USA’s Jackson LaCombe to replace Seth Jones on U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team

USA Hockey announced Wednesday that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe will replace Florida Panthers’ blueliner Seth Jones on the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team.

Jones has been out since Jan. 2 when he left the 2026 NHL Winter Classic against the New York Rangers early in the first period after taking a deflected shot in the neck area.

LaCombe, 25, has six goals and 25 assists for 31 points, averaging 24:26 of ice time in 49 games with the Ducks in 2025-26. The left-handed defender set career highs last season with 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points in 75 games.

Now in his third full NHL campaign, the Eden Prairie, Minn., native has 22 goals and 69 assists for 91 points in 197 career regular-season games.

As for Jones, 31, he leads all Florida defenders in every offensive category with six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 40 games. Now in his 13th NHL season, Jones has 105 goals and 360 assists for 465 points in 900 career regular-season games with Florida, the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators.

He’s also played in 60 career playoff games, where he’s recorded nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points. Jones was part of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup championship last season, where he scored four goals and five assists for nine points. It was the first Stanley Cup of his career.

USA Hockey GM Bill Guerin announced the 2026 Olympic men’s roster Jan. 2. The group is led by Auston Matthews, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, and Jack Eichel up front. Meanwhile, Quinn Hughes, Jaccob Slavin and Zach Werenski will anchor the blueline.