5 reasons USA Hockey will win Olympic Gold

Team USA hockey team may be missing its top talents, but the side is headed to PyeongChang with hopes of taking home Olympic gold.

Team USA is always a medal threat at the Winter Olympics. But this year’s tournament is about as unpredictable as it gets.

With no NHL players allowed to compete, every roster will be missing its biggest names. The American team is no exception.

That means no Phil Kessel sniping heroics, or dazzling stickwork from Patrick Kane. Young superstars like Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel will also miss out.

Many of the NHLers were furious at the league’s decision. They all wanted the chance to represent their countries and play in the Olympic spotlight. But their loss will give an opportunity to a host of lesser known guys.

A wave of players who have been plying their trade in Europe, at college level or in the AHL will get their chance to shine.

Does that mean the competition is worse for the lack of star power involved? Possibly. Certainly, in terms of the skill level on show. But the loss of the NHL players also adds a huge element of unpredictability and excitement.

On paper, the Russians are early tournament favorites. They have former NHL talents including Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk in their ranks.  But with most sides missing NHL regulars, Team USA has a great shot at a medal. Here are five keys to Team USA winning Olympic gold.

1. Contribution from veteran leadership

Team USA needs its veterans to be great. The Americans have a handful of very young players taking prominent roles in PyeongChang. But they also have a whole host of guys in their late 20s and early 30s – players in their primes, but who have never played with this much on the line.

That’s where veterans like Brian Gionta and James Wisniewski come in. Gionta will captain the team, and has 15 NHL seasons to his name. Over that time he amassed more than 1,100 regular season and playoff games, topping 650 points. He was an international regular between 1998 and 2006, and has won the Stanley Cup. At 39 years old, Gionta’s best days are behind him and he doesn’t have a team this year. But he is a veteran who knows how to win, and that experience will be valuable.

Wisniewski is now playing in the German second tier. It’s fair to say that his NHL career, which topped 550 games, was heavily affected by multiple injuries. But when he’s fit and on form, he has a track record as a top class offensive defenseman. Just a few years ago he had a 51-point season in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has the experience to lead this USA blueline group.