WJC: 2025 Team USA Roster Talk

[AmericanDream]

As long as you tell Blackhawk fans he's destined to be a top 6 NHL center you're safe.

Excuseeeee me??? Moore and Nazar will lead us back to glory, how dare you sir..lol

 

[AmericanDream]

From the board's resident flag carrying Alex Vlasic hater throughout his prospect days, will take it all in stride and see how it all plays out.

There is no way on Earth you were lower on him than Musto was lol...

Kudos to the kid to go from being a huge shiny pylon to a dominant force on the ice in the matter of 2 years.

 

[MNRube]

Perreault-Nelson-Leonard
Stiga-Hagens-Eiserman
Ziemer-Moore-Svoboda

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Perreault-Nelson-Leonard
Stiga-Hagens-Eiserman
Ziemer-Moore-Svoboda

Not bad.

Hagens has the best chance of getting Eiserman going, and Nelson's play has been a pleasant surprise.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Staff needs to reward the guys who are playing with fire in their asses. Find more ice for guys like Stiga, Ziemer, Nelson, etc. and make an example of the guys playing the wrong way like Eiserman, Connelly, etc.

I agree about all of them, but Nelson was killing us today losing every draw on the PK. He needs to be responsible for part of why some of these PK's were so ineffective today.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't think Leonard is anywhere near the issue some are saying. He is what he is. He's not a driver. He's doing okay, and his line created a lot today. Puck doesn't go in the net every game. We can't rely solely on one line to score every single game. You have to be able to win without that line scoring. Also, we really complaining about his facial expressions or something?

Augustine definitely hasn't been good enough. He was better today than against Germany and he started terribly today and got a lot better as the game went on. I don't even think we got out-goalied today and the Finnish goaltender is arguably the second best guy in the tournament, but we need more from him. Today was a little better, but it's still not enough. No way you bench him. He has the net all tournament. You win and lose with your best players.

The player really disappointing me is Buium. He's been really weak all tournament so far. I feel a lot of the PP struggles are him (a large part is also Burnevik). He's played nowhere near as well as you need out of your best defenseman. Hutson has created a lot more offensively, and Buium has had his faults too defensively. He simply has to be a lot better. The rest of our defense isn't good enough for him not to be.

The overall team defense sucks. We knew a lot of these guys weren't very good. Yes, I am going to complain about the selections. I'm not saying we could've had a vintage blue line, but I think players like McCarthy, Emery, Skahan would've been much better options than some of these players.

I think with the forward lines that it almost might make sense to put Hagens with Eiserman. Eiserman is useless at even strength if he doesn't have someone who can do everything for him other than put the puck in the net. Those two have worked well together before with that type of arrangement. Leonard and Perreault don't need Hagens.

And I'm another that thinks losing to Finland is completely unacceptable. This Finland team struggled closing out Germany. It was a one goal game before the empty net. We beat Finland by three goals 6 days ago. This version of Finland should not be good enough to beat us, but maybe that says more about how flawed this team is than it does about Finland.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Trey Augustine has been a disappointment. So has Oliver Moore, although that isn't as surprising to me given his lack of production jump at Minnesota

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I think this team has another gear, although I'm not entirely convinced it's going to 100% be able to shore up its loose play. In that sense the offense has been a bit of a disappointment. I expected this team to score more goals.

 

[MNRube]

The player really disappointing me is Buium. He's been really weak all tournament so far. I feel a lot of the PP struggles are him (a large part is also Burnevik). He's played nowhere near as well as you need out of your best defenseman. Hutson has created a lot more offensively, and Buium has had his faults too defensively. He simply has to be a lot better. The rest of our defense isn't good enough for him not to be.

The overall team defense sucks. We knew a lot of these guys weren't very good.

And I'm another that thinks losing to Finland is completely unacceptable. This Finland team struggled closing out Germany. It was a one goal game before the empty net. We beat Finland by three goals 6 days ago. This version of Finland should not be good enough to beat us, but maybe that says more about how flawed this team is than it does about Finland.

Buium is the best natural defender on the team and the roster makeup is taking him away from what makes him special. He’s not pinching, he’s being too conservative, etc. It’s like Carle and him discussed changing his playstyle to cover the defensive deficits elsewhere.

I don’t have a problem with his PP work. Hutson on PP1 would be worse because he would hang on the puck too long and our more skilled players wouldn’t be getting touches.

I do think Buium has been good on the PK. Lots of subtle clears below the hash.

Finland lineup is very solid. We lost in OT on a back to back. This US team is way too flawed to have expectations of easy wins against a good opponent. US was out-coached and out-worked, it happens. All about adjusting.

 

[MTU34]

Trey Augustine has been a disappointment. So has Oliver Moore, although that isn't as surprising to me given his lack of production jump at Minnesota

Moore and Ziemer are probably the only two that have been consistently good across three games (throw in Stiga although he’s only played 2). I don’t know what else you were expecting. He was never going to be a top scorer on this team

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Moore and Ziemer are probably the only two that have been consistently good across three games (throw in Stiga although he’s only played 2). I don’t know what else you were expecting. He was never going to be a top scorer on this team

I've personally liked Hagens, Nelson, & Perreault far more than Moore. Others have been comparable. Just disappointed that Moore hasn't taken the next step since his DY.

