Back to the drawing board for USA Hockey?

[Peiskos]

The US has high scoring and skilled players on paper, but it simply doesn't seem to translate to the real world.

No tournament win at the mens level since 1996 during the WCOH. This is pushing a dizzying 30 year stretch of misery and despair.

Now I don't say this to antagonize but it's rather a legitimate hockey question, why has the US been unable to get past Canada and a variety of other countries at the mens level? may it be the IIHF World's that happen every spring, the olympics or recent world cups. This was supposed to be the best collection of American talent in a generation and yet they went out with a whimper with 2 consecutive losses to Sweden and Canada.

Notable points here is Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel, long compared as the US answer to Canada's McDavid and MacKinnon 1-2 punch. Yet they combined for 0 goals, while Canada's pair combined for 7. Similarly we always hear talks of the US supposedly vastly superior goaltending - yet once again it never seems to be a deciding factor. From Miller in 2010, to Quick in 2014 to Hellebuyck in 2025.

Is it a mental block? is it the stress of the bright lights?

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[Joe Sakic]

In my opinion one issue is that our best star players are not as good as the Canadian star players.

Eichel, Matthews, Fox/Werenski are great players. All stars.

They're just not as good as McJesus, MacKinnon, Makar.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

They were one goal away, I don’t think there’s a secret formula here

 

[Bonham]

I think getting to OT of the final game = translating to the Real World.

 

[Peiskos]

I think getting to OT of the final game = translating to the Real World.

Ya but you can make a million OT's but if you lose every single time what's it worth?

 

[dalewood12]

No. As a Canadian, I would have taken the USA if it were a 7 game series.

Assuming USA is fully healthy, I have them as the favourites in Italy.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Now I don't say this to antagonize but it's rather a legitimate hockey question, why has the US been unable to get past Canada and a variety of other countries at the mens level? may it be the IIHF World's that happen every spring, the olympics or recent world cups. This was supposed to be the best collection of American talent in a generation and yet they went out with a whimper with 2 consecutive losses to Sweden and Canada.

Sure.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Ya but you can make a million OT's but if you lose every single time what's it worth?

The United States beat Canada prior to Thursday. Did last Saturday not happen or something?

 

[CarolinaBlueJacket]

How many of these "______ has not won the big game, so even though they are a great player (team), they are a terrible player (team)"?

The US had great chances in OT last night. OT is like a coin flip, yes it is 50/50 odds, but there is a chance that heads will come up 5 times in a row. The next time you flip, there is still a 50/50 chance for heads.

 

[10YearsHaveGone]

Back to the drawing board? No. Team USA was very good and went to OT in the Final. Binnington made at least 3 great saves in OT. They were right there.

Team USA can expect to win some best on best tourneys with this kind of roster.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

They played really well.

On another night, they would have won the final so don't need dramatic changes. I would look at some of their depth players and make adjustments but nothing crazy.

If they lose again in Milan then you have to start thinking about bigger changes.

 

[LaCarriere]

I don't think USA has to do anything majorly different. They lost by 1 goal in the finals. No different than Edmonton last year. Lost by 1 goal in game 7 of the SCF, and everyone is trashing them.

I do think the Tkachuk brothers are either a blessing or a curse though, and more of a curse. The orchestrated fights (that they pretended were "organic") probably did them more harm than good in the long run. That stuff may work in league games against lesser disciplined / scrappy / 4th line players, but it's probably not going to work against a team of superstars.

You could tell in the finals Canada wasn't going to fall into their trap. I thought Brady should have been given 2 minutes for this one on Makar;

a clear punch to the face after the whistle, but the refs were never going to call anything other than a blatant tripping, high stick, etc.

They didn't even have the upper hand in the 3 fights in the first game, and Canada had the first goal, the USA was just better down the stretch and I don't think it had anything to do with the orchestrated fights.

 

[Smif]

I'd say it's reasonable to expect the US to win one soon, it's not because they're not good enough, it's rather that there hasn't been a mens best on best for over 10 years really.

