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He additionally has already performed for Canada’s senior workforce on the final Males’s World Championship. Whereas he’s going to overlook extra time along with his common workforce on the College of Michigan, he’ll have an opportunity to be a No. 1 defenseman in a match towards professionals, the place he will likely be challenged much more. It must be an ideal coaching floor for the Sabres’ No. 1 decide.
The choice to go to Beijing, nonetheless, remains to be not a simple one. For all the similar causes that NHL gamers began to specific hesitation about going to Beijing, different gamers worry the identical. The possibility to have a prolonged quarantine will not be one anybody is keen to threat. On prime of that, watching the World Juniors crumble amid an uncontrolled unfold of the Omicron variant inside the match cohort exhibits how precarious our COVID-19 scenario nonetheless is.
Nevertheless, as I’ve talked with individuals across the school hockey world, it seems like a lot of the gamers who’re receiving invites are accepting with out hesitation. The possibility to play within the Olympics doesn’t come round fairly often, and sufficient gamers really feel very strongly about competing in that occasion if given the chance.
There’ll nonetheless be numerous gamers who play professionally in Europe for Workforce Canada, they usually might even have some NHL gamers presently in limbo with out offers for this season. Nevertheless, based mostly on all the things I’m listening to proper now, Workforce USA will rely much more closely on present school gamers with just a few European and AHL professionals dotting the lineup to sprinkle in some expertise.
Instantly, the 2022 Winter Olympics has change into a massively priceless analysis occasion for NHL prospects. With that in thoughts, I wished to share an inventory of gamers that I’ve heard could possibly be within the combine for his or her respective nationwide groups. Presently, I’ve no affirmation that each single participant has been requested, and simply because they’re on this checklist doesn’t imply they’ve accepted the invitation. With the data that the groups will embrace European and AHL execs, these are the NCAA gamers I believe are most definitely to be a part of the Olympic course of, whether or not they make the ultimate roster or not.
Canada
Owen Energy, D, Michigan (BUF): Stories counsel that Energy has already dedicated to play for Workforce Canada after dominating within the very temporary World Juniors this 12 months, in addition to profitable gold at Males’s Worlds final 12 months. He must be anticipated to be a big-time participant for Canada on the Olympics. His offensive recreation has actually opened up, and his defensive capabilities are robust. He’s proved the previous few months that he may have simply been within the NHL now however made the affected person resolution and has made probably the most of his time again with Michigan and Workforce Canada.
Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough Petes (ANA): This can be a difficult one as a result of McTavish is below NHL contract. Nevertheless, since he was loaned again to junior and couldn’t be referred to as again up until on an emergency foundation, it’s believed he may nonetheless be eligible to be loaned to the Olympic workforce. There’s no query he’d be a perfect candidate along with his rugged model and high-end talent. He confirmed he may compete on the NHL degree and appeared like he was going to be one among Canada’s superstars on the WJC at the beginning received shut down. Whereas there’s some murkiness concerning the eligibility of any gamers who occur to be in junior but additionally have NHL contracts, by all accounts, McTavish is within the combine. I believe he’d be a key piece for Canada if accepted.
Kent Johnson, C/W, Michigan (CBJ): One of the crucial expert gamers in school hockey and perhaps one of the entertaining outdoors of the NHL presently, Johnson must be a no brainer as an offensive candidate for Workforce Canada. His talent degree and skill to make stable performs ought to put him on the roster.
Devon Levi, G, Northeastern (BUF): After backstopping Canada to the brink of gold final 12 months whereas placing up historic numbers, Levi missed the remainder of final season with Northeastern. This 12 months, nonetheless, he’s been school hockey’s greatest goaltender. With a .955 save proportion in 13 video games for Northeastern, he additionally has collected six shutouts in what quantities to his rookie season in school.
Jack McBain, C/W, Boston Faculty (MIN): Within the midst of a profession 12 months as a senior at Boston Faculty, McBain has appeared so much nearer to the man I believed he could possibly be in the beginning of his draft 12 months than at any level between. His dimension and energy are nice instruments that may assist him carry out at any degree. He has 13 objectives and 24 factors in 18 video games this 12 months as he’s taken a spectacularly massive step. Although McBain is having an ideal season, I’m unsure he’d knock off most veterans accessible to Canada. Nonetheless he deserves consideration.
USA
Strauss Mann, G, Skellefteå (UFA): Mann made the shocking resolution to forgo his remaining 12 months of NCAA eligibility to pursue a professional profession after three profitable seasons at Michigan. There weren’t many NHL presents on the market, so Mann went to Sweden, and he has been thriving as a rookie within the SHL. The 23-year-old has a .930 save proportion over 13 appearances and really effectively could possibly be USA’s starter in Beijing.
Jake Sanderson, D, North Dakota (OTT): There’s an excellent probability the U.S. Nationwide Junior Workforce’s No. 1 defenseman would be the No. 1 defenseman on the Olympics. Sanderson performs a mature recreation, and everybody with the junior workforce talked about how he ought to most likely be within the NHL proper now. He’s going to be an vital piece.
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota (LAK): One other member of the newest WJC workforce, Faber’s maturity and skating capacity have gained him so many followers within the scouting group and with USA Hockey. There’s a belief there with him regardless of his youth, and I’d count on that to result in a fairly vital position on the Olympic workforce.
Drew Helleson, D, Boston Faculty (COL): After profitable gold on the 2021 World Juniors, he’s a little bit of a confirmed commodity. Helleson was one among USA’s most leaned-on defensemen in that match and has continued logging huge minutes for Boston Faculty. A part of that vaunted 2001 delivery 12 months for USA Hockey, Helleson has even seen an uptick in manufacturing this 12 months on prime of his stable defensive play.
