When Will The USA Be The Country To Beat? (EDIT: Not just for WJHC)

[mahagga73]

I think Team USA could get to a level close to Canada but I just don't think anyone will ever surpass them. Countries have challenged them and even beat them at times but Hockey is so deeply ingrained in the culture it's hard to see them slipping too far. Canada's demise as the dominant hockey power has been predicted before and then Canada emphatically shows who's boss. I mean half the fun of international hockey is seeing how your national team stacks up to Team Canada. People were predicting the USA was going to dominate soccer too by now but that's not the case. There just isn't the passion for one particular sport like that in this country. There is a lot to be said for intangibles in sports and winning tradition . There is a mystique with Canada hockey, Brazil soccer, USA basketball, etc. .

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Oh but it's already happening, 2016 will be a great example for what's to come

You need to be realistic

 

[dwanmaster*]

You need to be realistic

I think you need to be. The top 2 draft picks in 2016 will be from Scottsdale and Boca Raton, and 2 more top 5 picks the year after that will be from California and Texas. It's only the beginning friend

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I think you need to be. The top 2 draft picks in 2016 will be from Scottsdale and Boca Raton, and 2 more top 5 picks the year after that will be from California and Texas. It's only the beginning friend

But none of them will touch Mcdavid

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

The best athletes still go to football, basketball, and baseball.

A few years ago, my nephew was 3rd string defensive back on his freshman high football team. He never got to play.

He quit and made the varsity hockey team as a freshman. He ended up a top 6 forward on the AA State Champion Flint Phantoms. Never would have made the varsity football or basketball teams, though.

And? Hockey takes a complete different set of athleticism that say basketball.


If hockey was the first or second biggest sport in the USA, Canada would still be a #1 or #2 country.

USA has to produce a Gretzky, Crosby, McDavid, Lemiux, Lindros type of player before they are even considered a #1/2 country IMO, and Eichel isn't it

 

[JayKing]

I think you need to be. The top 2 draft picks in 2016 will be from Scottsdale and Boca Raton, and 2 more top 5 picks the year after that will be from California and Texas. It's only the beginning friend

Where the player is born is irrelevant until he decides to represent a certain country. That's like saying Pominville is Canadian, William Nylander is Canadian or Couturier is American. Chychrun is a dual citizen that has represented Canada at the U17 so until otherwise he's Canadian.

and the 2016 draft is still far (I don't see Matthews or Chychrun dropping but Sokolov and Puljujärvi are very special players) and that's not even considering guys that can be the next Huberdeau, Drouin or Bennett and sky rocket through the rankings in their draft year.

 

[dwanmaster*]

Where the player is born is irrelevant until he decides to represent a certain country. That's like saying Pominville is Canadian, William Nylander is Canadian or Couturier is American. Chychrun is a dual citizen that has represented Canada at the U17 so until otherwise he's Canadian.

and the 2016 draft is still far (I don't see Matthews or Chychrun dropping but Sokolov and Puljujärvi are very special players) and that's not even considering guys that can be the next Huberdeau, Drouin or Bennett and sky rocket through the rankings in their draft year.

Good thing Matthews was developed in Arizona and Chychurn in Florida... and Brown in St. Louis and Day in Michigan.

Gildon has been playing in Texas his whole life and Khodorenko only Moved to Michigan at 14 after being developed in Cali.
Good try tho

 

[Love]

At the world juniors this year, I think they're the team to beat.

Maybe, maybe not. Either way it says absolutely nothing about where they are in comparison to Canada.

Would they still be the favorites if this was Canada's team?

Drouin-Mackinnon-Duclair
Lazar-McDavid-Reinhart
Dal Colle-Horvat-Domi
Bennett-Petan-Virtanen
Fabbri

Nurse-Ekblad
Morrissey-Bowey
Heatherington-Sanheim
Morin

*Posted from the Canadian roster talk thread by sickest flow bro

 

[JayKing]

Good thing Matthews was developed in Arizona and Chychurn in Florida... and Brown in St. Louis and Day in Michigan.

Gildon has been playing in Texas his whole life and Khodorenko only Moved to Michigan at 14 after being developed in Cali.
Good try tho

Then I guess Nylander is just as much American since he played minor hockey in the US until U16 and is born in Calgary. I guess Galchenyuk isn't American since he was developped in Russia before playing 1 year midget in the US.

Until Chychrun represents the US, he's Canadian.

and btw Sean Day doesn't even have US citizenship.

 

[dwanmaster*]

Then I guess Nylander is just as much American since he played minor hockey in the US until U16 and is born in Calgary. I guess Galchenyuk isn't American since he was developped in Russia before playing 1 year midget in the US.

Until Chychrun represents the US, he's Canadian.

That's not even what I'm arguing bud. I'm saying that all these kids are being developed in non traditional hockey places now, and the US is starting to get elite prospects from Cali, Texas and Florida. That along with Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Colorado getting huge leaps in youth hockey will provide even more top players for USA hockey, instead only getting players from New England, Michigan and Minnesota, which was the case until just recently.

 

[JayKing]

That's not even what I'm arguing bud. I'm saying that all these kids are being developed in non traditional hockey places now, and the US is starting to get elite prospects from Cali, Texas and Florida. That along with Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Colorado getting huge leaps in youth hockey will provide even more top players for USA hockey, instead only getting players from New England, Michigan and Minnesota, which was the case until just recently.

okay gotcha. my mistake.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Yet a lot of them choose to play for Canada despite playing all their hockey up until juniors in USA. The 2016 draft could be basically no Canadians in the top10 if Logan Brown and Jakob Chychrun would play for the nation they grew up in. Anyway, I think US are really getting there. The growth recent years has been gigantic. Just look at their 96, 97 and 98 crops. Very impressive, and there's no reason to think it won't continue. I think they'll always be overshadowed by Canada to some degree but that gap is closing rapidly.

Within 25 years it will.

I think like many have said, in 25 years or so, I think you'll see the US pass Canada (Not that Canada will decline, but they're maxed out). The main things holding it back are accessibility, culture, and pay. Baseball viewership is on the decline, and I highly doubt they get as lucrative a tv contract as they just got, but it's still more accessible and cheaper for young kids than hockey.

When hockey can get a better foothold mainstream, I think you'll see a surge for the US.

I agree with this, it won't be now, but in 25 years, unless Canada plans to stop all immigration, it will. US is cheaper to live.

 

[dwanmaster*]

And? Hockey takes a complete different set of athleticism that say basketball.


If hockey was the first or second biggest sport in the USA, Canada would still be a #1 or #2 country.

USA has to produce a Gretzky, Crosby, McDavid, Lemiux, Lindros type of player before they are even considered a #1/2 country IMO, and Eichel isn't it

Don't worry Jake Wise is that player

 

[D3vilsH0ck3y]

You Canadians are missing the point/getting very defensive. Canada should be the best, It is a way of life, It is a religion to you guys. Here in America its a distant 4th in the big 4 as much as It pains me to say it.

Not being cocky but facts are facts... Our best athletes are not being drawn to the NHL and it's a shame.

The best part about the olympics and these world juniors historically is that we aren't the favorites. Makes it that much better when we make some noise!


At least we are competitive and getting better each year, hopefully that results in a couple generational American talents.

And if you want to play in other sports (curling doesn't count) come see us, lets see who is comepetitive

 

[Puckstuff]

Hard to say. Hockey is growing rapidly in the States so it's just a matter of time though.

Soccer more then hockey for sure

 

[Puckstuff]

You Canadians are missing the point/getting very defensive. Canada should be the best, It is a way of life, It is a religion to you guys. Here in America its a distant 4th in the big 4 as much as It pains me to say it.

Not being cocky but facts are facts... Our best athletes are not being drawn to the NHL and it's a shame.

The best part about the olympics and these world juniors historically is that we aren't the favorites. Makes it that much better when we make some noise!


At least we are competitive and getting better each year, hopefully that results in a couple generational American talents.

And if you want to play in other sports (curling doesn't count) come see us, lets see who is comepetitive

No doubt... you dominant Basketball, up there in baseball, competitive in hockey/soccer and no one cares about Football you don't have competition it's literally just you guys

 

[BaconNater]

When we find a time machine and use it to convince a 14 year old JJ Watt to not give up his dreams of the NHL.

This needs to happen.

 

[Get North]

Don't worry Jake Wise is that player

He's 14, jeez.

 

[Puckstuff]

This needs to happen.

or Mike Troutt ...

 

[dwanmaster*]

He's 14, jeez.

Yeah Generational talents have the tendency to stick out at young ages

 

[Get North]

Yeah Generational talents have the tendency to stick out at young ages

McDavid didn't even stick out at 14, I think it was 15 and I doubt alot of people have heard of Jake Wise.

 

[AmericanDream]

McDavid didn't even stick out at 14, I think it was 15 and I doubt alot of people have heard of Jake Wise.

Wise is legit and a beast. Ahead of what Eichel has been every step of the way.

 

[dwanmaster*]

McDavid didn't even stick out at 14, I think it was 15 and I doubt alot of people have heard of Jake Wise.

How would Mcdavid get exceptional player status if he didn't stick out at 14

 

[AmericanDream]

Good thing Matthews was developed in Arizona and Chychurn in Florida... and Brown in St. Louis and Day in Michigan.

Gildon has been playing in Texas his whole life and Khodorenko only Moved to Michigan at 14 after being developed in Cali.
Good try tho

Gildon is simply the best defensemen I have ever seen in my life at his age. I know I usually pimp up US kids through the roof, but I felt Werenski was the top dman in this country 2 years ago, and from everything I have seen from Gildon, he is simply at another level physically, IQ wise, and skill wise...the kid is a super star in the making. Now we have seen this before from many kids only to be let down, but his overall size and skillset is something that I will have a hard time seeing him not living up to expectations.

Khodorenko is another kid who will be under the spotlight for too long IMO. He did well at the U17 but Jones and Keller came away as more impressive IMO. Plenty of time for Pat to put it altogether, but if there is a US kid who drops, I have a feeling it is him since he isnt draft eligible until 2017.

 

[Get North]

Wise is legit and a beast. Ahead of what Eichel has been every step of the way.

Wow, sounds good. I want to see where he's at in his first international tournament at the U17s in 2 years.

How would Mcdavid get exceptional player status if he didn't stick out at 14

I mean't I didn't remember hearing alot about McDavid when he was 14, I saw McKenzie's article about him in 2012 and the TSN feature in the 2012 Summer and then got exceptional status. In 2012, I first heard about him and that's when he was 15. I guess Hockey Canada knew about him when he was 14 but I certainly didn't.

Anyways, we'll see how Jake Wise does. I saw an article about him considered "the next one" but, I'm hearing alot of that so I'll just wait and see.