Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin Ready for Olympic Spotlight as Team USA and Sweden Gear Up in Italy
With the puck set to drop on the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament later this week, Team USA and Sweden are finalizing their lines-and two Buffalo Sabres are right in the thick of it.
At Team USA’s Monday practice in Italy, Tage Thompson was skating on the right wing alongside Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin and Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor. That trio gives the Americans a blend of speed, skill, and shooting ability, with Thompson expected to be the trigger man. He’s shown time and again in Buffalo that he can finish from just about anywhere in the offensive zone, and with Larkin’s pace and Connor’s vision, this line could be a handful for opposing defenses.
The Americans open their Olympic campaign Thursday against Latvia, while Canada takes on Czechia. The tournament kicks off earlier that day with Slovakia facing Finland and host nation Italy taking on Sweden.
Speaking of Sweden, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is also expected to play a major role for his national team. At practice, Dahlin was paired with longtime Tampa Bay Lightning star Victor Hedman on Sweden’s top defensive unit.
Dahlin skated on his offside-a role he’s grown increasingly comfortable with this season in Buffalo alongside Mattias Samuelsson. That flexibility gives Sweden another layer of versatility on the blue line, and pairing Dahlin’s dynamic puck-moving game with Hedman’s experience and poise is a clear signal Sweden plans to control tempo from the back end.
Dahlin, along with Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, is projected to quarterback Sweden’s power play. Both are elite puck carriers who can dictate the rhythm of a game, and with Hedman just returning from an elbow injury, it’s likely Dahlin and Karlsson will shoulder the bulk of the offensive responsibilities from the back.
Ex-Sabres Spread Across the Olympic Ice
There’s no shortage of familiar faces for Sabres fans in this year’s Olympic field. Jack Eichel is centering Team USA’s top line between brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk-a high-octane trio that brings grit, skill, and plenty of edge.
Meanwhile, Sam Reinhart is skating on Canada’s third line alongside his Florida Panthers teammate Brad Marchand and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. That’s a group that could easily be a top line on most teams, giving Canada enviable depth.
Finland’s roster also features a heavy Sabres connection. Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Henri Jokiharju are both in the fold, along with winger Joel Armia.
Ristolainen has been paired with Florida’s Niko Mikkola, while Jokiharju is skating with Utah Mammoth veteran Olli Maatta. Armia is slotted on the fourth line with Seattle’s Eeli Tolvanen and Nashville’s Erik Haula-a line that could be sneaky effective in a checking role.
Over in Latvia’s camp, Tampa Bay’s Zemgus Girgensons is centering the top line with Florida’s Sandis Vilmanis and Vancouver’s Teddy Blueger. Girgensons has long been a heart-and-soul type player, and he’ll be leaned on for leadership and two-way play in a top-line role.
Germany’s top line includes Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, Ottawa’s Tim Stützle, and former Sabre JJ Peterka-a dynamic trio with plenty of offensive punch. Another ex-Sabre, Dominik Kahun, is skating on Germany’s fourth line with DEL wingers Alexander Ehl and Frederik Tiffels.
Team USA’s Roster Decisions Raise Eyebrows
One of the bigger storylines heading into the tournament is the makeup of Team USA’s roster. Notably absent are Cole Caufield and Jason Robertson-two of the NHL’s more dangerous young scorers.
Instead, the Americans opted for a more defensively responsible group of forwards, including Brock Nelson, Vincent Trocheck, and JT Miller. That decision puts added pressure on players like Thompson to carry the scoring load, especially after the U.S. came up short at the Four Nations Face-Off.
That tournament saw the Americans hampered by injuries to key players, including Charlie McAvoy and both Tkachuk brothers.
Now, with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes returning from recent injuries, Team USA is hoping to find its rhythm quickly. Chemistry will be key, and Thompson’s ability to adapt and finish could be a difference-maker early in the tournament.
As the Olympic stage sets in Milano Cortina, the spotlight is squarely on these NHL stars wearing their country’s colors. For Thompson and Dahlin, it’s not just about representing their nations-it’s about showing the hockey world they belong among the game’s elite.