche did. They skated into the Xcel Energy Center and left with two points on the back of a 5-1 win.

The second objective was to make a lasting impression on Bill Guerin. Double check. Nelson ended the night with a goal and two assists in nearly 18 minutes of ice time. He skated in 21 shifts and racked up two shots on goal.

Nelson’s offensive performance was as impressive with the puck as without it. That’s why Guerin left with the sting of the loss and the certitude that the 34-year-old can hang with the best.

After the game, Nelson admitted that he had his Team USA audition in the back of his mind. He told The Athletic:

“I mean, Billy’s a great guy and he’s got a big job ahead of him, a tough one. I want to be there, but whoever ends up going over there, the Americans, I feel like we have a deep squad and can win gold.”

Guerin will be hard-pressed to find anyone better than Brock Nelson at this point. Sure, there are flashier scorers out there. But having a solid, two-way center who can play 16 to 18 minutes and avert disaster is virtually impossible to find.

Team USA has one in Brock Nelson. So, it should be no surprise to see his name inscribed for the 2026 Olympics.