Why Flyers’ Trevor Zegras should’ve made Team USA’s Olympic roster

On Friday, the United States revealed its roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Initially, we knew that six players were confirmed for the team: Toronto’s Auston Matthews, Florida’s Matt Tkachuk, Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk, Vegas center Jack Eichel, Bruins defender Charlie McAvoy, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes. The rest of the mix was widely speculated and, to some, seemed to be set in stone. But Team USA’s general manager Bill Guerin and his inner circle still had some tough decisions to make. Could Montreal’s Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson make the cut, even though not being part of the team’s orientation camp prior to the regular season starting? Well, we all found out this morning.

Introducing the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team 🇺🇸 #MilanoCortina2026

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— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 2, 2026

Most of the “experts” named a lot of forwards who earned their right to be in the conversation and eventually made the team — including Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, Winnipeg sniper Kyle Connor, Detroit’s Dylan Larkin, and New Jersey’s Jack Hughes. However, a glimpse at National Hockey League’s scoring leaders on Jan. 1 showed that there’s a certain Flyers winger who had more points than Thompson, Larkin, and Hughes. Granted, Hughes missed time due to a freak injury, but Trevor Zegras had more points than those aforementioned players heading into action Thursday night.

So, with a very credible, consistent, highly productive half-season — and distancing himself from the injury-plagued season in Anaheim — was it possible Zegras was even in the mix? He might have been a dark horse, but a look at some basic numbers indicated he should at least be talked about, not virtually ignored regarding an Olympic spot.

The numbers don’t lie

Zegras has 39 points in 39 games, which is a point per game. Anybody believing he’d be capable of that output heading into the season with a new team, a new coach, and a fresh start might have been drinking too much of the Kool-Aid when it came to “Ziggy.” So far he has two game-winning goals and 12 points on the power play. This means that over two-thirds of his production has come at even-strength. Meanwhile, let’s look at a few other statistics prior to Thursday’s games which, while not making an argument that he should’ve been guaranteed a spot, should have at least put him in the mix.

As you can see, Zegras has a greater rate of points per 60 minutes than Gauthier, Tkachuk, Thompson, Guentzel, and Keller — all but the infamous Duck made the roster. The Philadelphia winger (or very sporadic “hybrid” center) has been more effective generating offense (albeit marginally) than some fellow American-born players. And he’s almost three-quarters of a point better than Utah’s Clayton Keller. While these numbers demonstrate the kind of season Zegras has been having, what makes it even more eye-popping is that his minutes are drastically fewer than some of the American players mentioned previously. Take a look.

Zegras has played roughly 115 fewer minutes than Detroit’s Dylan Larkin yet has more points in two fewer games. As well, both Guentzel and Suzuki have played approximately 85 more minutes than the Flyers forward yet have the same or just slightly more points than him. The lone forward who has roughly the same amount of usage is Thompson. But outside of Thompson, some of those possibly heading to Milano/Cortina next month have played a lot more. Yet they all roughly have a lesser or equal output as Zegras does.

So, the numbers made a case for Zegras to some extent. But if Guerin emphasized consistency or production, then perhaps there are a handful of players who are more suitable to wear the USA jersey. After all, Zegras had rather dreadful numbers the last two seasons while looking lost and the odd man out in Anaheim. And nobody is going to argue that Zegras has been an elite-level talent over a substantial amount of seasons. However, not even hinting that he could end up on the roster seemed to be a rather silly omission. Especially considering one very important component that nobody has really addressed just yet.

Shootouts decide Olympic games!

According to the International Ice Hockey Federation official site, the gold medal game will not be decided by a shootout. If it takes four overtimes for the game to be decided, then that’s how long it’ll take. Same as playoff hockey in the spring. What is stated quite clearly is that the quarter-final and semi-final games aren’t decided by sudden death. After one 10-minute overtime session, the game will be decided by a shootout. And regardless of whatever might be said or not said about Zegras, he is the greatest American-born shootout performer in National Hockey League history. And it’s not even close!

Despite missing his last few attempts in Flyer shootouts, Zegras has a 60.7 efficiency (17 for 28). That’s better than Caufield at 46.9 per cent (15 for 32), Matthews at 36.6 per cent (15 for 41), Guentzel at 35.7 per cent (10 for 28), Kyle Connor at 34.8 per cent (8 for 23), Matthew Tkachuk at 34.6 per cent (9 for 26), Thompson at 33.3 per cent (9 for 27), and Larkin at 28.6 per cent (10 for 35). Of course, while it’s difficult to slot one player specifically for a possibility in elimination games, it would be hard to ignore Zegras’s talent when a shootout could be the deciding factor in at least getting to the gold medal game. Having him sitting on the sidelines watching the United States in a shootout to move forward or go home would definitely have armchair quarterbacks fuming. Especially knowing what he’s capable of. But, the decision has already been made. He won’t be there.

Did he even have a shot?

Zegras has had a career filled with some peaks and valleys. He’s no longer the new shiny toy like he once was. Nor does he have the Stanley Cups like Stone and Matt Tkachuk to rest on. Zegras has made the most of a new opportunity and has put together a great first half of 2025-26. But if Guerin judged players more by what transpired in the 4 Nations Face-Off and in the previous few seasons, than the Flyers winger was more of a longshot.

A lot could change between now and the Olympics. Players get injured and replacements could be named. Zegras didn’t have his name on the roster Friday morning. But, he should have at least been on a very, very short list of players knocking on the door. Perhaps a snub like that could be more incentive for him to light the league on fire with an even better second half, which would only help the Flyers hoping to get into the playoffs. A Trevor Zegras with an axe to grind or chip on his shoulder might be even more lethal than the current version Philadelphia has now.

All stats courtesy of Moneypuck.com and NHL.com