Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
After Christmas, a rumour is hitting hard involving Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield.
Nothing is official yet, but it could be about to become so.
The men’s tournament is set to begin on February 11, 2026, in Italy, with the final scheduled for February 22.
In that context, Caufield and Lane Hutson find themselves at the centre of the discussion, because they are both in a grey area.
It quickly becomes a topic, especially when you’re talking about a player who scores goals.
Team USA reportedly chose to turn its back on Cole Caufield, in favour of players like Vincent Trocheck
On the ice, the numbers are hard to ignore.
Caufield has 18 goals and 36 points this season, and he remains one of the Canadiens’ top producers.
Jason Robertson, meanwhile, has 23 goals and 45 points with the Dallas Stars.
Despite that, we’re hearing that decision-makers could indeed prefer a centre like Vincent Trocheck, who has 8 goals and 12 assists for 20 points.
Per The Athletic, conversations with Team USA decision-makers suggest Vincent Trocheck currently has the inside track for the final spot on the 2026 Olympic roster, ahead of Jason Robertson and Cole Caufield.
That’s where the discussion becomes emotional for Montreal.
Caufield is an American, yes, but he’s also a major face of the Montreal Canadiens. He is 24 years old and signed long term, with an average annual value of $7.85 million through the end of the 2030-2031 season.
In the minds of fans, a player of this calibre should not be pushed aside so easily, especially knowing how important this is to him.
It’s incredibly sad to see how little credit Team USA’s decision-makers seem to be giving him. We’ll see what happens, but it’s really not looking good for Caufield.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics