Drunk on World Junior Success, USAHockey goes all out for the WHC in May.
perhaps we'll get a Canada v USA final there. And wouldn't that be terrific.
I'm assuming Calgary/Philly are both make 1st.rd playoff exits.
JOHNNY HOCKEY ® A MATTHEWS B WHEELER
JVR J EICHEL K OKPOSO
B NELSON T JOHNSON K PALMIERI
D LARKIN V TROCHECK P EAVES
M TKACHUK
S GOSTISBEHERE D BYFUGLIEN
J GARDINER J FAULK
N HANNIFIN J TROUBA
K YANDLE
C SCHNEIDER
B BISHOP
C HELLEBUYCK
Here's my guess based on current teams outside the playoffs.
Trying to be as realistic as possible,
Centers:
Auston Matthews
Tyler Johnson
Vincent Trochek
Colin White
Andrew Copp
Matthews is questionable since he played last year, but I'm taking a risk. I think Eichel has zero chance as he'll want to rest his ankle. Johnson and Trochek are repeat players from four years ago so always unlikely, but I'll be optimistic. Probably will end up being some random Finnish leaguer but I'll take my chances with this pick.
Wings
Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee
Derek Ryan
Jack Roslovic
Shane Prince
Christian Dvorak
Clayton Keller
Kyle Connor
Matt Nieto
Palmieri is a risk as a WC alum but hopefully six years has made the heart grow fonder. Anders Lee, played three years so probably a reach. Ryan seems like the perfect guy to pick for this team. Played abroad for numerous years, has never played for USA hockey so he might like the Worlds. Shane Prince, seems like an ideal candidate for this team. Worlds rookie. Dvorak seems a likely choice. Young, impressionable. Willing to endure the indentured servitude of a year at the worlds haha. Kyle Connor seems like a ideal impact prospect that we usually get one of each tournament. Nieto is fast and doesn't have any plans for May. Throw in some gold medal world junior fillers.
Defense
Jake Gardiner
Nick Leddy
Jacob Slavin
Noah Hanifin
Anthony DeAngelo
John Moore
Charlie McAvoy
Jake Gardiner, because why not. Maybe he accepts. He'd be a great addition based on this season. Leddy, too often busy winning stanley cups with chicago, he now has the chance to get his first Worlds in. Slavin is having a decent year, hasn't done his time yet. Get it over with son! Come on Noah, return for another go around. You can be the next Jack Johnson, hey wait why are you not answering my calls anymore? I doubt this pick since he did his time, twice, but I can hope. John Moore, welcome back. Please pleas pretty please?
Goalies
Conor Hellebuyck
Keith Kinkaid
Tyler Parsons
Hellebuyck probably won't go, but I'm going to dream someone kidnaps him and smuggles him unwillingly into the Koln arena. Tyler Parsons gets the honorary participation trophy.