Who’s Team USA’s best player?

[HeadLiceHatty]

Either Eichel or Slavin.

Eichel has a legit case but Slavin? Over Matthews and both Hughes brothers ? Seriously? As good as he is there’s a better argument for him being out of the top 10 rather than even top 3…bizarre take

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Eichel has a legit case but Slavin? Over Matthews and both Hughes brothers ? Seriously?

He's the best shutdown player in the world, that's pretty valuable.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

He's the best shutdown player in the world, that's pretty valuable.

Debatable, but I think the debate is who is the most valuable overall, I don’t think he’s even close to top 3… I’m assuming you’re debating he could challenge as the most important player on the American roster, unless I’m interpreting incorrectly

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Debatable, but I think the debate is who is the most valuable overall, I don’t think he’s even close to top 3… I’m assuming you’re debating he could challenge as the most important player on the American roster, unless I’m interpreting incorrectly

Yes, he's arguably the most important player on the roster IMO.

I recognize that a minority opinion. But in a best on best, guys who can eliminate the top players from the opposition are extraordinarily valuable.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Yes, he's arguably the most important player on the roster IMO.

I recognize that a minority opinion. But in a best on best, guys who can eliminate the top players from the opposition are extraordinarily valuable.

I get where you’re coming from, I just can’t agree I think having Matthews and Quinn Hughes are just otherworldly more valuable, they just create and make the game harder for the other team. I think a player like Slavin could compliment a player like Hughes letting him be infinitely more effective, because he is that great defensively though.

 

[brentashton]

This ain’t big brain stuff.

Your location gives away to your bias.

 

[vaspa]

Yes, he's arguably the most important player on the roster IMO.

I recognize that a minority opinion. But in a best on best, guys who can eliminate the top players from the opposition are extraordinarily valuable.

He is a terriffic shutdown guy, no doubt. But on best on best tournaments the problem is that if he shuts down McDavid there's still MacKinnon and Crosby plus dozen other guys to worry about.

Hot goalie is the guy you want the most in these tournaments with single game elimination/final. Us Finns have come the closest to winning one when Kiprusoff (-04) and Niittymäki (-06) were absoloutely on fire during a tournament.

 

[Ace of Hades]

Q. Hughes > Matthews > The rest

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I get where you’re coming from, I just can’t agree I think having Matthews and Quinn Hughes are just otherworldly more valuable, they just create and make the game harder for the other team. I think a player like Slavin could compliment a player like Hughes letting him be infinitely more effective, because he is that great defensively though.

I respect your opinion, agree to disagree here.

He is a terriffic shutdown guy, no doubt. But on best on best tournaments the problem is that if he shuts down McDavid there's still MacKinnon and Crosby plus dozen other guys to worry about.

If he can shutdown McDavid (and we've seen him do it before), that's incredibly valuable.

Taking McDavid off the board is more important than adding a guy like Matthews IMO.

 

[5 14 6 1]

For me it's Eichel, 34 or Q Hughes

 

[Czechboy]

I voted way off from everyone. I said M. Tkcachuk. Feel like he'll have a hell of a tourney.

Wing's fans are arguing about Larkin being better than Eichel on their downfall thread. Surprised his name wasn't even included!

 

[strattonius]

Lmao at Slavin.

 

[Hanji]

For position players:
1. Matthews
2. Q. Hughes
3. Eichel
4. M. Tkachuk
5. J. Hughes

 

[NVious]

JT Miller (AINEC), the only reason people are saying Hughes and Matthews is he inspired one on his team through his leadership and the other wanted to be like him growing up.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Matthews

 

[HFpapi]

AM has been part of a pretty universal group of 6 (McDavid, Draisaitl, Mackinnon, Kucherov, Makar, Matthews) best players for a few years now.

As good as Q. Hughes is, I've never seen anyone seriously try to make the argument that he's a top 5/6 player in the world.

 

[BKarchitect]

I think Quinn is probably the best American player going, but I actually think this is gonna be Eichel’s tournament and season writ large. He’s been spectacular this season and I just have the feels about it.

The only centers I’d take definitively over him right now are McD and MacK. He absolutely belongs with the Barkov’s, AM’s and Drai’s of the hockey world. Form-wise, he’s the best American forward and I don’t think it’s close. When you add in how he played as a two-way gravitational center for Vegas on their Cup run - I think he’s got the talent and the proven moxy to be a defining player for this tournament.

 

[Rowlet]

AM has been part of a pretty universal group of 6 (McDavid, Draisaitl, Mackinnon, Kucherov, Makar, Matthews) best players for a few years now.

As good as Q. Hughes is, I've never seen anyone seriously try to make the argument that he's a top 5/6 player in the world.

Over the past two seasons he's probably been top 4, and the best defenseman. He impacts the ice at McDavid levels.

 

[mattihp]

It's the scary pantless guy.

 

[um]

Your location gives away to your bias.

I voted Quinn Hughes. My profile pic would indicate my bias better.

Maybe someday you can vote in hockey forum polls without so much difficulty.

 

[gritdash60]

It's Matthews or Quinn Hughes (my vote), but not having Kyle Connor even named on the poll is disgusting.

 

[WhataKnight]

It's Matthews or Quinn Hughes (my vote), but not having Kyle Connor even named on the poll is disgusting.

Disgusting today, perhaps serendipitous in early summer when he’s got extra jam in his game, benefitting from not being as taxed on energy.

7 Knights in the 4N. That prestige won’t feel as nice if they’re winded early in the PO’s.

 

[gritdash60]

Disgusting today, perhaps serendipitous in early summer when he’s got extra jam in his game, benefitting from not being as taxed on energy.

7 Knights in the 4N. That prestige won’t feel as nice if they’re winded early in the PO’s.

"Serendipitous" a great word, had to google what it means. Not sure what you mean "extra jam" or "not taxed on energy", he is top5 winger in the league and it's not even close.

Yeah and who asked how many knights are there? Don't need to use any ITR tricks. Congrats for a cup by hilarious expansion rules i guess.

 

[brentashton]

I voted Quinn Hughes. My profile pic would indicate my bias better.

Maybe someday you can vote in hockey forum polls without so much difficulty.

You’re the smartest person here.

I should have known that a profile pic displays your true team or player allegiance.

 

[WhataKnight]

"Serendipitous" a great word, had to google what it means. Not sure what you mean "extra jam" or "not taxed on energy", he is top5 winger in the league and it's not even close.

Yeah and who asked how many knights are there? Don't need to use any ITR tricks. Congrats for a cup by hilarious expansion rules i guess.

I’m not saying anything against Connor.

I’m lamenting how having so much of a roster in this thing could be restrictive to Cup aspirations.

The unwarranted negativity in your reply is why some people may just react to you by saying two words, though.

“Rent free.”

Save the bee in your bonnet for someone looking to spar, maybe? I’d prefer having fewer players from my team involved - that said, Connor absolutely deserves to be there. I know he’s good.

You…..don’t have to respond so antagonistically before understanding what you’re responding to.