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

[ORRFForever]

I hate the Canadian line up so don't feel bad if you hate the U.S. one...

MSN

USA – By Frank Seravalli​

Forwards​

J.T. Miller	Auston Matthews*	Matthew Tkachuk*
Kyle Connor	Jack Eichel*	Brady Tkachuk
Dylan Larkin	Jack Hughes	Jason Robertson
Jake Guentzel	Vincent Trocheck	Matt Boldy
Tage Thompson

Defensemen​

Quinn Hughes*	Charlie McAvoy*
Jaccob Slavin	Adam Fox*
Zach Werenski	Brock Faber
Noah Hanifin

Goaltenders​

Connor Hellebuyck

Jake Oettinger

Jeremy Swayman

IN: Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, Noah Hanifin

OUT: Chris Kreider, Jake Sanderson, Brett Pesce

Why: In the end, GM Bill Guerin and his staff are trying to ice the best lineup for 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, not what is to come in 2026. That means leaving off Jake Sanderson, who has been a little inconsistent this season, in favor of a more experienced and well-rounded Zach Werenski. Brett Pesce has started slow coming off injury, so I’ll swap him for Noah Hanifin as the Americans’ seventh defenseman – a role in which Hanifin won’t pout or complain if asked. That’s half the battle when selecting that player. And up front, it became impossible to deny Tage Thompson with his start. North of a point per game and a huge presence, he trumps the great net-front presence of Chris Kreider, who has been up and down this year. The additional minutes Peter Laviolette trusts versatile Ranger teammate Vincent Trocheck with was the deciding factor in picking the final forward for the United States. The recent leave of absence by J.T. Miller with the Canucks gave us some pause, but let’s see how that plays out – we’re willing to give him some time because he’s that impactful. And USA’s first two goalies are so good that Jeremy Swayman’s tough stretch shouldn’t make a difference one way or the other with Thatcher Demko still out.

 

[qc14]

Agreed. I think the only spot up for grabs amongst the guys you mention is Sanderson's. I wouldn't mind him on the team but may be more inclined to give his spot to a guy like Vlasic.

Yea I like Vlasic a lot too and I would totally get having him above Sanderson. Hanifin, McDonough, wouldn't hurt my head either.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Yea I like Vlasic a lot too and I would totally get having him above Sanderson. Hanifin, McDonough, wouldn't hurt my head either.

Is there a confirmed roster size?

 

[MNRube]

We've overthought rosters and "fit" so much at recent tournaments and it's came back to bite us every single time. Carlson and Werenski are still 2 of the 6 best American defenseman. Carlson may be having the best non-Hughes/Makar season by a defenseman in the league so far this year, they both kill penalties and play matchup minutes for their teams as well. If anyone has played themselves off the roster, it should be McAvoy, who like his teammate Marchand is lucky Boston is hosting the tournament.

Hughes-Faber
Werenski-Fox
Slavin-Carlson
Sanderson-McAvoy

You have Fox & Hughes so the need for another OFD is marginal. And the notion that Carlson & Werenski are better than McAvoy because the latter has had a bad 20 game stretch is dubious. Especially when McAvoy plays a style that is much more complimentary to Hughes & Fox. If we want to use a small sample size, let’s discuss Werenski’s awful showing last summer for USA

 

[Golden_Jet]

Wonder if the leafs will ask Matthew’s not to go, guess depends on how Germany visit goes.

 

[qc14]

You have Fox & Hughes so the need for another OFD is marginal. And the notion that Carlson & Werenski are better than McAvoy because the latter has had a bad 20 game stretch is dubious. Especially when McAvoy plays a style that is much more complimentary to Hughes & Fox. If we want to use a small sample size, let’s discuss Werenski’s awful showing last summer for USA

I mean I'd get the stylistic components more if there was some amazing, M-E Vlasic or Rod Langway in his prime type defensive defenseman just waiting in the wings but there's not. Once again, the notion that Carlson and Werenski are some defensive bums that only are good at running powerplays is also just completely wrong. They certainly aren't much more defensively deficient than a Sanderson, Faber, or Hanifin.

