Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
I think that will be very close to the team that is named. Have Matthews, Eichel, Miller, and Larkin up the middle with J. Hughes on the wing.
World Cup: 4 Nations Tournament- Team USA (2025)
- Thread starter AmericanDream
- Start date
I'd be shocked if it's not Hellebuyck unless his performance just suddenly tanks.
Not only is he the vet, but he has a pretty unreal track record of elite play at this point in his career.
Oettinger is good but prone to some bad periods. I’m not sure he’d backup over Swayman and might not make the team if Demko is healthy in time.
Who can PK on this team? You need role players. Guys to forecheck and play a checking role. Won’t win if we bring 13 Fs who are offense first
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
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Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 31,328
- 20,303
+Larkin, Eichel for an even six, which I think is a standard number.
I'm not concerned about potential Team USA PK Forward options.
Miller is an ok PKer as well. I think this is partly why they need to bring guys like Tuch, Kreider and Trocheck though instead of loading up on the scoring wingers like Keller, Guentzel, DeBrincat, Caufield, etc.
Pretty much all the likely Dmen PK regularly as well except for Hughes.
Curious if Tage Thompson’s hot start will get him a place on the team? And if Robertson might be on the bubble now after making most mock rosters?
I don’t have anyone in particular in mind. I like Tuch as a 4th liner and obviously Larkin can take on a checking line role with the scoring Cs ahead of him.
Maybe one of Beniers, Colton, Knies, Coleman? I would’ve said Coyle a year ago, but he’s been horrific this year. But honestly I don’t think any of those guys are good choices.
I think you adapt Tuch, Larkin and Boldy to defensive roles and get the Tkachuk bros to playing a particularly heavy game. I’d leave the DeBrincat, Kane types at home.
Keller & Caufield are really tough choices for me. With the way Robertson is playing this year, it may be nice to have a replacement ready.
M.Tkachuk-Eichel-Miller
B.Tkachuk-Matthews-Boldy
Connor-Larkin-Tuch
Robertson/Keller-Hughes-Thompson
Random fun line ideas:
-Tkachuk-Hughes-Tkachuk
-Hughes-Eichel-Boldy : unstoppable in transition
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I don’t hate the roster choices, but the attitude of bringing big, gritty, physical players is giving me flashbacks to when USAH picked the team designed to “beat Canada,” and then literally didn’t beat anyone.
Pick the best players.
B.Tkachuk-Matthews-Keller
Hughes-Eichel-M.Tkachuk
Connor-Larkin-Boldy
Robertson-Miller-Tuch
Thompson
This team reminds me a lot of the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team. Big and skilled wingers in the Tkachuks, Boldy and Thompson and great 2-way centers.
For that reason alone, they should attempt to fill in their checking roles and PK with skilled players, similar to how Toews, Marleau and Staal, Richards and Nash filled those roles for Canada. I believe my roster provides that. No need for a Cole Caufield or Debrincat. Guenztel is the one player that’s hard to leave off, but that’s just how deep the US is right now. Would love to have Kane on the team, but he’s not making it in the top 6 so there’s no point.
Hughes-Eichel-M.Tkachuk
Connor-Larkin-Boldy
Robertson-Miller-Tuch
Thompson
This team reminds me a lot of the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team. Big and skilled wingers in the Tkachuks, Boldy and Thompson and great 2-way centers.
For that reason alone, they should attempt to fill in their checking roles and PK with skilled players, similar to how Toews, Marleau and Staal, Richards and Nash filled those roles for Canada. I believe my roster provides that. No need for a Cole Caufield or Debrincat. Guenztel is the one player that’s hard to leave off, but that’s just how deep the US is right now. Would love to have Kane on the team, but he’s not making it in the top 6 so there’s no point.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
Some hard decisions are going to have to be made. I think the brass may reward Worlds participation, which means Boldy and Caufield could have the inside track. They are both playing well so I wouldn't mind if that happened. That would probably be at the expense of a guy like Keller though. It would be hard to leave off the Thompson/Tuch tandem as well.
The thing is as long as the US builds their roster correctly, there won’t be any shouting or crying even if they lose. Let’s be honest, not adding a Kreider, Trochek, Caufield or Kane will be the reason that the US loses. I definitely think if Canada loses on the other hand, there will be plenty of debate as to who should have been on the team.
With that being said, if the US makes some bone-headed decisions like they have in the past, they’ll get what’s coming to them. I think that’s really hard to do though with the amount of skill that’s available to them.
- Apr 27, 2005
- 35,295
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I know a lot of people are putting Werenski and Carlson on their lists, but I'd much rather have elite defensive guys. We already have Hughes and Fox to QB a PP.
Slavin - Fox
Hughes - Faber
Vlasic - McAvoy
McDonagh
Vlasic is really incredible, at this point I think he's overtaken McDonagh. He's the best American defender aside from Slavin IMO. Vlasic - McAvoy would be an awesome shutdown 3rd pairing.
Slavin - Fox
Hughes - Faber
Vlasic - McAvoy
McDonagh
Vlasic is really incredible, at this point I think he's overtaken McDonagh. He's the best American defender aside from Slavin IMO. Vlasic - McAvoy would be an awesome shutdown 3rd pairing.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
I think the ship has sailed on McDonagh, but I can see Vlasic making it.
