World Cup: 4 Nations Tournament- Team USA (2025)

[SI90]

I like the roster. Like it’s balanced and strong. Obviously can make a case for a few guys like Tage and Caufield but it’s not crazy. Let’s go USA!

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

Why Brock Nelson over Keller, Thompson or Caufield?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Why Brock Nelson over Keller, Thompson or Caufield?

He's the middle bear in the three bears.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

He's in the middle bear in the three bears.

He’s tall, old, doesn’t PK alot…He’s very good and is a goal scorer, but I’m not sure I’d pick him over Caufield and definitely not over Thompson or Keller, but maybe I’m missing something.

 

[mphmiles]

Why Brock Nelson over Keller, Thompson or Caufield?

I'm making an assumption here, but probably because Nelson is the 13th forward- and the 13th forward is a very specific role. I'm basing this on the fact that they took Trocheck, which likely means that Trocheck is the 4th line center. (Deploying Trocheck as a winger means his value is mostly wasted, and he'd be a weird pick as the 13th forward himself, so it's the only spot that makes sense)

The 13th forward isn't likely to play unless someone else gets banged up. Therefore, you want that guy to be able to effectively fill as many roles as possible, so that no matter who it is that gets hurt, you're able to fill that slot.

Nelson can simply fill more roles than Keller, Thompson, or Caufield can. Nelson PK's, plays on the power play, can play center or winger, and can play in a scoring line or in a 4th line checking role. None of those three listed can do all of those things. Canada likely just did the exact same thing with Sam Bennett.

Most seem to think it was Nelson vs. Keller, Thompson, Caufield, etc.

I really don't think it was. It was those players vs. Brady Tkachuk, Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, and Matt Boldy.

 

[Paul4587]

All three of Nelson/Trocheck and Kreider over Thompson is a choice…

US have plenty of forwards who can play net front and the PK without those three on the team. I get one or even two, but all three over an absolute monster who has scored at a 43 goal pace the last three seasons is insane.

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Holy shit that is one sick team. A clear favourite on paper in my books. Nelson/Kreider/Trocheck over Thompson is classic Sullivan, though.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Why Brock Nelson over Keller, Thompson or Caufield?

Possibly a reward for when Nelson would go to the Worlds when no other decent NHL forward would. I do think Thompson should have been selected. I'm in no way disappointed with the roster.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I would have one of Nelson or Trocheck but not both (thereby including Thompson) but I understand what they are going for here where the roster is concerned.

 

[Tawnos]

All three of Nelson/Trocheck and Kreider over Thompson is a choice…

US have plenty of forwards who can play net front and the PK without those three on the team. I get one or even two, but all three over an absolute monster who has scored at a 43 goal pace the last three seasons is insane.

Kreider has also scored at a 43 goal pace the last 3 seasons. And the US may have other forwards who can play net front, but none of them are as good at it as Kreider is. There's an extremely strong case to be made that there's no one in the whole league who's better than him at it.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I'm quite pleased with the roster. I don't think if the lose it will be because of the roster. Which is all that I ask when they select these things.

 

[Eye of Ra]

What a second here...where's Ryan Lasch ?

On reseve list

 

[bossram]

Why Brock Nelson over Keller, Thompson or Caufield?

They'd rather have a utility guy that can play any situation, deployment, or position.

It's not like Nelson is some slouch player. I think it's a justifiable argument he's straight up a better player than Caufield or Keller.

Kreider/Trochek are the much more questionable selections.

Holy shit that is one sick team. A clear favourite on paper in my books. Nelson/Kreider/Trocheck over Thompson is classic Sullivan, though.

Yep. At worst, 50/50 with Canada.

I found a +200 for USA to win the tournament. Was an auto-bet.

 

[Joe Sakic]

Why the f*** is Boldy on this team over any of Keller / Thompson / Caufield. That is legit unreal.

 

[William H Bonney]

Why the f*** is Boldy on this team over any of Keller / Thompson / Caufield. That is legit unreal.

Because he's better than all of them.

 

[Prior]

Because he's better than all of them.

And miles better than Caufield and Keller specifically.

 

[mphmiles]

Probably the only American winger I'd take over Boldy right now is Matt Tkachuk.

He's the best 2 way winger we have and he'll probably be around a PPG player this year while playing on a match up line.

 

[WarriorofTime]

5 players on this roster played in the 2013-14 Hockey Canada U17 challenge thing as part of the '97 born USNTDP.

The three leading American scorers that tournament were Colin White, Luke Kirwan and Jeremy Bracco. The leading American scorer amongst Defenseman was Joe Masonius.