Ryan Johnson, D, Minnesota (BUF): One other World Junior gold medalist from final 12 months, Johnson was a dependable defensive stalwart for that workforce. He is an excellent skater, however you’re not getting a ton of offense out of him at this level. I may see him as an inexpensive depth participant who will get some more durable matchups and performs on the PK.
Matty Beniers, C, Michigan (SEA): With a World Males’s Championship below his belt already as a member of the U.S. senior workforce, Beniers is a pure match for this roster. He would probably be a top-six middle who can play powerful matchups. He appeared superb within the early goings of the World Juniors and has been glorious in worldwide competitions over his profession.
Noah Cates, RW, Minnesota Duluth (PHI): An aggressive, versatile winger with two NCAA nationwide championships below his belt, Cates is a confirmed winner who has worldwide expertise on the World Juniors. He made the shock resolution to return to high school for an additional season regardless that older brother Jackson signed an NHL take care of Philly. Cates has seen his manufacturing dip over the past two seasons, however he nonetheless impacts the sport in sufficient methods the place that’s not a priority.
Matthew Knies, LW, Minnesota (TOR): An enormous energy ahead with goal-scoring capacity, Knies was set to be one of many key forwards for the U.S. on the World Juniors. He scored a aim in his first recreation and was arguably the very best ahead in the summertime analysis camp. He’s adopted that up with a freshman season the place he has been a dominant bodily power whereas additionally placing up factors. Knies has 16 factors in 18 video games to this point this season.
Ben Meyers, C, Minnesota (UFA): One of many prime free brokers in school hockey and definitely one of the sought-after, Meyers is a top-six participant for Minnesota however may match very well into the depth of Workforce USA. He’s a point-per-game participant for the Gophers however is most respected in his capacity to hunt pucks and make issues more durable on the opposition.
Nathan Smith, C, Minnesota State (WPG): Along with his head coach formally dedicated to be an assistant for Workforce USA on the Olympics, it’s onerous to think about Smith being left house. He’s been one of many prime scorers in school hockey this 12 months with 27 factors in 20 video games, whereas showcasing high-end talent and improved play off the puck. He’s been one of the improved gamers in school hockey over the past three seasons.
Nick Abruzzese, LW, Harvard (TOR): After lacking all of final season with Harvard shut down, Abruzzese has picked up proper the place he left off after a 44-point freshman season with the Crimson. The junior ahead has 18 factors in 12 video games to this point this season and nonetheless offers a dose of talent and quickness that must be useful to Workforce USA.
Ronnie Attard, D, Western Michigan (PHI): He’s been among the finest defensemen in school hockey over the past two years, was a standout for Workforce USA on the 2019 World Junior A Problem and has merely gotten higher and higher in every subsequent 12 months. Attard has dimension and good mobility and would seemingly match the profile effectively for Workforce USA.
Sean Farrell, C/W, Harvard (MTL): Farrell is a speedy ahead who completely torched the USHL final season after Harvard sat out 2020-21. Now in his first collegiate season, Farrell continues to provide with 17 factors by way of his first 12 video games.
Marc McLaughlin, C, Boston Faculty (UFA): A dogged competitor with good velocity and defensive sense, McLaughlin is producing NHL curiosity attributable to his capacity to play successfully down the lineup. He’s stable on the PK.
Thomas Bordeleau, C, Michigan (SJS): After getting knocked out of consecutive World Juniors for protocols, Bordeleau must be free and clear for the Olympics after recovering from the virus on this final go-around. He’s a dynamic playmaker with high-end imaginative and prescient and an absolute savant on faceoffs. He may discover a position on this U.S. roster fairly simply I believe, ought to the People resolve to deliver him.
Parker Ford, C/W, Windfall (UFA): A World Junior alumnus and glorious forechecker, Ford performs the sport with grit and dedication. He could possibly be an excellent depth participant for the U.S. This season at Windfall, Ford is on tempo for a profession 12 months and has 10 objectives in 23 video games. The undrafted ahead may be very prone to earn an NHL contract when he’s carried out with college.
Brendan Brisson, RW, Michigan (VGK): The U.S. goes to want objectives, and Brisson has been scoring them fairly persistently this season. He’s additionally gotten bodily stronger and has change into a way more harmful participant general. He’d be a power-play weapon if invited.
Brett Berard, LW, Windfall (NYR): After enjoying within the final two World Juniors and likewise breaking out offensively this 12 months for Windfall, Berard must be on the checklist to not less than get a name. He’s not the most important man, however he’s tenacious. His sneaky talent has been much more prevalent this season as he continues to provide effectively over some extent per recreation on the collegiate degree.
Aidan McDonough, LW, Northeastern (VAN): McDonough was one of many hottest scorers in school hockey in the beginning of the season. He’s cooled a bit bit however nonetheless stays an offensively dynamic participant. He additionally has good dimension and a excessive motor, which permits him to get his offense with each talent and work ethic.
Jordan Harris, D, Northeastern (MTL): One other WJC alumnus who performs a giant position on his school hockey workforce, Harris strikes pucks effectively and defends at a stable degree. I may see him being down the U.S. depth chart on the blue line if he’s supplied a spot.
Drew Commesso, G, Boston College (CHI): After he was alleged to be the No. 1 goalie for the U.S. World Junior workforce, Commesso probably will get an opportunity to put on the Pink, White and Blue once more on the Olympics. He was invited to the Males’s World Championship final spring, and his maturity impressed USA’s brass. His numbers look poor this season, however Commesso nonetheless has many believers in his capacity to play at a excessive degree.
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