SUMMARY
- Jeremy Swayman Olympic debut comes during a back to back group stage stretch
- Coach Mike Sullivan managing workload across three NHL caliber goaltenders
- Decision could influence Team USA seeding entering knockout rounds
MILAN — Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan said Friday that Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman will make his Olympic debut against Denmark on Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics, replacing Connor Hellebuyck after the Winnipeg Jets netminder opened the tournament with a win over Latvia.
Sullivan said the decision balances performance and recovery as the Americans pursue group stage control in Milan.
Hellebuyck stopped 17 of 18 shots in a 5-1 victory over Latvia, while forwards Brock Nelson, Auston Matthews and Tage Thompson powered the offense.
Swayman, in his sixth NHL season with Boston, enters with a .903 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average this year.
His international résumé includes backstopping the United States to gold at the 2023 IIHF World Championship with a 7-0-0 record.
“We believe in all three goaltenders,” Sullivan said. “Jeremy has earned this opportunity.”
USA Hockey general manager Bill Guerin said depth at the position allows strategic flexibility. “Tournament play demands smart rotation,” Guerin said.
Hockey analyst John Buccigross of ESPN said Olympic back to backs test depth more than NHL schedules. “Fresh legs in net can change momentum,” he said.
The United States faces Germany on Sunday, and Sullivan did not rule out using Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger.
Denmark, seeking its first Olympic semifinal appearance, has emphasized net front traffic and special teams.
The Jeremy Swayman Olympic debut marks a calculated shift rather than a reaction to performance. With medal contention hinging on consistency, the Americans’ goaltending rotation will remain central as the tournament advances.
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