New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics. He’s looking to make an impact for Team USA on their journey to their first gold medal since 1980. While teams like Nico Hischier’s Switzerland and Jesper Bratt/Jacob Markstrom’s Sweden should put up a fight, this battle for the gold medal is likely coming down to Canada and the U.S.
There are a few games that have to happen before we get there. The U.S. and Canada are leading different groups, and they won’t face off until we get to the knockout round. It’s expected that Canada and the United States are going to easily win their groups, giving them a bye to the quarterfinals.
There are three games, two against very easy opponents, for the Americans to really understand the chemistry that makes the best lineup. The lines we see on Monday, February 9th aren’t going to be the lines we see in the medal round. Things will change, and guys will step up. We’re looking at a lineup full of stars.
However, it is significant to see where Jack Hughes ends up in this lineup. For one, he’s being played out of position, adding him on the wing (where he wasn’t his best self throughout this season). He did this at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he did it in the top six.
In this first lineup, he’s not in the top six. So, we knew he was fighting for one of the bottom-six forward spots, and on Monday, it was revealed where Hughes is ending up, at least at first.
This is what @Sportsnetkyle saw at Team USA practice
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 9, 2026
Tkachuk/Eichel/Tkachuk
Guentzel/Matthews/Boldy
Connor/Larkin/Thompson
Miller/Nelson/Hughes
Trocheck some rotating with Nelson
Keller
Hughes/McAvoy
Slavin/Faber
Sanderson/Werenski
LaCombe/Hanifin
Hellebuyck in own net pic.twitter.com/3RnTxD5KD5
Hughes is getting time with Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson and New York Rangers center J.T. Miller. This is essentially three centers on a line playing alongside each other. Vincent Trochek is also in the lineup (teams can dress a 13th forward in the Olympics), which makes four centers in the bottom of the lineup.
Honestly, if we see the Hughes that we’ve seen since he returned from injury in December, then this is where he deserves to be. He’s scored two goals since returning to the lineup. What did we expect?
However, we do think Hughes will be as healthy now as he’s been since hurting his hand in November. We are likely going to see the old Jack Hughes. If that’s the case, we think there’s a shot that Hughes switches places with Matthew Boldy near the top of the lineup.