Who’s Team USA’s best player?

[gritdash60]

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.

Dude i was genuine about the word, i did not know what it meant. If i come as negative it's because english isn't my first language.

"Save the bee in your bonnet" Another great one that i understand what you mean, but just not how it means what it does LOL.

 

[WhataKnight]

Dude i was genuine about the word, i did not know what it meant. If i come as negative it's because english isn't my first language.

"Save the bee in your bonnet" Another great one that i understand what you mean, but just not how it means what it does LOL.

Apologies!

Things got lost in translation and it looked harsher than likely intended.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Right now? Probably Eichel

 

[WhataKnight]

Right now? Probably Eichel

For versatility, I would say Eichel.

Matthews is still the greater offensive threat.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Q. Hughes for me. I doubt Matthews is ever going to be capable of turning on the jets and dominating a tournament/post season.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I'm really excited about the Americans going forward in general. Eichel, Matthews, J. Hughes, Tkachuk, Q. Hughes, Slavin, Fox, Faber, and Hellebuyck is an awesome core.

I'm still bitter about the 2014 Olympic squad petering out like they did. They were poorly coached and were a boring team to watch. Hopefully they have a ton more pace and effectiveness to their game this time around.

 

[BKarchitect]

I'm really excited about the Americans going forward in general. Eichel, Matthews, J. Hughes, Tkachuk, Q. Hughes, Slavin, Fox, Faber, and Hellebuyck is an awesome core.

I'm still bitter about the 2014 Olympic squad petering out like they did. They were poorly coached and were a boring team to watch. Hopefully they have a ton more pace and effectiveness to their game this time around.

Faber blossoming into an absolute beast really takes that defense to another level. I don’t think the Canadians can match that top four to be honest, although their full depth chart is still ridiculous.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Right now it's Quinn Hughes IMO.

 

[Fatass]

Best player is Quinn Hughes. Most important player will be whomever plays goalie.

 

[hamzarocks]

I respect your opinion, agree to disagree here.

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.

There is pretty much 0% chance Mcdavid wont dominate the tourney and Slavin will shut him down.

Elite Offense beats Elite Defense and Mcdavid will either produce at EVS or on PP, with Slavin not being able to shutdown Mcdavid at both scenerios (maybe US 5 man or 4man PK unit's collectuvely can do a good job at limiting Mcdavid down)

 

[Crow]

Quinn Hughes then Matthews. Maybe the other way around but I’ll go with this one.

 

[Edgelord]

Either Quin or Auston. If its today, then Hughes is #1 but I feel Auston is still not playing at 100%. If he hits his stride by the tourney, I am confident that Matthews will be the USA's best player and the best shot at beating Connor for tourney MVP

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

There is pretty much 0% chance Mcdavid wont dominate the tourney and Slavin will shut him down.

Elite Offense beats Elite Defense and Mcdavid will either produce at EVS or on PP, with Slavin not being able to shutdown Mcdavid at both scenerios (maybe US 5 man or 4man PK unit's collectuvely can do a good job at limiting Mcdavid down)

Slavin has had success shutting McDavid down in the past. There's no reason to think he couldn't keep him off the scoresheet for a game in a tournament like this.

I also have to disagree on elite offense beating elite defense. Seems like it's usually the opposite that is true.

 

[nowhereman]

Quinn Hughes

 

[MNRube]

Eichel for me. Brady Tkachuk isn’t even a Top 10 player on this team

 

[tabness]

GUCCY
Beavis
methhead

 

[Bounces R Way]

Really could be a number of guys by the time the tourney starts. Right now I'd lean Eichel but Quinn is very close. Eichel is the best 200ft presence on the American team, he's somehow gotten underrated the last couple years even after putting in what I thought was a Conn Smythe performance in VGK's cup run.

 

[mphmiles]

I think the cup bump/Matthews' injury is making some overrate Eichel, here. I mean, Eichel is awesome, but did people forget in addition to being the best goal scorer in the league, Matthews has been a Selke candidate and one of the best 2-way centers in the game the last few years?

I'd still go Quinn, but it's definitely not Eichel over Matthews.

 

[bobholly39]

It's unquestionably Matthews. Not sure why this is close

 

[Fatass]

It's unquestionably Matthews. Not sure why this is close

Matthews is great. But (imo) Eichel might lay a more important role for the US team at centre than Matthews. And Quinn Hughes is their club’s best player. Their most important player, though, will be Hellybuck. Or whichever goalie they use.

 

[bobholly39]

Matthews is great. But (imo) Eichel might lay a more important role for the US team at centre than Matthews. And Quinn Hughes is their club’s best player. Their most important player, though, will be Hellybuck. Or whichever goalie they use.

I'm not sure if Matthews will be the best player in this tournament, so it's possible Eichel or whoever outperforms him - but the question was who the best player is, and it's Matthews. He's been a top ~6 player in the league for the past ~5 years or so, in a tier with McDavid/Mack/Kuch/Drai/Makar (Mcdavid probably in his own tier). No one else is really close.

Quinn Hughes is great, but Matthews had the better season last year. He's off to a slower start this year, but injuries didn't help.

As for Hellebuyck - we'll see. He doesn't have the best playoff track record, I personally am not sure a US victory passes through him, but maybe.

 

[lawrence]

give credit where its due.

I think its Mathews on paper. 69 goals centerman. But they gonna key on him very hard. You just know it.

Hughes is 2nd.

 

[Fatass]

I'm not sure if Matthews will be the best player in this tournament, so it's possible Eichel or whoever outperforms him - but the question was who the best player is, and it's Matthews. He's been a top ~6 player in the league for the past ~5 years or so, in a tier with McDavid/Mack/Kuch/Drai/Makar (Mcdavid probably in his own tier). No one else is really close.

Quinn Hughes is great, but Matthews had the better season last year. He's off to a slower start this year, but injuries didn't help.

As for Hellebuyck - we'll see. He doesn't have the best playoff track record, I personally am not sure a US victory passes through him, but maybe.

It’s all subjective, of course. The US is going to have a fantastic. That’s for sure.

 

[WarriorofTime]

AM34

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Lane Hutson