Team USA benches Kyle Connor ahead of crucial game at the Olympics

The 2026 Olympics was meant to be a massive tournament for the USA, as they look to avenge their loss at the Four Nations Face Off in 2025, with their eyes firmly set on a gold medal in Milano Cortina.

While they haven't been perfect through two games, the team outscored Latvia and Denmark 11-4 as they sit at the top of the group, with their final group stage game taking place on Sunday.

With the team not finding their best form as of yet, many expected some changes ahead of their game against Germany, and now, we officially know what that move will be.

Despite being one of the most consistent performers in the NHL in recent years, Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor has now officially been benched for the United States third game of the tournament, replaced by Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller.

This isn't the first time Connor has been benched, as he struggled at the Four Nations, and even with his team scoring 11 goals through two games, he has zero shots on net, and given how important scoring will be moving forward, that's just not good enough to retain his spot in the lineup.

Now, the United States third line will have Keller, Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson, and if they can find some success against Germany, it may be a permanent move for this tournament.

Ultimately, Connor is an incredible player and has been in the NHL for a long time, but at the international level, he just hasn't found his game in recent years, and as of right now, there's a chance he may not play again in Milano Cortina.