The 5 Americans on the 4 Nations Roster from that team are Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy, Noah Hanifin and Zach Werenski

2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge (January) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

USA U17 2013-2014 - Roster, Stats & more

USA U17 - WHC-17 - hockey team page with roster, stats, transactions at eliteprospects.com

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Mathieukferland]

Jeremy Bracco

97 I think is the best age group in the history of the NTDP, the talent that year across the country, not just MI/MA/MN was insane. If they win the four nations and eventually the Olympics, it will likely revolve high around 97 born players.


I highlight Bracco because I’ve mentioned this on here once before but I’m really, really suprised he didn’t pan out. I’m a 97 that played in the states and played against most of the NTDP, and Bracco was by far the best player I had ever seen; it was like a regen Crosby with the edgework, the hands, the strength on the puck etc. Maybe size but I’m assuming there’s some reason it didn’t work out for him once he left for the NTDP, because the talent that guy had at 14/15 was better than Matthews, Tkachuk, Roslovic etc

 

[WarriorofTime]

I highlight Bracco because I’ve mentioned this on here once before but I’m really, really suprised he didn’t pan out. I’m a 97 that played in the states and played against most of the NTDP, and Bracco was by far the best player I had ever seen; it was like a regen Crosby with the edgework, the hands, the strength on the puck etc. Maybe size but I’m assuming there’s some reason it didn’t work out for him once he left for the NTDP, because the talent that guy had at 14/15 was better than Matthews, Tkachuk, Roslovic etc

Yeah, he's an interesting one. He left BC a month into the season and played in the OHL. Always wondered if something was going on there. He basically played a weekend on the top line, a weekend was put on a line with Colin White who he had played with before at the USNTDP, then he was gone.

He showed he could score at the AHL level once he officially turned pro, never got a callup on his ELC but the Leafs got good already so not overly shocking. But they decided not to tender him a qualifying offer, he signed a 2-way deal with Carolina but then bolted for Europe, which is a bit surprising as a 23 year old North American player that presumably would want an NHL opportunity.

European career has never really taken off, did a stint in Liiga, DEL, two years in KHL. Now he's playing in the Slovakian league of all places, which is kinda shocking for a 27 year old that was over PPG in the AHL when they were 21. Always wondered if there were some unspoken about attitude/character thing going on there. I don't know anything about the guy on a personal level.

 

[Casper The Soy Ghost]

Real good roster!

If Miller doesn't end up playing - who's replacing him?

 

[Sky04]

Why tf are people shocked Caufield didn't make it? He's a pure skill guy producing low end 1st line numbers. He has a career high of 65 points Give me Boldy anyday, Caufield is only known for his goal scoring and Boldy is better at that.

 

[Casper The Soy Ghost]

Team USA
M. Tkachuk -Matthews-J. Hughes
B Tkachuk-Eichel-Boldy
Connor-Larkin-Thompson
Robertson -Nelson-Guentzel
Caufield

Slavin-Fox
Hughes-McCabe
Werenski-Carlson
McAvoy

Hellybuck
Swayman
Woll

McAvoy as the 7th defenseman? McCabe over him?! Really?

 

[Casper The Soy Ghost]

If Matthews doesn't need to play a prominent role and Otter is in net I could see this team beating Canada. Great defence and forward depth, better goaltending

Matthews the 4th liner eh?

 

[TheDoldrums]

Yeah, he's an interesting one. He left BC a month into the season and played in the OHL. Always wondered if something was going on there. He basically played a weekend on the top line, a weekend was put on a line with Colin White who he had played with before at the USNTDP, then he was gone.

He showed he could score at the AHL level once he officially turned pro, never got a callup on his ELC but the Leafs got good already so not overly shocking. But they decided not to tender him a qualifying offer, he signed a 2-way deal with Carolina but then bolted for Europe, which is a bit surprising as a 23 year old North American player that presumably would want an NHL opportunity.

European career has never really taken off, did a stint in Liiga, DEL, two years in KHL. Now he's playing in the Slovakian league of all places, which is kinda shocking for a 27 year old that was over PPG in the AHL when they were 21. Always wondered if there were some unspoken about attitude/character thing going on there. I don't know anything about the guy on a personal level.

Stories came out about him being at the centre of some hazing allegations where he forced a younger player in Kitchener to take drugs. You can connect the dots and surmise why he had the drugs in the first place to do that. Definite character issues. It’s hard to make it if you don’t have the discipline and drive.