USA Hockey shoots down 4 Nations as reason for Adam Fox Olympics snub

MIAMI — Adam Fox’s Olympic snub became official Friday morning when USA Hockey unveiled its official 25-man roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. 

The news had been broken to the Rangers’ No. 1 defenseman by Team USA general manager Bill Guerin on Wednesday.

It was a decision that sent shock waves through the National Hockey League, but also wasn’t completely unexpected since widespread talk began after Fox’s participation in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last season. 

Guerin, like Canada GM Bill Armstrong, asserted that he wouldn’t comment on why certain players didn’t make the team. 

When specifically asked about the perception that the way Fox played Connor McDavid’s overtime winner in the 4 Nations championship game heavily factored into his decision, the Wild general manager shot down the notion. 

“Well, I think it’s exactly that: It’s perception,” Guerin said sharply in a Zoom call with reporters Friday morning. “And you know what? That’s for you guys to wrestle with and talk about. That’s not for us. If you think we made a decision on one play, then you must not think we’re very smart. Other than that, I’m going to keep those conversations private. Our decision was made, and we’re moving forward.” 

That specific play, in which Fox was caught chasing the play and Auston Matthews veered out of position, may not have been the sole reason.

There has been belief, however, that the 27-year-old’s tournament performance as a whole put Team USA off. 

Talk of him getting exposed in the NHL’s first taste of international competition since 2014 ran rampant around the league. 

It is still inherently risky to leave the most astute American defenseman off your best-on-best roster.

Fox is only one of two players from Team USA’s 4 Nations roster to be swapped out, joining ex-Rangers teammate Chris Kreider. 

The decision could very well come back to haunt USA Hockey. 

Fox said he didn’t necessarily have any expectations, but he defended his body of work in the NHL. 

“I thought my play this year was worthy of it,” he said after the Rangers practiced at loanDepot park on Thursday. “Track record as well. It’s out of my hands at a certain point. The decision is the decision. I guess that’s how it goes.” 

Head coach Mike Sullivan, assistant coach David Quinn and president and general manager Chris Drury all pushed hard for Fox to be included.

Of course they did.

Fox was one of the Rangers’ most consistent skaters before he suffered a shoulder injury and was sidelined for 14 games. 

At the end of the day, Guerin has the final say. Perhaps that says more about other organizations’ perception of Fox and the Rangers than the team would like. 

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Canada head coach Jon Cooper was presumably able to help convince Armstrong to take the Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli over, say, the Panthers’ Sam Bennett. 

Sullivan, Quinn and Drury were evidently not able to sell Fox to Guerin. 

“Adam and I have had a number of conversations around this, and I will keep that conversation between Adam and I,” Sullivan said. “What I will tell you is these teams that are being picked are the best of the best. And there’s so many good players and there are very, very difficult decisions that have to be made. It is a collaborative effort on everybody’s part. And that’s just the reality of the circumstances. 

“We’ll do our very best to be as professional and straightforward as we can be with everyone that’s involved. But Foxy and I have had a number of conversations, and I’ll keep those between us.”