Written Option 1

If he was forced to change his IIHF affiliation, Jaden would want to go to Ireland. That's where his grandfather played and won a gold medal. Jaden would love to try to continue that legacy, especially as Ireland is still a competitive team. Unfortunately, Team USA didn't do very well in the most recent tournament.

The problem is, of course, cracking the roster in Ireland. The defensemen on the team are all very skilled and it's unlikely Jaden would even get third pairing minutes if his eligibility switched. Of course, the same applied in the States, so it's probably a wash.

Ultimately, Tanner will likely stay with the United States, as there isn't much reason to switch other than his grandfather's legacy. That's just not enough to warrant the long, extensive process of getting one's eligibility changed from one nation to the other. He may not crack Team USA's roster in his career, but he can keep hoping.