This is the team I'd choose as of now. A gold medal favorite no doubt, although Canada is the team to beat in best-on-best until someone else proves otherwise. Nevertheless, if this team doesn't win gold, it's a USAH failure. I look forward to how USAH will probably do something inevitably stupid and overthink this.
Forwards (x13):
Kyle Connor - Jack Eichel - Matt Boldy
J.T. Miller - Auston Matthews - Matthew Tkachuk
Jack Hughes - Dylan Larkin - Alex Tuch
Brady Tkachuk - Vincent Trocheck - Jake Guentzel
Brock Nelson
Defense (x7):
Quinn Hughes - Charlie McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin - Adam Fox
Ryan McDonagh - Brock Faber
John Carlson
Goalies (x3):
Connor Hellebuyck
Jake Oettinger
Jeremy Swayman
Forwards:
There is no need to go small here with the rest of the picks. Take the most elite small guy (Hughes) and the most proven clutch performer (Guentzel) and stop. If Kane was still prime he'd be here too. And I think USAH in their hearts wants him here, but it's too much of a stretch.
There are plenty of USAH teams in the past that would have needed more small guys like Keller, Caulfield, Debrincat, etc. either but this isn't one of those teams.
For now, I'm including Miller because if he's back in time and game shape, he has to be on the team. By all reports, it seems like that's the plan, so name him now, and if he remains out, replace him later. If we do lose him, it's a huge loss.
Other forwards I think are probably in some consideration: Kreider, Thompson, Boeser, Robertson, Caufield, Keller, Debrincat, Cooley, Garland, Mittelstadt, Rust, etc.
Kreider, Boeser, and Robertson were all guys I've had on prior iterations of my team and not now. I just don't see how you can justify Roberston if he's not playing at his best given his heavy feet. Boeser would normally make our teams but we have plenty of goal-scoring and can choose more versatile guys over him. Kreider is the one who I think should be most likely to still make it. Yes, he's had a slow start, but he's got size, and speed, can play the PK and PP, and can fit into almost any role you need.
For now, I've gone center heavy (8 guys who could play center) but ideally, you don't have Hughes or Thompson do it, and versatile guys are key and we have plenty.
I fully expect at least one veteran will make it and cause a lot of people to cry foul. I have Nelson as that guy (although he's a worthy selection). I just hope it's a guy like Nelson and not someone more off-the-wall like Copp, Hartman, Rust, etc. Nothing will top the off-the-wall picks of the past, right? Right?
Defense:
The choices are hard here. Faber and Slavin should be locks. And after that, you can go so many different ways.
There are a lot of other guys you can make cases for to be on this team: Werenski, Hanifin, Pionk, Sanderson, Vlasic, Pesce, etc.
I'd be pretty surprised if there's not at least 1 veteran of prior "top" USAH squads here. Carlson and McDonagh are the clear standout options in that category. Right now I have both here because they're both top players, and I think USAH loves deferring to experience. McDonagh can anchor a PK tandem and bring a steady veteran presence to a young pair partner. And Carlson because he's a veteran, well-rounded, and a top 4 American RHD.
Werenski is hard to leave off. I went back and forth with putting him over McDonagh or Carlson. That's probably more likely to happen. But I suspect USAH may lean toward the veteran, experienced, defensive defenseman over the highly offensive rover in Werenski because Guerin has talked endlessly about certain players making it for certain roles, the defense isn't hurting for offensive weapons, and if you have Werenski playing a regular shift, you want him with a steady stay-at-home guy like if we had a right-handed Slavin (maybe Pesce if he had more time to rebound). That said, I think a Werenski - Faber third pairing is a strong pairing, too, and I wouldn't be mad if that happens.
Hanifin and Sanderson have been boutique picks in a lot of mocks I've seen (including some of my prior iterations), but I question whether they'll get the nod. They are both very similar players and one of them could easily find their way here. Neither is a PP guy at this level nor are they top PK options, either -- at least yet. They're well-rounded players no doubt, but this team isn't hurting for the well-rounded defenseman, and I suspect the staff is going to lean more toward guys who excel at a specific role a la defensively (Slavin, McDonagh) or offensively (Werenski).
Goalies:
- Helle and Otter are the most obvious of obvious picks.
- It's too bad Demko has been out so long and Swayman is having a very slow start after his holdout, otherwise, we'd have four #1 options in the net.
- It doesn't matter who we choose for the #3 role, but I'd go with the young #1 (Swayman) just for the experience.
I think this will be very close to what the team will end up being. Comments
* I think if it comes down to Werenski/Carlson that Werenski might make it
* I think there's a chance Vlasic makes it, potentially over McDonagh
* I wish Robertson was having a better year. I think his average production and below average skating keep him off
* I wish Trocheck was last year's version scoring wise, but he brings other things to the table in a 4th line role on this team that may include him
* I'd like to include Kreider. The goal scoring is there even if he still doesn't have a single assist (which is remarkable)
* I hope if Miller does play, he ends up in a good place
Ultimately, I think this team will be built on skating, size, with offense generated from the back end. A definite contender and a strong foundation for the 2026 Olympics.