I also think that in a short, one-off tournament, you have to balance longer term ability with short-term form. McAvoy has been disastrously bad to start this year, Carlson and Werenski have not (and in fact have been quite good). There's plenty of time for those things to even out, and McAvoy certainly has a body of work good enough that I would still have him on the team regardless. If we're playing against Canada for the gold tonight though, I think there are 6 defenseman that give me a better chance

 

[MNRube]

Once again, the notion that Carlson and Werenski are some defensive bums that only are good at running powerplays is also just completely wrong. They certainly aren't much more defensively deficient than a Sanderson, Faber, or Hanifin.

Nobody is saying they are bums. And neither is close to Faber defensively. This is an all-star team, some great players won’t get chosen. You still need balance in a best on best format.

 

[qc14]

Nobody is saying they are bums. And neither is close to Faber defensively. This is an all-star team, some great players won’t get chosen. You still need balance in a best on best format.

I agree you need balance but the players who theoretically would bring more balance to the team don't do so to such a level that I think it's worth bringing what are clearly less talented players.

We've done this before with Abdelkader/Dubinsky/Stepan/Palmieri over Kessel in 2016 and it turned out disastrously. Don't overthink things

 

[WarriorofTime]

Is there a confirmed roster size?

23 (20 skaters + 3 goalies) I think

 

[MNRube]

I agree you need balance but the players who theoretically would bring more balance to the team don't do so to such a level that I think it's worth bringing what are clearly less talented players.

We've done this before with Abdelkader/Dubinsky/Stepan/Palmieri over Kessel in 2016 and it turned out disastrously. Don't overthink things

The problem with this assertion is that Carlson & Werenski are not clearly more talented than McAvoy & Sanderson.

The old Team USA failures are irrelevant. We are twice as good as previous renditions. If we roll out our 20 best offensive players and play pond hockey we will get steam-rolled.

 

[Liam Smith]

The problem with this assertion is that Carlson & Werenski are not clearly more talented than McAvoy & Sanderson.

The old Team USA failures are irrelevant. We are twice as good as previous renditions. If we roll out our 20 best offensive players and play pond hockey we will get steam-rolled.

I'd argue that Carlson and Werenski are more talented. Not sure what McAvoy has done to be considered a lock by many. Carlson has been a great minute eating 1D for years now, leading the league in TOI last season.

A lot of his shortcomings (laziness defensively at times) has come from his consistent overuse. If you have him playing a third pair, 2nd PP role on this team, he is going to thrive.

Werenski has been putting up a solid season on a bad team, but can't advocate for him too much as I haven't seen most CBJ games.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I'd argue that Carlson and Werenski are more talented. Not sure what McAvoy has done to be considered a lock by many. Carlson has been a great minute eating 1D for years now, leading the league in TOI last season.

A lot of his shortcomings (laziness defensively at times) has come from his consistent overuse. If you have him playing a third pair, 2nd PP role on this team, he is going to thrive.

Werenski has been putting up a solid season on a bad team, but can't advocate for him too much as I haven't seen most CBJ games.

McAvoy was a part of the first group of players originally named to the team, so he is a lock (unless he's injured).

 

[WarriorofTime]

McAvoy viewed as a top 5-10 defenseman in NHL before the year. He's not getting booted off the team because Boston has been a mess so far.

 

[MNRube]

I'd argue that Carlson and Werenski are more talented. Not sure what McAvoy has done to be considered a lock by many. Carlson has been a great minute eating 1D for years now, leading the league in TOI last season.

A lot of his shortcomings (laziness defensively at times) has come from his consistent overuse. If you have him playing a third pair, 2nd PP role on this team, he is going to thrive.

Werenski has been putting up a solid season on a bad team, but can't advocate for him too much as I haven't seen most CBJ games.

