Roster decisions always stir debate, but sometimes arguments turn to regrets that can’t be shaken. Such is the case around Team USA general manager Bill Guerin, who left off Clayton Keller in his Four Nations roster—only to have Keller go out and dominate against his Minnesota Wild club.

In his 6-1 Hockey club win over Minnesota, Keller posted his franchise record and career-high with five points (1G, 4A) in front of Guerin. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Now that Keller is driving Utah to postseason contention, fans have been calling out Team USA for not leaving him off their lineup. Some mock Guerin openly, while others say context matters.

Keller’s star performance and Utah’s push to the playoffs

Keller’s performance was not just an individual feat—it was a turning point in Utah’s bid to make the postseason. The win brought HC (27-24-9) Utah to just two points behind the Western Conference final wild card spot, making Vancouver and Calgary sweat.

The 25-year-old forward has been red-hot since being left off Team USA’s radar, earning eight points (2G, 6A) in his previous four games. Meanwhile, Utah has registered a 6-1-2 mark in nine consecutive home games to turn Delta Center into an authentic home-ice environment. Keller has been leading by example in this revival with his all-round play.

“All four lines are playing with a lot of confidence and we’re getting a lot of chances,” Keller said after the game. “It’s great to see some go in but that doesn’t change the process. Just keep doing the same thing and good things happen.” But while fans in Utah can revel in this streak, fans in red, white, and blue can’t help but wonder—did Guerin overthink things by leaving off one of the NHL’s hottest American shooters in his lineup?

Fans mocking Guerin and praising Keller

The reaction among fans has been strong, with many feeling this was a missed opportunity for Team USA. Some fans could not move past the reasoning behind his non-selection, questioning Guerin’s thought process. One simply wrote, “Bill Guerin left this guy off the roster?? Hope he’s rethinking that one.” This reaction is an indicator that fans increasingly feel Keller’s top-line production would have left an impactful presence in Team USA’s offense.

Another fan couldn’t help but enjoy the irony of the moment, stating, “Revenge is so sweet.” Keller’s explosive performance right after being snubbed made this moment feel even more poetic for fans who believed he deserved a roster spot. His performance felt like a direct response to the snub, and fans couldn’t help but revel in the irony. But not everyone was entirely certain this performance was proof of something.

One fan pointed out the context, saying, “Literally… against the @mnwild B/C team… don’t forget the context of him playing mostly @IAWild guys. So who should he replace, Mr. Monday morning armchair QB?”  This comment creates an argument about whether Keller’s dominance was reflective of his value to Team USA or just an artifact of playing against an inferior lineup.

Meanwhile, others simply watched in admiration as Keller played, with someone commenting, For those who watched him live, his performance was just amazing. One fan described his thrill by commenting, “It was a privilege to see this ass whooping in person.” Aside from debating about Team USA’s decision to leave him off the lineup, Keller’s performance on the ice left fans in awe. It was not just his point count that was thrilling to fans, but his performance statement overall.

Some put things in perspective. Many fans viewed beyond Keller’s snubbing and reminded others that the selection committee had been making questionable selections elsewhere. One wrote: “He passed on 27 goal scorer DeBrincat as well.”  This comment adds to the criticism that team USA’s roster is short on offense, especially after Keller’s recent performance. Is Keller’s snubbing be to blame if Team USA does not perform well in Four Nations?

Keller’s non-selection to Four Nations looks more questionable by the hour. As his American counterparts prepare to compete in just short order now, his continued dominance only reinforces arguments that he should have been included. Whatever his regret is this time, this is certain: Clayton Keller is playing like someone who has something to prove, and his game thus far is saying everything. If Team USA has a stagnant offense in this tournament, those voices calling regret will only get louder.