Jackson LaCombe Joins Team USA: Rising Ducks Star Replaces Injured Seth Jones for 2026 Olympics

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe has officially been added to Team USA’s men’s hockey roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after veteran blueliner Seth Jones was ruled out with an upper-body injury. LaCombe, 25, earns the call-up on the strength of a breakout NHL campaign in which he has recorded 31 points (6 goals, 25 assists) through 49 games—all career highs—and logged top-pair minutes in Anaheim’s rebuilt defense corps. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native also captured gold with the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, giving head coach John Hynes confidence in LaCombe’s ability on international ice. Why LaCombe Fits • Mobile, left-shot defender who can transition the puck quickly—key for the wider Olympic sheet. • Quarterbacks Anaheim’s No. 1 power play, posting 13 power-play points this season. • Chemistry with likely Olympic partner Brock Faber from their days at the University of Minnesota. What It Means for Team USA With Jones sidelined, the Americans lose a 25-minute workhorse but gain youthful legs and an offensive catalyst. Expect LaCombe to slot into the second pairing and the second power-play unit, allowing Charlie McAvoy and Zach Werenski to stay in their current roles. The U.S. hasn’t won Olympic gold since 1980; management believes LaCombe’s puck-moving upside can tilt possession in tight elimination games. Road to Milano Cortina Team USA opens Group C play against Latvia on 12 February, followed by Denmark (14 Feb) and Germany (15 Feb). A top-seeded finish guarantees a bye to the quarter-finals, making early cohesion on the blue line critical. LaCombe’s Quick Bio • Drafted 39th overall by Anaheim in 2019. • 197 NHL games, 22 goals, 69 assists. • NCAA national champion with Minnesota in 2023. • Won gold at 2025 Worlds, registering 5 points in 10 games. Fantasy & Betting Angle LaCombe’s Olympic spotlight could spike his fantasy ownership and Norris-Trophy dark-horse chatter. Bettors eyeing Team USA futures should note that the club’s transition game—already among the tournament’s fastest—just added another gear. Bottom Line Jackson LaCombe’s ascent from college standout to Olympic defenseman completes a rapid rise that reinforces Team USA’s generational shift on the blue line. If his NHL trajectory is any indication, American fans may soon view the late-January roster change as a blessing in disguise.