Montreal Canadiens star blue liner Lane Hutson was arguably the most notable snub from Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Olympics in Milano-Cortina. The reigning Calder Trophy winner was passed over in favor of other blue liners.
Plenty of questions emerged regarding why the Team USA management would not at least invite Hutson to its player orientation camp to be held later this month.
However, a new report from Marco D’Amico from RG Media published on August 23 revealed the reasons behind Lane Hutson’s snub.
According to D’Amico, Team USA management passed on Hutson due to his reluctance to participate in this year’s World Championships. An anonymous source confirmed to D’Amico that Lane Hutson’s snub was indeed due to his unwillingness to take part in Team USA’s first gold medal at the World Championships since 1933.
The source told D’Amico:
“He didn’t go to the World Championships; that’s the first part and that matters. I know that for both Canada and the United States, that weighs heavily on the decision-making because they have such deep talent pools. One could argue that they could both put together two squads and still compete for gold.”
Instead, Jackson Lacombe, Brady Skjei, and Alex Vlasic earned invites to Team USA’s camp as they were on the American squad that won gold in May.
Similarly, Frank Nazar, with all of 56 games of NHL experience, was invited to the camp. He was also on the American squad back in May.
Lane Hutson Still Has a Chance to Make the Team
The decision to exclude Lane Hutson at this point is not final. The orientation camp is not like a traditional training camp. There will be no on-ice drills, and no players will be cut from the team.
The final roster decision will come down to each player’s participation on the ice during the NHL season. Plus, injuries could also play a factor in deciding who makes the team and who doesn’t. As a result, Hutson could still make the team.
But if D’Amico’s source is to be believed, and it should be, Lane Hutson could be out of luck. Both the United States and Canada prioritize players who were willing to play for their countries at the World Championships.
Hutson Not Only Canadiens Star Snubbed for Lack of Showing at World Championships
Lane Hutson’s snub is not the only time a Canadiens player has been snubbed for a lack of participation at the World Championships. As D’Amico outlined, Habs captain Nick Suzuki was left off Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster due to his unwillingness to participate at the World Championships.
While the World Championships are not a premier event in North America, but they are around the world. It’s also a way for players from non-playoff teams to show their commitment to their home country. For instance, Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares joined Team Canada after the his team was eliminated from the playoffs.
Other players confirm their participation as soon as their teams are officially eliminated from playoff contention. In a way, it’s like paying one’s dues. So, it seems Team USA feels Lane Hutson, like Nick Suzuki with Canada, has not paid his.
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