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

[Northerner]

For Hughes to miss this, you know he’s dealing with a pretty serious injury.

Or maybe he isn't as invested in this "tournament" as we might think.

 

[JimmyG89]

US will manage without Hughes. Fox can run PP1 in his place and Sanderson provides some size and athleticism to a left side that rock solid, especially in their own end.

 

[Christien]

Early look at some line combinations

 

[HabsCode]

Hyped up for this. Let’s go!

 

[William H Bonney]

All those lines and pairings make a ton of sense. Love how heavy that 3rd line is.

 

[ToDavid]

This tournament is turning into a farce. The more players back out, the more it’s going to turn it on All Star level of competition.

Hughes wasn’t healthy enough to play Canucks games leading up to the break. Why are we calling that “backing out”? That’s just being injured.

I think there’s been one player so far that I would say has backed out, Pietrangelo.

 

[Northerner]

Anders Lee should be on over Boldy

 

[WarriorofTime]

Might be the best “third line” USA has ever iced.

 

[William H Bonney]

Anders Lee should be on over Boldy

Boldy is the better skater, younger, and the superior player, so no Lee should not be there over Boldy.

 

[Northerner]

Boldy is the better skater, younger, and the superior player, so no Lee should not be there over Boldy.

Lee has 4 more goals than him this season, and is a leader as well (C). So, I disagree

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Like the lines.

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Might as well just send Larkin home if you are gonna 13th forward him.

 

[William H Bonney]

Lee has 4 more goals than him this season, and is a leader as well (C). So, I disagree

Great analysis

Might as well just send Larkin home if you are gonna 13th forward him.

Don't be silly. It's a loaded team, he was always going to start in the bottom half of the lineup. He knows this.

 

[warrior60]

Lee has 4 more goals than him this season, and is a leader as well (C). So, I disagree

Lee does nothing for this team.

 

[mphmiles]

Leadership is usually a a crutch for why a guy should make a team when you can't really in good faith argue that he should make the team on merit.

Anyway, this team has the Tkachuks, Miller, Matthews, Trocheck, Larkin, Nelson, Eichel, Kreider, McAvoy, Faber. They're not lacking whatsoever in leadership, vocal guys, and glue guys.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Lee is having a really good season but Boldy figures to be a core piece for a lot of future tournaments as well.

 

[mphmiles]

Not a huge deal but I think I would flip Miller and Larkin when it comes to 3C. Larkin's the better defensive player and Miller is likely more comfortable on the wing than Larkin is.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Like the lines.

Holy smokes these D pairs are insanity. This has to be one of the most complete defenses iced in any capacity in a minute.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

It all boils down to chemistry. Who will have it and click, will win the tourney.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Not a huge deal but I think I would flip Miller and Larkin when it comes to 3C. Larkin's the better defensive player and Miller is likely more comfortable on the wing than Larkin is.

More than likely lines will be tweeked.

 

[Alicat]

Holy smokes these D pairs are insanity. This has to be one of the most complete defenses iced in any capacity in a minute.

They nailed the D pairs. Goalies are Swayman, Oettenger and Gibson?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

They nailed the D pairs. Goalies are Swayman, Oettenger and Gibson?

Hellebuyck.

 

[Alicat]

Hellebuyck.

I always think he's Canadian for some reason. Thanks! Best line up the US has iced since 2010 in Vancouver.

 

[Pancakes]

As a Pens fan I'm rather shocked that Sully is considering scratching a veteran like Kreider. He absolutely adores his veterans.

It all boils down to chemistry. Who will have it and click, will win the tourney.

In small tournies like these a lot of things can decide it. Randomly hot goaltending. Randomly hot players. A team gelling quicker than the other teams.

Lotta randomness with such a small sample size

 

[SEALBound]

Sexy lines and goaltending.

USA's biggest challenge is overcoming coaching.