Today Team USA announced an initial shortlist of players invited to orientation camp for consideration to be included on the squad that represents them in the 2026 Winter Olympics or Milano Cortina 2026, and the list includes many names that will make Rangers fans happy. Mike Sullivan and Chris Drury are already in line to represent the team as part of the overall Team USA brain trust, but fans want to see their guys take the ice with a chance to capture Olympic gold for the first time since 1980 at Lake Placid.
Introducing the 44 players who will attend the U.S. Men's Olympic Orientation Camp 🇺🇸
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 19, 2025
Details: https://t.co/lWC0ZT1AJc pic.twitter.com/16FT49FRgP
Current Rangers who got an invite
In the least surprising news, the current Blueshirts who have landed an invite include Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck. Off this group, odds are Fox and Miller are near locks to make this team in some capacity given their overall abilities and the roles they hold.
Despite what has been written in recent weeks, Fox is one of the best defenders in the NHL. Team USA would be wise not to have him in the fold, because if there were to be an injury and Fox weren't at least round as an alternate, there would be a lot of criticism to be faced by the management group.
Miller is a top-six center who very likely could end up in the bottom six, and that's an area where he can thrive. He has the ability to play a gritty and grimy game, and the fact he can do that while also being a top-end offensive threat would add another dimension to Team USA.
Trocheck is a talented player who could get pushed out by the overall numbers game. When you consider someone like Tage Thompson was excluded from the squad that went to the 4 Nations Face-Off, and lost, you can start to see how the Rangers' alternate captain could end up on the outside looking in.
Former Rangers in consideration
In addition to players currently sporting a Rangers' sweater, Team USA invited former Rangers that include Chris Kreider and Patrick Kane upfront, and Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei, and Neal Pionk on the blue line.
Of this group, I would expect Kane and McDonagh to get the most consideration. The forward group is very deep for Team USA, but Kane has a long history with Team USA and this may very well be his last chance to earn an Olympic gold medal. McDonagh is still a steady left-handed defenseman, and his experience could get him a look over some of the younger options invited to camp.