Tage Thompson is a virtual lock to represent the United States again at the 2028 World Cup of Hockey after a standout showing throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics, but one of his Buffalo Sabres teammates may join him on the U.S. squad.
Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report projected Sabres winger Josh Doan will make the next major Team USA roster as a versatile weapon for the fourth line, which could see a makeover with the Anaheim Ducks' Cutter Gauthier also forecast to make the cut in two years.
"Gauthier and Doan both play on their toes, get in on the forecheck, and aren't afraid to use their bodies to make a play at either end of the ice," Yerdon wrote. "Both players are having incredible seasons in the NHL, and their careers are on an upward trajectory."
Doan has recorded 39 points (18 goals and 21 assists) across 57 appearances during his first year in Buffalo. He was acquired in the blockbuster JJ Peterka trade with the Utah Mammoth over the summer and already earned a seven-year, $48.65 million contract extension.
The World Cup of Hockey, which was previously contested in 1996, 2004 and 2016, is expected to become a pillar event held every four years (similar to the soccer World Cup) starting in 2028.
Buffalo Sabres' Josh Doan will have to earn his spot in the international spotlight
Although Doan deserves the increased level of recognition amid a breakout campaign, making Team USA is an incredibly difficult task.
Thompson learned that the hard way when he was snubbed from the Americans' 4 Nations Face-Off roster in 2025.
The Sabres cornerstone proceeded to earn his way on the Olympic squad. Not only did he remain one of the NHL's most lethal offensive threats, but he played for the U.S. in the 2025 IIHF World Championship, scoring the gold medal-winning goal in overtime of the tournament final.
Players often decide to skip the World Championship, which occurs during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, because it happens at the end of a long NHL season. That said, Thompson's play in the event likely solidified his spot on the plane to Italy for the Winter Games.
Doan may attempt to follow a similar path, barring a deep postseason run by the Sabres. Getting a chance to playing in the next two World Championship tournaments would help him build relationships within USA Hockey and show he can make an impact at the international level.
The Americans have shown they're keen on bringing two-way forwards to major events, which is why the likes of J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck were selected over high-scoring wingers such as Jason Robertson and Cole Caufield en route to winning gold in Milano Cortina.
Doan, a 24-year-old Arizona native, is capable of filling that fourth-line assignment perfectly. He can hold his own defensively, forecheck relentlessly and chip in enough scoring to provide all-around value if ultimately selected by Team USA.
That said, 2028 is still two years away and a lot can change. The 6-foot-1 winger must prove his breakthrough season with the Sabres is a sign of things to come and not a one-year uptick.
Doan is on the right path toward eventually donning the red, white and blue, though.