The excitement is building for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, as NHL players are set to return to the world’s biggest stage for the first time since 2014. The stakes are high for Team USA, and the message from their leadership is clear: it’s time to bring home the gold.
Leading the charge for the American squad is General Manager Bill Guerin, who is pulling no punches. In a recent interview, he made it abundantly clear that anything less than a gold medal would be a disappointment. “We have to win,” Guerin stated. “We just have to find a way.” The U.S. last won a major best-on-best international tournament in 1996—a victory Guerin was a part of as a player. Now, he’s looking to build on the momentum from a successful World Championship win in May and the experience gained during the recent 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
The New Jersey Devils have a significant presence in the Team USA leadership and roster. Devils forward Jack Hughes was a key selection for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, a promising sign for his inclusion on the final Olympic roster. Additionally, Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald was named an Assistant GM for Team USA, and equipment manager Chris Scoppetto joined the team’s support staff, highlighting the respect the Devils organization commands at the international level.
The preliminary roster for Team USA already features some of the game’s brightest stars, including Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady. Each of these players participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off, where they gained valuable experience against top-tier competition. Guerin, however, emphasized that the Olympic team selection process is far from over. He’s focused on finding the right “fit” and “role” for each player, not just those with the highest point totals.
“The game is so good right now,” Guerin explained, noting the slim margin for error in best-on-best competition. The 4 Nations tournament provided a crucial proving ground, but the Olympics will present new challenges. “We just need our players to buy in and assume roles and play a team game,” he said. The process of building that team is underway, and with key Devils personnel involved, fans in New Jersey have an extra reason to follow Team USA’s journey to Olympic glory.
Devils Representing Their Nations on the World Stage
The New Jersey Devils’ presence in the upcoming Winter Olympics extends far beyond just Team USA. A number of Devils players have already been named to preliminary rosters for their respective home countries, showcasing the organization’s diverse talent pool. The return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 is a huge opportunity for these athletes to shine on a global stage.
Devils Players on Preliminary Olympic Rosters (2026 Winter Olympics)
As of early August 2025, the following Devils players have been named to their national teams’ preliminary rosters:
- Switzerland: Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jonas Siegenthaler
- Czechia: Ondrej Palat
- Slovakia: Simon Nemec
In addition to these confirmed selections, several other Devils are considered strong contenders to make their national teams, though official rosters are not yet finalized. These players are on the cusp of an Olympic opportunity:
- Sweden: Jesper Bratt, Jacob Markström
- USA: Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes
While Jack Hughes is a lock for Team USA, his younger brother Luke, a rising star on the Devils’ blueline, will face stiff competition for a spot on a stacked American defense corps. Regardless of who makes the final cut, the sheer number of Devils players involved highlights the team’s growing international prominence.
Could Cody Glass Be the Key to Unlocking Nico Hischier’s Offensive Potential?
New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier is known for his relentless, two-way game. He’s an elite, all-situations player who consistently matches up against the NHL’s top talent night after night. But what if there was a way to lighten his defensive burden, allowing his already-strong offensive game to reach new heights? This is where forward Cody Glass could be a difference-maker for the Devils.
Hischier’s ice time has steadily climbed, reaching a new career high this past season. He’s a staple on both the power play and penalty kill, and at even strength, he’s tasked with shutting down superstars like Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon. While his production has been outstanding—he recently set a career-high with 35 goals—one has to wonder what he could accomplish with a few more shifts against lesser competition.
Enter Cody Glass, a former top-10 draft pick who has developed into one of the league’s most underrated defensive forwards. While his offensive numbers haven’t translated to the pros as initially hoped, his defensive metrics are elite. According to various analytics models, Glass ranks among the top forwards in the NHL for limiting opposing scoring chances and expected goals. His defensive prowess is undeniable, even if a lot of his time has been spent against non-elite competition.
The question for head coach Sheldon Keefe is whether he will trust Glass to take on some of the toughest defensive assignments, thereby freeing up Hischier. So far, the evidence is limited. During his time with the Devils last season, Keefe continued to lean on Hischier as his primary shutdown center. However, Glass did perform exceptionally well in a small sample size against Sidney Crosby’s line, proving he can handle the challenge.
The upcoming season could be the perfect time for Keefe to experiment. By giving Glass a shot at a more significant defensive role, the team could unlock a new dimension in its offense. If Hischier and his line, which often includes Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer, were to spend more time against third and fourth lines, their offensive production could skyrocket. This calculated risk could be the strategic move that helps the Devils compete for a championship. If it works, the Devils will have found a creative solution to boost their scoring without relying solely on new additions.
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