um, Mark Stone is still the best defensive winger in the NHL. Not sure what you mean by he’s slowed down. Crosby and Marchand have certainly slowed down, but I’m sure they’ll step up defensively for a tournament like this.
Cirelli is quite easily a top-5 shutdown center in the league. Reinhart and him will likely finish high in this year’s Selke voting. Hagel is one of, if not the best forechecker in this entire tournament. Seth Jarvis is also breaking out and likely winning a Selke at some point in his career (he literally plays on all 4 lines on the Canes).
The US has solid 2-way guys in Larkin, Trochek and Kreider. Larkin is probably their best asset. I don’t think Trochek and Kreider are better 2-way guys than say a Mark Stone or Sam Reinhart though. As a Canucks fan, JT Miller is extremely overrated defensively, good when he wants to be. I will admit, Jack Eichel is similar to a Toews offensively and a defensive stud, so the US certainly has that over Canada
The US rounded out with roster with more skilled offensive guys and Canada rounded it out with better 2-way players. I don’t know how you can say that Canada Does NOT have the best defensive forwards this tournament.