Welcome to this edition of NHL rumours here are Last Word On Hockey. In this edition, the chatter focuses on Rangers blueliner Adam Fox and his role, or lack thereof, on Team USA’s Olympic roster. With the American squad’s 25 names dropping on Friday, there’s plenty of speculation regarding the names absent from the list. So, let’s get down to business.
NHL Rumours: Team USA GM Bill Guerin Made Call to Leave Fox off Team USA roster
Rumour: Rangers defenceman Adam Fox did not make Team USA’s roster on Friday. It wasn’t an overly surprising move, as NHL rumours had suggested he would not make it. However, it was general manager Bill Guerin who made the call to keep the former Norris Trophy winner off the lineup. Despite Fox and the Rangers’ coaching staff pleading his case, Fox did not make it.
Analysis: Leaving Fox off the Olympic roster is not totally out of the blue. It’s evident that Fox has not been playing up to his usual standards. Plus, his recent upper-body injury may have called his effectiveness into question.
However, it was this tweet by Rangers’ beat reporter Peter Baugh that shed even more light on the situation.
Adam Fox said Bill Guerin called him yesterday to tell him he wasn’t on Team USA for the Olympics.
“I thought my play this year was worthy of it and my track record as well, but it’s out of my hands at a certain point.”
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) January 1, 2026
Therefore, it seems that the NHL rumours were right insofar as this decision was Guerin’s call. As Emily Kaplan of ESPN had reported, Team USA and Rangers coach Mike Sullivan pushed for Fox to be on the squad.
Adam Fox did not make the U.S. Olympic team. Heard New York Rangers personnel involved with Team USA – GM Chris Drury, coach Mike Sullivan, assistant David Quinn – all pushed very hard for Fox, but they understood the decision especially given depth USA has on D.
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) December 31, 2025
However, Sullivan and his team were unsuccessful in swaying Guerin from leaving Fox off the team. It seems Fox’s pleading his own case went to avail. Despite Fox feeling he was worthy of an opportunity, he won’t be getting it this time around.
As other NHL rumours had posited, Florida Panthers defenceman Seth Jones took Fox’s place on Team USA’s roster. The Florida Panthers blueliner was not on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster. But his role at this spring’s IIHF World Hockey Championships likely catapulted him to a spot on the Olympic squad. You never know when a little extra effort will be rewarded.
Fox’s Mistake Cost Him Spot on US Olympic Team
Michael Russo in The Athletic noted that it was Fox’s critical mistake on the play that led to the game-winner at the 4 Nations that sealed his fate. Russo wrote the following on the matter:
“But in the end, the U.S. felt pace of play was an issue for Fox at the 4 Nations and his mistakes on Connor McDavid’s championship-winning goal in overtime were embedded in their brain.”
Indeed, the face of play at the Olympics should be at the same level as the NHL game. Despite NHL rumours suggesting the Olympic arena will be smaller than the standard NHL surface, the action should be equally challenging as regular games.
That situation could have prompted Team USA to make good on the prevailing NHL rumours. Guerin and other team members felt someone like Seth Jones gave the US a better shot at beating Canada than Fox.
Ultimately, Canada and the United States seem to be on a collision course. Whether that will be in the final game or before remains unclear. One thing is certain, Canada has loaded up on a lineup built for tough, tight-checking games. So, that could also be an indication as to why Jones was the choice and not Fox.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports