WJC: What's right with USA?

[qc14]

I mean for this year you could argue coming that they had the single best player at all 6 positions and the best head coach.

Overall though, American development and interest (and money) in the sport has caught up enough to the point where we can put out a roster that's at worst competitive with Canada every single year. We'll never match Canada for the total depth, but the good thing is that a roster is only 25 players!

Carle might get an NHL coaching gig if he keeps it up.

Wasn't there reporting that Carle could basically have any NHL job if he wanted to but his family likes Denver?

 

[TonsofPuppies]

I mean for this year you could argue coming that they had the single best player at all 6 positions and the best head coach.

Overall though, American development and interest (and money) in the sport has caught up enough to the point where we can put out a roster that's at worst competitive with Canada every single year. We'll never match Canada for the total depth, but the good thing is that a roster is only 25 players!


Wasn't there reporting that Carle could basically have any NHL job if he wanted to but his family likes Denver?

Could be, I don't know much about him besides his great record. Still, everyone has their price. Wouldn't surprise me to see him take an opportunity at some point, if granted.

 

[macbowes]

Nothing more to it than it was a good year for USA, and down year for CAN due to having our best players in the NHL. CAN roster will be much stronger next year, and USA will be much worse.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

The USNTDP was in part created to increase skills development and improve U.S. performance in best-on-best competitions (in particular at the junior level) and in many ways that has paid off. That said, I think we're in store for a few down years coming up as I don't see a ton of top tier talent on the horizon (aside from Hagens if he ends up playing next year).

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

It's funny, I'm 36, been playing hockey since 92. In my lifetime I think hockey had steadily gotten more popular in the US while the NHL had continuously gotten less popular. It's the best sport with the worst major pro league.

Well, I wouldn't go quite that far, The NBA is an absolute joke. This coming from a former NBA fan.

 

[Czechboy]

3 gold medals in the last 5 years.

Well played!

 

[TonsofPuppies]

The USNTDP was in part created to increase skills development and improve U.S. performance in best-on-best competitions (in particular at the junior level) and in many ways that has paid off. That said, I think we're in store for a few down years coming up as I don't see a ton of top tier talent on the horizon (aside from Hagens if he ends up playing next year).

It's to be expected. I mean, despite how shit the last two tourneys have been for Canada, they did win two golds back to back just prior to that, one with that buffoon Cameron behind the bench, no less. These things go in cycles, but I hope that we get a match between both nations at top strength in the near future. Love this rivalry.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Yep, that’s why they won. A conspiracy from refs to ignore their chronic diving. Definitely makes sense

Who said anything about a conspiracy? All I said was they dove a ton and didn’t get called

 

[ecemleafs]

Canada remains at the top of the hockey world… With Bedard, Celebrini and McKenna coming… Hockey Canada is a strong as it’s ever been and will not lose a single game in the 4 Nations tournament or Olympics… Or any other competition that is best on best.

Canada would have won at least 13 of the last 14 WJC if it was best on best no doubt.. Not this USA make a wish tournament

the usa won gold during the lockout in 2013 when canada had everyone available.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

It's funny, I'm 36, been playing hockey since 92. In my lifetime I think hockey had steadily gotten more popular in the US while the NHL had continuously gotten less popular. It's the best sport with the worst major pro league.

1000%.

 

[Rob]

Prioritizing development over results when it comes to young players.

Yes, the USNTDP is a better developmental program than the CHL.
When it comes to the WJC and U18 tournaments, the players are also more familiar with each other.

Note: I don’t expect Hockey Canada to adopt the same model. The CHL wouldn’t agree

 

[57special]

Most professional sports are showing declines in interest (the outliers being the WNBA and MLS only because they are comparatively new) which is attributable to many things, including the availability of other entertainment options, high cost to actually attend games which shuts out a large portion of the population, long-term interest fatigue, etc., etc. & etc.

Meanwhile, youth and collegiate hockey seem to be growing at a pretty good clip in the U.S., probably due in no small part to NHL expansion. Heck, even the University of Nevada Las Vegas now has a hockey team .... the mere idea of which would have drawn hearty laughter even just 10 years ago.

Hockey will only touch a relatively small niche part of the U.S. market -- every U.S. high school large and small has a football field, baseball field, and indoor basketball court, but hardly any have an ice rink -- though even a modest percentage of 330 million folks is still quite something.

It's a decline in measurable interest. It's hard to gauge how many are watching now as there are so many ways to watch. NHL teams in the States are making money, and the cost to buy a team has ballooned. Most teams fill buildings, or a large % of them.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

It's funny, I'm 36, been playing hockey since 92. In my lifetime I think hockey had steadily gotten more popular in the US while the NHL had continuously gotten less popular. It's the best sport with the worst major pro league.

Don't see it. A bit older but the NHL is by far more improved than when you started watching. And compared to the other three major sports, is the only league which requires its players to be highly-skilled and conduct themselves in a professional manner.

Greed and economics (and likely the increase in gambling outfits) have converted the NBA, NFL and MLB into WWF-type outfits with little emphasis on the respective sports.

 

[Svedu]

People tend to forget that Carle seems to be a great coach. I believe he has the potential to become the coach for their senior team in a couple of years.
He seems to be able to do adjustments during games. Showing that he's actively thinking and able to question things and earlier beliefs. That's signs of needed humbleness and the ability that makes a winning coach. Also, seems to have that attitude and aura that he can convince his players. Wouldn't be surprised seeing him at higher levels soon.

 

[57special]

I mean for this year you could argue coming that they had the single best player at all 6 positions and the best head coach.

Overall though, American development and interest (and money) in the sport has caught up enough to the point where we can put out a roster that's at worst competitive with Canada every single year. We'll never match Canada for the total depth, but the good thing is that a roster is only 25 players!


Wasn't there reporting that Carle could basically have any NHL job if he wanted to but his family likes Denver?

College hockey is not a money sport. Carle will take a job that pays him 10 times what he is making now... who knows, maybe in Denver?

 

[647Hockey]

I didnt watch all the key games, but all the main teams have tons of young fast skilled players as a whole. But the US team players just seem more skilled, more aggressive and they do cool weird jukes and passes.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Nothing more to it than it was a good year for USA, and down year for CAN due to having our best players in the NHL. CAN roster will be much stronger next year, and USA will be much worse.

Sorry, but I don’t entirely buy this.

This US team wasn’t thought of as a juggernaut coming in. At best, they were looked at as a co-favorite. Wasn’t like last year where they simply had a great age group.

Canada every single year has the most high draft picks and first round picks and all that. That doesn’t always end up in the best team.

I do believe Canada will probably field a stronger team next year and USA will probably field a weaker team, but I think the idea that it was predetermined this year how things would turn out is revisionist history from a Canadian perspective.

I think believing that may lead to another bad year from Canada. They absolutely could’ve romped the field this year and they simply didn’t perform, while the US did. Next year, it’ll be there for both countries to go out there on the ice and win. It’s not about how it looks on paper. If paper was what mattered, Finland would’ve finished fifth this year.

 

[Svedu]

Sorry, but I don’t entirely buy this.

This US team wasn’t thought of as a juggernaut coming in. At best, they were looked at as a co-favorite. Wasn’t like last year where they simply had a great age group.

Canada every single year has the most high draft picks and first round picks and all that. That doesn’t always end up in the best team.

I do believe Canada will probably field a stronger team next year and USA will probably field a weaker team, but I think the idea that it was predetermined this year how things would turn out is revisionist history from a Canadian perspective.

I think believing that may lead to another bad year from Canada. They absolutely could’ve romped the field this year and they simply didn’t perform, while the US did. Next year, it’ll be there for both countries to go out there on the ice and win. It’s not about how it looks on paper. If paper was what mattered, Finland would’ve finished fifth this year.

Not sure the US will be much weaker if they have Carle as a coach? And of course if Hagens can participate. But otherwise you could be right regarding that.
Agreed on Canada. McKenna should, could and probably will tear it up next year. Only one player but I believe he can be just as important for Team Canada next year as say Dvorsky was for his Slovakian team. And that speaks tons considering the Canadian depth.
Also the psychology thing. Canada are now humbled and hungry. With the right selections and a good coach they for sure will earn themselves a medal, question is which one.

The Czechs will have a really, really good roster if their stars are healthy. I believe they will medal three years in a row.
Finland could be just as decent as this years depending on individuals development this spring and next years fall.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Not sure the US will be much weaker if they have Carle as a coach? And of course if Hagens can participate. But otherwise you could be right regarding that.
Agreed on Canada. McKenna should, could and probably will tear it up next year. Only one player but I believe he can be just as important for Team Canada next year as say Dvorsky was for his Slovakian team. And that speaks tons considering the Canadian depth.
Also the psychology thing. Canada are now humbled and hungry. With the right selections and a good coach they for sure will earn themselves a medal, question is which one.

The Czechs will have a really, really good roster if their stars are healthy. I believe they will medal three years in a row.
Finland could be just as decent as this years depending on individuals development this spring and next years fall.

I think Carle is a big part of the USA’s success. Hard to know at this point if he’ll be back.

As for the players, it’ll likely be a very different style of team. The defensive depth should be a lot better. The goaltending should be worse. If Hagens is in the NHL, center will be very unproven and possibly not that good.

Judging on paper a year before the tournament, I think the USA will be slightly worse, but still will have a shot to win.

 

[Mike Liut]

How many U20 players does Canada have playing in the NHL currently?

 

[KillerMillerTime]

They only develop 1 guy a year good enough to play in the NHL as a teenager while Canada produces 3-5 that’s what’s going right for them

Care to tell people how US beat Canada in '13 and '21 when it was close to best on best? US I believe had zero players with NHL appearances in '13 while Canada
had Nugent-Hopkins and Schiefele with NHL experience.

Even 2004 was close enough to even and US won.

Never fails Canadians whine when they lose.

 

[MNRube]

Who said anything about a conspiracy? All I said was they dove a ton and didn’t get called

“Well coached, took all the best players available, never get called for very obvious and egregious dives 10+ times per game”

Please explain how we are to interpret this. You are inferring that the U.S. dove 3+ times a period and none was called. It’s a very transparent Canadian coping mechanism for a team that finished below 0.500.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

How many U20 players does Canada have playing in the NHL currently?

What happened in '13 and '21 when each team had about same best on best access?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

“Well coached, took all the best players available, never get called for very obvious and egregious dives 10+ times per game”

Please explain how we are to interpret this. You are inferring that the U.S. dove 3+ times a period and none was called. It’s a very transparent Canadian coping mechanism for a team that finished below 0.500.

I’m not even Canadian LMAO

Leonard was flopping almost every time someone touched him, I’m sorry your bias doesn’t allow you to see this

Also good job ignoring the first two points in my comment and just crying about the part you didn’t like

 

[Mike Liut]

What happened in '13 and '21 when each team had about same best on best access?

Not sure, I was trying to ask a question