World Cup of Hockey: Team North America gives Team USA bright future
Despite hitting rock bottom at the World Cup of Hockey, Team USA can feel optimistic about the future thanks to Team North America.
After a humiliating performance at the World Cup of Hockey, Team USA needs a reboot. The same players who nearly led the way to a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics have grown stale. America hit its highest high at Lake Placid in 1980, but hasn’t been able to duplicate that success. Despite that, Team USA fans have every reason to be excited about the future. That reason? The kids.
Just like the 2010 Olympics team that saw 13 players 25 years or younger, the United States has a wave of young talent ready to emerge. The 2010 team gave new life to a team that won one game at the 2006 Olympics. There are some remarkable similarities between the 2016 World Cup team and the 2006 team. The average age of the 2016 team? 29.5, which isn’t too far off from the 2006 team (30.9). By the 2018 Olympics, the World Cup roster’s average age will be roughly equal to the 2006 team. This wave of young players couldn’t be coming at a better time.
These young players could be something special. They have proven that during the World Cup of Hockey, with many of them playing for Team North America — a squad that, even though it failed to advance past group play, captivated the hearts of hockey fans in a way that very few teams have been able to do. It did so by playing quite possibly the most exciting hockey of any team in recent years. And believe it or not, there were more Americans on the team than Canadians.
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Leading the way is 2016 number one overall pick Auston Matthews. Matthews played last season overseas, dominating in a league full of men. With three goals and five points in his last five World Cup of Hockey games, he proved it again. Johnny Gaudreau is the most exciting man in hockey. He led North America with nine points in six tournament games. Shayne Gostisbehere is a unique weapon on the blue line, finishing tied for first on the team with four points in three tournament games.
Brandon Saad is the old man of the kids, as he will be turning 25 by the 2018 Olympics. He’ll be ready to lead the next wave of stars as a two-time Stanley Cup winner. Saad has happily accepted a lesser role on Team North America. His leadership and willingness to do anything to win make him an asset wherever he plays in the lineup. Oh, and he can score too.
Dylan Larkin, Sean Couturier, Jack Eichel, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck finish off an impressive and talented forward group. Larkin’s raw skill is among the best in the world. As he gets older, he’ll get even wiser. It’s easy to forget about Eichel because of Connor McDavid and Matthews, but it takes a special player to get 56 points in his rookie season. Miller has played sparingly for North America, but he could be a valuable depth player for Team USA in the future. Trocheck has shown some impressive skill despite playing in more of a defensive role. While Alex Galchenyuk didn’t make the team, he’s an important member of the youth movement as well.
Seth Jones (31 points in 81 games) and Jacob Trouba (21 points in 81 games) join Gostisbehere to make America’s next blue line potentially great. And there’s more coming as well. Justin Faulk (37 points in 64 points), Torey Krug (44 points in 81 games), Nick Leddy (40 points in 81 games), and Noah Hanifin (22 points in 79 games as a teenager) are all 25 years old or younger.
Even America’s future in goal looks bright. Yes, Jonathan Quick, Cory Schneider, and Ben Bishop are getting old. But John Gibson and Connor Hellebuyck are prepared to replace them. Gibson led the Anaheim Ducks to the playoffs last season with a .920 save percentage as a 22-year old. Meanwhile, Hellebuyck (.918 save percentage in 26 games) has shown promise in his brief NHL stint with the Winnipeg Jets.
It remains to be seen if NHL players will participate in the 2018 Olympics. But if they do, Team USA could be even better than they were in 2010. Here’s a rough look at what the team could look like.
Forwards: Galchenyuk, Matthews, Derek Stepan, Tyler Johnson, Eichel, Trocheck, Gaudreau, Joe Pavelski, Phil Kessel, Max Pacioretty, Saad, Larkin, Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk
Defense: Gostisbehere, Jones, Faulk, Ryan Suter, Krug, John Carlson, Ryan McDonagh, Trouba
Goalies: Cory Schneider, Jonathan Quick, Gibson
That’s a team that has a much better chance of beating teams than the World Cup of Hockey roster. The future of Team USA hockey appears to be quite bright.