Team USA will have its full 25-man Olympic roster nailed down in just over a week, with final decisions needed ahead of the December 31 deadline. One former Olympian, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, appears unlikely to be a part of the team.
According to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, Carlson, a veteran of the 2014 Sochi-based tournament, has not been part of the mandatory pre-Olympic drug testing that candidates for the roster have been subjected to over the past few months. Carlson’s non-involvement in the rounds of testing almost certainly means he won’t be making his way to Italy in February.
The decision comes despite Carlson’s experience at both the junior and senior national team levels with the US, a point highlighted by a former Capitals and Team USA teammate, TJ Oshie.
“I think this is a mistake,” Oshie tweeted Tuesday. “74 would be on my roster in Milan no question. Also, doesn’t he have a gold medal OT goal… against Canada in World Juniors…”
Carlson likely anticipated his snubbing, as USA general manager Bill Guerin did not choose the 35-year-old rearguard to play at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and he was not one of 44 players selected to attend Team USA’s orientation camp this past August. While Carlson wasn’t selected, 16 other American-born defenders participated in the camp.
With roster size considerations, Team USA is likely set to bring eight defensemen to Milan. The projected depth chart, informed by recent reporting from The Athletic’s Michael Russo, likely looks like this.
Projected Team USA defense at 2026 Winter Olympics
Carlson, who scored his eighth goal of the season on Tuesday night, has 29 points in 33 games for the Capitals this season. Among all American defenders, he ranks third in scoring, behind just Zach Werenski (40) and Lane Hutson (32).
The Capitals’ alternate captain is averaging 22:39 of ice time per game and plays at all strengths for the Caps. With Carlson on the ice five-on-five, the Capitals have also owned 57.3 percent of shot attempts, 54 percent of expected goals, 54.4 percent of scoring chances, and 52 percent of high-danger chances.
Carlson is the active scoring leader among all American defensemen with 754 career points (164g, 590a) and ranks fifth all-time, leaping over Mathieu Schneider (743) earlier this season.
