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

[TheBeastCoast]

Someone said wrist surgery could take a year to fully heal - in a post, I suggested they operate so Matthews would be ready for the playoffs. I was SHOCKED. I did not think wrist surgery could be THAT complicated.

I am pretty sure the one thing the Leafs have said it isn't, is that it isn't a wrist injury. Looks like a back issue to me.

 

[SillyRabbit]

I think we might be at the point where it's prudent to assume Matthews will be missing the tournament.

So Eichel gets upgraded to #1C and I'd still keep Hughes on the wing. I'm assuming Thompson is added to the team as Matthews' replacement.

M. Tkachuk-Eichel-B. Tkachuk
Connor-Miller-J.Hughes
Guentzel-Larkin-Thompson
Kreider-Trocheck-Boldy
Nelson

Hughes-McAvoy
Slavin-Fox
Werenski-Faber
Hanifin

Hellebuyck
Oettinger
Swayman

 

[ORRFForever]

I am pretty sure the one thing the Leafs have said it isn't, is that it isn't a wrist injury. Looks like a back issue to me.

Yikes! Now that is surgery you want to avoid.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

It looks like Quinn Hughes is out a while. I hope he can make it back for the tournament!

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

It looks like Quinn Hughes is out a while. I hope he can make it back for the tournament!

Losing Matthews and potentially Quinn Hughes would be extremely disappointing.

Luckily there's a third Hughes waiting in the wings. He's certainly not Quinn at this point (especially offensively), but he brings that Hughes brain and elite skating that would be an asset in a best on best.

So Eichel gets upgraded to #1C and I'd still keep Hughes on the wing. I'm assuming Thompson is added to the team as Matthews' replacement.

I don't understand the big push to have Jack on the wing. He's one of the best centers in the NHL with dominant underlying numbers. If there's concerns about faceoffs there are a handful of strong faceoff wingers available. His speed through the middle of the ice is extremely valuable.

I'd put him with Thompson and probably Miller or Brady. Jack excels at driving the middle of the ice and bumping it out for open shots from the perimeter, where Thompson could thrive.

Guentzel - Eichel - M Tkachuk
B Tkachuk - Hughes - Thompson
Miller - Larkin - Boldy
Connor - Nelson - Trocheck
Kreider

That gives us two dangerous scoring lines and a rock solid checking line. Neither Guentzel and Matthew are great puck carriers, but they are great give and go players, so it makes sense to put them on a line with Eichel.

I'd limit the minutes of the 4th line and do my best to roll 3 in such a short tournament. Connor is not a great 5v5 player, but he could be useful on the PP.

 

[WarriorofTime]

If Hughes can't go, they should call up the Number 1 Defenseman on the team with the best record in the east who is a former Stanley Cup Champion. Wouldn't put it passed the USA brass to choose a 3rd pair rising defenseman due to nepotism.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

If Hughes can't go, they should call up the Number 1 Defenseman on the team with the best record in the east who is a former Stanley Cup Champion. Wouldn't put it passed the USA brass to choose a 3rd pair rising defenseman due to nepotism.

Surely you're not referring to Luke Hughes?

 

[MNRube]

I like Vlasic if Hughes can’t go. Carlson definitely deserves a bid, but Vlasic is a better fit stylistically.

 

[Nucks2001]

Canada definitely has the defenders and size to compete with Hughes, Eichel, and the Tkachuks. Point and Cirelli are speedy two way match-up centers. Konecny, Jarvis, Marchand and Hagel are very high-motor forecheckers. You couple that with mature guys in Crosby, Stone, Reinhart and MacKinnon and a pairing of Toews-Makar, a big and fast Parayko. It’ll be interesting to watch.

I think people are diminishing the fact that this Team Canada might be the best one at being shut-down and creating turnovers. I don’t think people should assume that the US will have a heyday on the poor American goaltending and that Canada will just win through its high-end firepower. Could see low scoring games

 

[SanDogBrewin]

"I don't think people assume that the US will have a heyday on the poor American goaltending"

LOLOLOLOL "poor" that's rich.

 

[SillyRabbit]

I don't understand the big push to have Jack on the wing. He's one of the best centers in the NHL with dominant underlying numbers. If there's concerns about faceoffs there are a handful of strong faceoff wingers available. His speed through the middle of the ice is extremely valuable.

I was moreso thinking along the lines of who you want lining up with McDavid and MacKinnon.

You could have a Larkin/Miller line take on one of them and the Eichel line take on the other... but it means less minutes for the Hughes line.

As deep as Canada is, they're going to try to have Mc and Mack out there as much as possible.

It looks like Quinn Hughes is out a while. I hope he can make it back for the tournament!

I think Quinn will most likely skip the tournament even if he's back by then.

I think you slot in Werenski next to McAvoy in Hughes' place as well as on the PP1.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Canada definitely has the defenders and size to compete with Hughes, Eichel, and the Tkachuks. Point and Cirelli are speedy two way match-up centers. Konecny, Jarvis, Marchand and Hagel are very high-motor forecheckers. You couple that with mature guys in Crosby, Stone, Reinhart and MacKinnon and a pairing of Toews-Makar, a big and fast Parayko. It’ll be interesting to watch.

I think people are diminishing the fact that this Team Canada might be the best one at being shut-down and creating turnovers. I don’t think people should assume that the US will have a heyday on the poor American goaltending and that Canada will just win through its high-end firepower. Could see low scoring games

You mean poor Canadian goaltending.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Somewhat relevant to this team....doesn't sound great for Matthews.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I thought Matthews was a likely captain for the team but it’s a tough look if he plays while struggling to stay in the lineup for the Leafs. Having said that, he’s been waiting 9 years for a beat on best so I feel for him and understand if he wants to push for it.