Not One, But Two Maple Leafs Invited to Team USA's Olympic Orientation Camp

USA Hockey has officially announced the roster for its men's Olympic orientation camp, and two Toronto Maple Leafs have made the cut: Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.

For Matthews, the invitation comes as no surprise. The Leafs' franchise center has long been the face of American hockey, taking the reins from Patrick Kane, and will certainly play a leading role at the 2026 Winter Games. He captained Team USA at the recent Four Nations Faceoff and is a strong candidate to wear the "C" again on the Olympic stage.

Even in what was considered a down year, Matthews still produced at an elite level. Just one season earlier, he scored a monumental 69 goals and 107 points in 2024, a feat almost unheard of in the modern NHL. His combination of two-way play, size, and obvious scoring ability makes him a lock for Team USA's top line.

The only standing question from the Maple Leafs captain is his health. Since he fought injury this past year, the Maple Leafs may ask him to stay if not 100% healthy. And I wouldn't blame them. A player this important to your franchise getting injured at a tournament, that to the franchise doesn't matter, would be a real and detrimental issue.

Knies, on the other hand, is still fighting to prove himself, but his invitation signals how highly USA Hockey views his potential. The 22-year-old winger broke out with 29 goals and 58 points in 78 games last season, establishing himself as a power forward with a rare skillset. His ability to create offense from difficult situations, push play forward, and score timely goals makes him a valuable candidate.

While Knies may not secure a full-time spot immediately, he could earn a reserve role, and with a strong camp and hot start to the NHL season, there's a very good chance he actually cracks the Olympic roster. His clutch playoff performances for Toronto at such a young age only strengthen his case.

For Leafs fans, the possibility of seeing both Matthews and Knies represent the United States on the world stage is an exciting glimpse of their growth and an important step for the franchise, who appear strong in the player development department.