USA Hockey looking to go for Gold as American talent develops.
There’s no doubt about it; it’s a great time to be a fan of USA Hockey. Coming off a gold medal performance at the IIHF World Juniors and an NHL Draft where 52 Americans were selected, American hockey certainly seems to be on an upward trajectory. American born first overall picks have become less of a shocker over the last few years as well, Jack Hughes (2019) and Auston Matthews (2016) both were selected first and with good reason.
More impressively, USA players are starting to come from less than traditional hockey markets, and who is a better example of that than the previously mentioned Auston Matthews, who was born in California and grew up in Arizona. All of these factors indicate a bright future for American hockey and should bring confidence to fans as they chase down that elusive third gold medal, the last coming in 1980 at Lake Placid. Could 2022 be our next Miracle? Let’s take a look at how the roster should be constructed first.
Forwards:
Patrick Kane: Obviously. “Kaner” has been a part of USA hockey’s heartbeat since his first overall selection in 2007. Even as he’s aged, Kane has stayed consistent in putting up great numbers and maintaining his shifty finesse in the offensive zone. As one of the longest tenured player’s on the team, his presence and play style are necessary to combat the likes of Canada and Finland who will have strong defense and goaltending. Even at this stage in his career, Kane is still averaging over a point-per-game (as of the day this article was written), on a less than inspiring Blackhawks roster without Jonathan Toews. Kane is a lock.
Jack Eichel: There’s going to be a few no-brainers on this list and Eichel is one of them. If not for some guy named Connor McDavid, Eichel would have been another American drafted first overall. Jack is a point machine and provides a lot of speed in the center core, which is necessary with the direction the NHL and hockey in general is headed. The US will certainly need Jack on his A-game.
Auston Matthews: Already mentioned a few times in this article, Matthews will be a core piece of every US Olympic team for the next 10 to 15 years. He’s been a dominant force on the ice ever since his unforgettable four-goal performance in his rookie debut against the Senators. He’s quick, but also has a lot of physical strength that allows him to dig in the corners and win puck battles. Auston is definitely a no doubter for this team, unlike some of his fashion choices. (If you read this Auston, I’m just kidding.)
Johnny Gaudreau: Continuing with the speed theme, adding a quick winger like Gaudreau is an easy choice. Although small by NHL standards, only standing at 5’9”, “Johnny Hockey” has continued to silence critics with his offensive capabilities despite his small stature. I think that he’ll likely start on the second line, but I could see him on the third line where he may get more favorable matchups if deployed correctly.
Matthew Tkachuk: Here’s some power for you. Tkachuk’s grit paired with his ability to dig in the corners will certainly frustrate opposing teams during the Olympics. This is the guy that completely contrasts the finesse players on the team since he has no problem doing the dirty work, raising the energy level, by providing big hits and greasy goals for team USA. An added bonus for the team, is that what M.Tkachuk may lack in finesse he does not lack in speed. His ability to keep pace with most of the players on the team will be an important part of his impact, which is why it would make sense to put him on a line with Gaudreau. Their familiarity as teammates provides the duo with increased chemistry however, Tkachuk’s skillset will allow coaches to put him anywhere in this lineup.
Brady Tkachuk: I’ve seen Brady in the extras on a lot of prediction lists or not on the team at all. I understand why someone may not put him on the team, but I really think the younger Tkachuk will take another step forward this season and develop into a player deserving of a roster spot in 2022. I also factored in that Brady hasn’t played with much talent on Ottawa’s rebuilding roster. Giving him the chance to play with top talent, after another year of development, will expose him to the highest level of competition and be mutually beneficial for a team looking to add another key piece.
Kyle Connor: Somehow Kyle Connor is still an underrated player. He’s been a consistent core piece for the Winnipeg Jets but for whatever reason I never see him get the praise he deserves. He’s on pace to average a point-per-game right now, and is getting better as he enters his prime. I have him penciled in as a top-6 winger on this team and his ability to finish will be key alongside whichever elite center he lines up next to.
Dylan Larkin: The captain of the Detroit Red Wings will bring not only blazing speed, but also be strong defensively in the defensive zone. Larkin’s acceleration and strength will allow him to carry the puck into the zone efficiently or dump and chase to win puck battles and cycle play. I see him getting key time on the penalty kill or even shifting to the wing on the power play. Either way, Larkin is an excellent asset for this team no matter what role you deploy him in.
Blake Wheeler: We’ve got another captain, this time for the Winnipeg Jets. His 6’5” frame adds more strength to the lineup and provides the team with another player willing to throw his body around in the corners. Wheeler welcomes contact in front of the net on a power play and excels at putting loose pucks in the back of the net. He’ll be one of the oldest players on this team by the time the Winter Olympics roll around, but his leadership and motor will be a neccesity.
