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Winter Olympics 2018: Men’s hockey power rankings

By Derek Grochowski

This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 26: Jordan Greenway
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 26: Jordan Greenway /

5. United States

No Patrick Kane, no Jonathan Quick, no Jack Eichel or Auston Matthews for Team USA. Looking at the roster the United States would have been able to play if NHL players could play is impressive.  In years past depth down the center has limited Team USA’s success, now it is a strength. Unfortunately, fans can only dream of those all-star line combinations and will have to settle for Mark Arcobello and Brian Gionta.

The Americans bring a lot of players with professional experience but also mix in some fresh faces. Head coach Tony Granato will have his work cut out for him to bring a gold medal home to the states.

Arcobello, Gionta and Chris Bourque will be playing to get another opportunity in the NHL. Team captain Brian Gionta is not signed by any professional team but has been training with the Rochester Americans of the AHL. This Olympics is also a great preview of the United States next wave of players.

Ryan Donato, Jordan Greenway, Troy Terry and Will Borgen all can prove they are ready to take the next step in their careers and earn a chance in the NHL. Donato is a second-round pick of the Boston Bruins and has been playing at Harvard for three seasons and has improved every year. Jordan Greenway is a power forward, drafted by Minnesota in the second round, who represented Team USA at the 2017 World Junior Championship and won gold in Toronto.

Greenway played a strong, heavy game all tournament and registered eight points. His teammate during that World Junior tournament was Troy Terry who became a US hockey hero for his impressive shootout performances to help the United States win gold. Terry is a Anaheim Ducks fifth-round draft pick. Will Borgen was a fourth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2015 as a high school senior. Since being drafted Borgen has gone to St. Cloud State and played in the World Junior championship with Ryan Donato. Borgen will be a stabilizer on the blue line for Team USA. He isn’t flashy offensively but is steady on defense.

Team USA opens their schedule Wednesday Feb. 14 against Slovenia. Their big test in the group stage will be their last game against the “Olympic Athletes of Russia.” If the USA team can beat the Russian team they should feel confident about facing any other team in the tournament.

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