 

[Rob]

Oh stop it. I'm Canadian but I realize that this game could have gone either way. The US roster will be almost exactly the same for Milan next year. USA Hockey is doing a great job.

 

[leafsfan5]

they lost a 50/50 game, no reason to make major changes

What they should be doing is adjusting the bottom 6, it was ineffective all night. Outside of the Matthews line no other US line was a big threat

 

[LTIR]

they lost a 50/50 game, no reason to make major changes

What they should be doing is adjusting the bottom 6, it was ineffective all night. Outside of the Matthews line no other US line was a big threat

Yup, if Binny let's in one of those Matthews golden chances in OT many would be talking about Canada going back to the drawing board and figuring out what to do with its goaltending, defense and aging core.

How McDavid couldn't gel with anyone all tournament and how no young ones are ready to take spots from over the hill ones.

 

[AzNightmare]

The problem with these international tournaments are they are so short and one and done.
If you're not playing against a team like India or something, it's kind of 50/50.

This is why the Playoffs and the Cup will always be the most prominent championship. Even as a Canadian, I found this kind of meh.

For the record, I think most Canadians had no faith in Binnington. Canada's goaltending has been trash since the end of Price/Luongo era. So it's actually pretty lucky Canada got 2019 Binnington for 1 game. If this was a best of 3 or 7, the results may have been different.

 

[Beau Knows]

They put together a good team and got as close as you can get.

The only thing I think that maybe they could have done was pick a couple more of their top goal scorers. Maybe Thompson or Caufield should have been there and Connor in the lineup.

 

[AzNightmare]

Also forgot to mention, (maybe a homer take but I think it's accurate) if Quinn Hughes was healthy, it would have tilted the ice in US' favour by a lot.

 

[Erikfromfin]

They kinda tackled and fought themselves injured so.. tone it down a tad to stay healthy

 

[Summer Rose]

Also forgot to mention, (maybe a homer take but I think it's accurate) if Quinn Hughes was healthy, it would have tilted the ice in US' favour by a lot.

We could also go the other way with it. If Canada had Pietrangelo and Theodore for the championship game, the ice tilts back towards them. I'm not really sure how far, or whether it makes defense in their favor in the first place, but it's food for thought. There's always food for thought about who's missing when it comes to short tournaments like this. Finland missing Heiskanen was also a huge blow. Arguably a much bigger blow than us missing Hughes, in terms of relative value to their teams (I'm not saying Heiskanen is a better player than Hughes, because he isn't).

 

[zaYG]

Add Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy to last night’s lineup and is this even a thread?

 

[Jumptheshark]

The US has high scoring and skilled players on paper, but it simply doesn't seem to translate to the real world.

No tournament win at the mens level since 1996 during the WCOH. This is pushing a dizzying 30 year stretch of misery and despair.

Now I don't say this to antagonize but it's rather a legitimate hockey question, why has the US been unable to get past Canada and a variety of other countries at the mens level? may it be the IIHF World's that happen every spring, the olympics or recent world cups. This was supposed to be the best collection of American talent in a generation and yet they went out with a whimper with 2 consecutive losses to Sweden and Canada.

Notable points here is Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel, long compared as the US answer to Canada's McDavid and MacKinnon 1-2 punch. Yet they combined for 0 goals, while Canada's pair combined for 7. Similarly we always hear talks of the US supposedly vastly superior goaltending - yet once again it never seems to be a deciding factor. From Miller in 2010, to Quick in 2014 to Hellebuyck in 2025.

Is it a mental block? is it the stress of the bright lights?

Dunno--after that one win they were crowned the greatest hockey nation in the universe by some

 

[WarriorofTime]

Now I don't say this antagonize

Is it a mental block? is it the stress of the bright lights?

My man, you've been all over this since the game ended. Enjoy the win for your team, but maybe relax a bit. This is the appetizer to the main course of the Olympics next year.

 

[93gilmour93]

The whole tournament came down to next shot wins. USA is still a very strong team and if I had to bet will be back in the finals against Canada in 2026. Till then we will still let you know Canada is your hockey daddy