Jake Guentzel: When evaluating the talent and seeing who would make the cut, I felt pretty confident putting Guentzel on this list. He plays extremely well in a complementary role next to elite talent as seen during his time in Pittsburgh with Crosby and Malkin, and realistically, you could slot him anywhere in the lineup because of it. I could see him starting in the bottom-6 but, if one of the wingers in the top-6 slumps, he could be moved up to provide a scoring spark .
Brock Boeser: Similar to Guentzel, Boeser has the ability to slot in anywhere. He has an elite shot and would be great to put on the power play for one-timer finishing opportunities. On an elite team, Boeser will have the opportunity to be on the receiving end of passes from the likes of Jack Eichel or Kyle Connor which should only elevate his chance to make a contribution. He’s been very good for the Canucks this year and has really settled back into top form so expect to see him in 2022.
Jack Hughes: This could be a controversial pick to some at this point, but I’m keeping in mind that the Winter Olympics are a whole year away. That’s a whole season of development for Hughes on the New Jersey Devils, giving him time to fill out his frame and gain experience. In his sophomore season he has been one of the most important players for the Devils putting a lackluster rookie season behind him. Watching him closely, going back to his time on the World Juniors team, he’s gained a lot of confidence in his game and it’s easy to see this year. I see him getting limited minutes or getting slotted in against certain teams where the opposing defense is smaller in stature, but he certainly could be a key addition to this team offensively if he continues to progress.
Forward Extras:
JT Miller: Miller can provide a great mix of skill and grit for the bottom-6, and can be used for penalty killing. Truly a Swiss Army Knife, I wouldn’t be surprised if he began the Olympics on the starting forward group instead of as an extra.
TJ Oshie: Some will disagree with this pick, but I think that Oshie was well liked last time for his heroics, and still has a lot to give in the right role. That being said, this will likely be his last appearance on the USA Olympic roster.
Defense:
Zach Werenski–Seth Jones: Yep. They’re being put down as a pair. This has been a very popular pick in projections and it’s easy to see why. Together they’re one of the best pairings in the league, if not the best. Werenski’s offensive capabilities and Jones’ shutdown play style make for a fantastic duo. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
John Carlson: Another no brainer. Carlson has been producing offensive numbers at an insane clip as a defenseman and has been in the Norris conversation consistently. He will be extremely crucial to this team’s success.
Charlie McAvoy: The Bruins 14th overall pick in 2016 has been stellar since he made his debut in 2017, after Boston University ended their season. Over the past year, he has blossomed into the bonafide #1 defenseman that Boston has hoped he would become. It wouldn’t surprise me if team USA started him on the second pair with John Carlson.
Jaccob Slavin: This Carolina Hurricane will bring some stability to the bottom-pair. He’s been extremely steady for the Canes, and has quickly but quietly progressed into one of the better stay at home defensemen in the league. He still nets a pretty good amount of points for a defenseman whose strengths are mostly in his own end. Along with his point contribution, his size will be nice to have on the back end.
Quinn Hughes: I had a really difficult time deciding the last defenseman in the starting six. I considered adding Ryan Suter, who is still a fine player and someone who could bring experience to the team, but ultimately Hughes’ offensive upside is too much to pass on. He’s a points machine and can quarterback a powerplay as well as just about anyone in the league. Paired with a defenseman like Slavin, it would allow Quinn to be more offensive and really push the tempo of an already quick offense. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see Quinn dish some passes to his brother Jack?
Extra:
Adam Fox: I know I was saying I considered Ryan Suter before, and it was definitely tough to pick Fox over him, but I feel confident it’s the right choice. Fox has been really good for the Rangers since signing with them, and has quickly become their best all-around defenseman. He fits the faster paced US team that will be on the ice this time next year.
Goaltenders:
Connor Hellebuyck: Vezina winner. He’s not only an easy choice to lead the three goalies that will make the team, but a shoe-in for the starting spot. Not even much to elaborate on here.
John Gibson: This was another easy choice for me. Gibson has played on some pretty bad Ducks teams the last few years and still has a career .918% save percentage. Not only is that an impressive number, but he’s still getting better at age 27. If Hellebyuck were to underperform I would still be extremely confident in Gibson as the starter.
Cal Petersen: Toughest choice on the entire roster. Gone are the days of Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Quick, and the days of Spencer Knight aren’t here yet. With no clear cut choice I decided to go off of the hot hand, and thus, Cal Petersen was chosen. His LA counterpart Quick has struggled of late, and I didn’t feel Thatcher Demko has been good enough to warrant a selection either. Petersen has been strong for the Kings, posting a .922% save percentage in the 2019-2020 season. For now, he would be my choice.
Opening Game Lines:
Connor – Eichel – Kane
Gaudreau – Matthews – M. Tkachuk
Tkachuk – Larkin – Wheeler
Guentzel – J. Hughes – Boeser
Werenski – Jones
McAvoy – Carlson
Hughes – Slavin
Hellebuyck
Gibson