@Pavel Buchnevich are thé current two NTDP age groups just weak years or has something gone astray for the NTDP selection process? Seems strange that both the U17 and U18 were and are getting beaten relatively easily and seem so talent devoid compared to normal
I think you also have to keep in mind that this Canadian team is simply older. 7 of the 22 are born in 2006. The whole US roster was born in 2007. Some of the US players are 2026 draft eligibles. There are no 2026 draft eligibles for Canada. And it's not necessarily like all the 2025 draft eligible NTDP prospects are playing here, as there are five of them that are now playing college hockey. And injuries (and losing the best player on the team from last year to college hockey) have absolutely decimated this roster. It wasn't really all that bad, at its best. It's probably not the most offensively talented group, but there are a lot of big, physical players that can skate and will play in the NHL. Their games will probably age better than some better junior players.
The other thing worth mentioning is that this isn't necessarily all the best American players for 2025. This is the pre-selected American players a year and a half ago (that of course aren't the best players then because they don't select the absolute best "X number of" players due to having to fill out a roster with roles). If you had to select the CHL team a year and a half early obviously you are going to get some who haven't progressed well and others who wouldn't have been in contention that are now clear selections. So it's not really like a fair game. CHL should be winning. Of course the CHL roster will have much more talent. If this game continues, CHL will probably win every year unless the USA has a very good NTDP age group like 2001 or 2004.
Kinda early to know about U17's. They just started there. People expect them to dominate that tournament, but it's so early on in the NTDP process. They've played like 10 total games by the time it starts, so they don't have as much chemistry as people think. The Swedish and Finnish and Czech players probably have played more games together over the years, given they start their National Team process a year or two earlier. That team also did win the YOG Gold Medal over Canada, keep in mind, so USA and Canada basically traded those two tournaments.
And this U18 team that isn't even necessarily strong will probably still have a good chance to win gold at the U18 Worlds. They beat Sweden a few weeks ago. Lost to Finland by a goal, but outplayed them and lost because the backup goaltender struggled. Add in that the Canada team at that tournament will be nowhere near this strong, and it should still be a USA team with a chance to win Gold there. Honestly, this is just an exhibition all star game. Canada will win both easily. I don't think this is big as a team result. This is important for players individually due to the draft.
Not really cause for overarching panic either. Of course, this isn't the best team and the early returns for the U17's aren't suggesting it's a banner year, but keep in mind for both of these teams that the 2005's were looking bad early on, and then figured it out. Won the U18 Worlds Gold. Produced a lot more higher picks than the early projections (Smith, Leonard, Perreault, Augustine, Buium), and then the 2002's that essentially sucked produced three very high level NHL'ers (Sanderson, Faber, Beniers).