 

[MNRube]

I've personally liked Hagens, Nelson, & Perreault far more than Moore. Others have been comparable. Just disappointed that Moore hasn't taken the next step since his DY.

Perreault has been pretty underwhelming to me. Soft on pucks, turnovers everywhere.

Moore has been dispuptive and brings energy. He’s not nearly as skilled as GP, but he’s been better relative to expectations.

I’d like to see Nelson & Hagens swapped. And Connelly scratched

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Perreault has been pretty underwhelming to me. Soft on pucks, turnovers everywhere.

Moore has been dispuptive and brings energy. He’s not nearly as skilled as GP, but he’s been better relative to expectations.

I’d like to see Nelson & Hagens swapped. And Connelly scratched

I might just have unrealistic expectations for Moore then. Probably need to adjust them down a bit.

Not surprised Connelly is the way he is, considering his Jekyll and Hyde nature as we saw at the 2024 U18

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I think this team has another gear, although I'm not entirely convinced it's going to 100% be able to shore up its loose play. In that sense the offense has been a bit of a disappointment. I expected this team to score more goals.

They've scored 18 goals in 3 games, with some pretty bad puck luck last game.

I agree about the defense though.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

They've scored 18 goals in 3 games, with some pretty bad puck luck last game.

I agree about the defense though.

They blew up Germany. I thought the execution against Latvia was middling and poor against Finland. The top six needs to step up.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

They blew up Germany. I thought the execution against Latvia was middling and poor against Finland. The top six needs to step up.

They definitely could have executed better, but 8 goals vs 2 stingy teams is still pretty solid. And even Germany proved pretty stingy against Canada and Finland.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

I don’t think I’d change too much. Before the tourney I was in favor of putting Hagens w Eiserman so obviously I’m ok with that. But I wouldn’t try to over haul too much. I definitely wouldn’t change goalies.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I might just have unrealistic expectations for Moore then. Probably need to adjust them down a bit.

Perhaps in broader sense but for specific tournament he’s third line center, no powerplay time, so I think he’s done that role pretty well.

 

[Castle8130]

Pretty tricky trying to find another center other than Hagens to produce. Oliver Moore is a bottom 6 buzzsaw type of center. He's not creative at all, but can really fly. The expectations for him are the same as a lot of scouts saw him in his draft year.

Nelson isn't much better of an option, but he has size. Hopefully they can get more than the Hagens line going. They'll probably need to mix up the winger pairs

 

[SI90]

They deserved to lose with that half assed effort. Pretty disappointed in this team as they have not shown up at all after 3 games. Too much selfish play. Passing up too many shots to chase low percentage plays. Crap special teams. Very few players with any consistent effort or intensity.

Blow up the lines.

Nelson Stiga Ziemer Svoboda and Terrance have been the most consistent forwards for me.

We need way more out of the BC 1st line. Perreault had so many grade A chances and couldn’t finish.

The defense after Buium and Hutson has been underwhelming. And even Buium to a certain extent

It seems like they’re doing just enough to stay in games against the better teams(Finland) but not enough to really take over like we’re capable of.

 

[AmericanDream]

I think this team has another gear, although I'm not entirely convinced it's going to 100% be able to shore up its loose play. In that sense the offense has been a bit of a disappointment. I expected this team to score more goals.

Agreed. This team has 14 gold medal players on it. From WJC to U18. We all want them to dominate every game like they pretty much did last year but this team just isn't nearly as deep as that one was. It's not about how you start but how you finish down the stretch. Some good tests are up next and we will see how they respond but there is enough talent here to win...just more question marks in my eyes compared to the last few years. Really wish we had Musty and Smith here. Oh well, we roll with what we have.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Definitely start Augustine against Canada. If he has another sub-par game, Carle will be facing a tough decision.

Does he stick with the #1 guy who hasn't played as expected, in an elimination game? Did Slukynsky show enough against Latvia to even consider sitting Augustine?

This isn't an issue usually faced by our WJC coach. Let's hope Trey comes up big against Canada and we ride him all the way to gold.

 

[57special]

I expect much better play from Buium as well. Ya, play with confidence, but he's been playing with a casual arrogance, like the opponents are unworthy of His Presence. Smarten up.

Anyway, not a bad thing to get punched in the mouth a bit, instead of hearing about how many returning gold medalists and 1st-round picks and draftees are on the roster, and how the team's talent level is superior. All those things are true, but let's see evidence of it on the ice.

We'll see if any lessons have been taken to heart on NYE. Both teams with lots to prove.

I'm not seeing that. I am seeing a guy who needs to play with more urgency and less hesitancy. It's almost like he hasn't figured out how he fits onto this team. Hutson seems to have grabbed the top D offensive spot, which he normally mans.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I feel like Buium needs to hold back a bit with Hutson doing his hero ball thing. Not sure they can have both of them roving all the time.

 

[MNRube]

I'm not seeing that. I am seeing a guy who needs to play with more urgency and less hesitancy. It's almost like he hasn't figured out how he fits onto this team. Hutson seems to have grabbed the top D offensive spot, which he normally mans.

That’s how I see it too. I think he is trying too hard to play a shutdown role and that’s just not who he is.

plus, you know a player is legit when his NCAA defending champs team loses without him to a UNLV club team.