We won't know how good the US team is until they play Ontario. The games against Germany and Atlantic are irrelevant and I don't think this Russian team is as good as the teams they've sent the last few years. One thing they're really going to have to be better about is discipline as they've taken so many stupid penalties during the tournament thus far. Ontario will make them pay if they continue to do so.
Hanifin's a great talent but he hasn't been flawless thus far in the tournament IMO. He's been caught out of position and been beaten to the outside here and there which shouldn't really happen given his mobility and hockey sense. I'm probably just nitpicking given that I want to hold him to the highest of standards but I hope the best is yet to come for him in the tournament.
Auston Matthews has been a bit of a revelation for me. He's from a somewhat obscure program out in Arizona, hasn't participated in US summer festivals and was injured most of the year but he seems to be one of the better pro prospects on the team. He's great along the boards, an excellent shooter/finisher and has been a major physical presence with a number of huge open ice hits. His skating seems a bit average but there's a lot to like in his game.
Colin White has been really good. He's a great skater, can really finish and works hard in all three zones. He, Bracco and Kirwan may be the best line I've seen the US ice at this tournament over the last number of years.
A player I've been really impressed with who hasn't been mentioned is Casey Fitzgerald. He's got excellent mobility and can really handle the puck. Obviously his size is not ideal for the pro game but he'll likely be an important player for US junior teams in the future and should be an awesome college player.
All this said, the real game to evaluate the US and it's players will be against Ontario. Looking forward to it.