Since it's quiet in this thread due to the lack of hockey, I was interested in what a 2022 WJC camp roster/team could look like.
A lot can change by this time next year, especially with the uncertain year, and it's challenging to do this without the canceled IIHF U18s, Ivan Hlinka, etc., but here goes nothing.
Forwards (x25):
Carson Bantle
Matthew Beniers
Brett Berard
Thomas Bordeleau
Tyler Boucher
Caden Brown
Matt Coronato
Jack Devine
Tanner Dickinson
Dylan Duke
Alex Gaffney
Cross Hanas
Avery Hayes
Jack Hughes
Justin Janicke
Matthew Knies
Chaz Lucius
Joe Miller
Jack O'Brien
Sasha Pastujov
Mackie Samoskevich
Landon Slaggert
Ty Smilanic
Luke Tuch
Ty Voit
Defense (x15):
Sean Behrens
Noah Ellis
Brock Faber
Aidan Hreschuk
Luke Hughes
Wyatt Kaiser
Hank Kempf
Tyler Kleven
Ian Moore
Scott Morrow
Jack Peart
Eamon Powell
Jake Sanderson
Roman Schmidt
Jacob Truscott
Goalies (x4):
Drew Commesso
Hobie Hedquist
Gibson Homer
Tucker Tynan
Notes:
- Definitely lacks the star power of some prior teams, but that doesn't necessarily mean it won't be a good team. If anything, Team USA has done better when they haven't had a star-studded team at the WJC.
- Skill-wise, this group kind of reminds me of the 2010 WJC team. No superstar forwards, but enough talent that if the right guys step up or the chemistry exists that the talent is there to do well, along with a strong group of defensemen and a good goalie.
- Ironically, our coach this year (Nate Leaman) would likely feel more at home with next year's squad.
- Some other players you could consider:
- Forward: Blake Biondi, Jackson Blake, Ryan Kirwan, Jacob Perreault, Dylan Peterson, Artem Shlaine, Antonio Stranges, Chase Yoder, etc.
- Defense: Tyler Dunbar, Luke Mittelstadt, Bryce Montgomery, Simon Motew, etc.
- Goalie: Noah Grannan, Xavier Medina, etc.
- I'm interested to see how some of the 'toolsy' players (i.e. Montgomery, Motew) that are/were expected to get bigger roles this year do. Is there something there?
- 'Names' like Biondi and Stranges would need to have big years to be in contention and at this point, I don't see that as likely.
- Curious to see if USAH goes hard after Perreault. He'd be hard-pressed to make this year's team, but he'd be a near-lock for next year's iteration.