McAvoy has been a Top 10 D for years. He’s having a bad start this year but his resume is more consistent and his skillset is better fit than Carlson and especially Werenski. Having Slavin, Faber, McAvoy to compliment Fox & Hughes is a perfect set up. Only thing we may need on the backend is a crease-clearing DFD. Not sure we have a solution unless Carlo or Vlasic get a surprising nod. I could see Carlson as a veteran 7D but he’s not better than any of Faber, McAvoy or Fox.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Curious why Alex Tuch never gets any love for this team.

When you look to be building out the bottom half of the roster, you tend to look for certain situational qualities. Things like size, speed, special teams, defensive excellence, forecheck, backcheck, character, reliability and versatility.

Tuch is 6'4", 220, skates like a train, excels along the wall and at stripping pucks, plays in all situations, and is diligent in his own zone — a consistent plus player despite heavy usage on a mediocre team. In short, he ticks all the role player boxes.

You might say, yeah but, he's just not productive enough, but you'd be wrong.

Over the past 3 years his production is right there with 'locks' likes Guentzel, Eichel, Connor and Larkin, a well as secondary guys Boldy, Trochek, Kreider, Caulfield and Kane.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

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Also, right now, he happens to be tied for 4th among all Americans in points, 1st among right wings.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

At this level of hockey, he's pretty much the prototype bottom six winger: with much more utility for his coaches than a Kane or a Caufield.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I actually think Tuch gets a long look and may end up making the team.

 

[Northerner]

Thoughts on putting Lee on the fourth line? He's a leader (captain), veteran, still productive at his age - couldn't he also penalty kill and just be a gritty fourth line presence?

 

[Northerner]

Thoughts on putting Lee on the fourth line? He's a leader (captain), veteran, still productive at his age - couldn't he also penalty kill and just be a gritty fourth line presence?

Or I'll go a step further. Throw another massive, veteran Minnesotan/Islander on that fourth line:

Brock Nelson.

 

[MarkT]

Here's my roster:

FORWARDS

Jake Guentzel - Auston Matthews - Clayton Keller
Your goal scoring line - Keller plays the Mitch Marner role for Matthews, and see if he can build some chemistry with Guentzel. I think overall LW will be the position on this roster the coaches will toy with the most, but I'd start with Guentzel here given his proven ability to play with highly skilled players.

Matthew Tkachuk - Jack Eichel - Brady Tkachuk
Crash, bang, score. Three big boys who can all score. This line will dominate every time on the ice.

Jack Hughes - J.T. Miller - Brock Boeser
Boeser makes the team due to his surprisingly great two-way numbers. Hughes shifts to wing to be the playmaker on the line. Miller and Boeser continue their chemistry from Vancouver. This provides yet another solid scoring line.

Jason Robertson - Vincent Trocheck - Matthew Boldy
Your shutdown line. All guys with outstanding two-way numbers, and Trocheck the best faceoff man on the team. They'd be getting all the defensive zone starts and be tasked with shutting down other teams' top lines along with the Matthews line. I seriously considered Tuch over Robertson, but I prefer Robertson's scoring prowess.

Kyle Connor
I went back and forth between Connor and Dylan Larkin as my extra, but I just couldn't keep Connor off the team. He could slot in on any of the top three lines easily.

DEFENSE

Quinn Hughes - Brock Faber
Hughes needs a steady partner, so why not see if this works? If it does, it's your Olympics top pair as well.

Zachary Werenski - Adam Fox
Your offensive second pair. Werenski is no slouch, but McAvoy could take this spot as well.

Jaccob Slavin - John Carlson
Two veteran big boys who can match up well against top competition.

Charlie McAvoy
I wanted to put Jake Sanderson here, but oh well. He and Werenski can compete for that spot next to Adam Fox.

GOAL

Connor Hellebyuck
The starter, but not as secure as you might think. He's got great numbers, but he's shown in the past that top end players can beat him.

Anthony Stolarz
I'm surprised as anyone, but his play this season and last has earned him this spot.

Thatcher Demko/Jake Oetinger
Oetenger has not played well this season, so he's the #3. But if Demko is healthy, he's not only on the team, but challenging Hellebyuck for the starter job.