Trochek is on the team if he’s playing this way in 2 years. Play 21 minutes a night, great 2 way center, he’s on one of the top PP units, great penalty killer, leads the league in face off %. Oh and he’s at almost a point per game this season. Literally the perfect 3rd/4th center.
I was waiting for someone to mention him. Yes, he's having a good season. Trockeck is a bastard to play against. He'd be the perfect 4th line center...a grinder with skill that will forecheck/backcheck like a demon. Good pick!
Otter plays his absolute best in big games definitely my favorite tender in the league but honestly when it comes to chemistry the chucky brothers on a line with Matthews allows Matthews to be the emotionless killer that he is with skilled and gritty wingers throw tage at the wing for Hughes
Whens the 2024 mock draft? Theres a lot of Questions here with Eiserman falling and Lindstrom rising. Its very interesting and not a lot like 2023 where most picks in the top 5 were locks.
I gotta say, I'm impressed with the lineup you've chosen. Not many things I'd change. I'm kinda biased against smaller players. I don't like the idea of USA having Debrincat (5-8) and Keller (5-10) in the lineup. USA is NEVER going to out skill Canada! To win, USA is going to have to out work them in the dirty areas. Debrincat and Keller aren't winning USA any puck battles in the corners. So, I'd move Larkin or Brady Tkachuk up and insert Boldy, Beniers, Knies, or Norris on the 4th line instead. All are younger, bigger, faster and more defensively responsible than Debrincat and Keller. Next, I'd tweak line 2 slightly by swapping Eichel and Jack Hughes. I think USA will want bigger guys at center that can play two-way hockey and win facecoffs. Eichel really impressed me with his unselfish, gritty play in the playoffs last year. Didn't think he had it in him. Jack Hughes would perhaps be more effective as a playmaking winger. As for the defense, I love how you chose young guns in Sanderson and Faber. A bit risky, but I do think they'll make the team. The goalies you've chosen are perfect. Oettinger has been crap this year, so I agree with your Swayman pick.
Do you see Slafkofsky making Slovakia? That would be sick since Caufield and Suzuki almost definitely arent on USA or Canada for the Habs. Maybe Caufield but still unlikely
@MikeBartner Well thanks for sharing. I actually had no idea 😅. With all the past stars like Stan Mikita I thought of active Slovaks and Nemec is there and i thought I was forgetting someone. Guess I'm wrong haha
@@MikeBartner Faber is the guy I could see up in the top pairing by 2026 he is already as good defensively as slavin and will be the best 2 way defenseman that the US will have to offer by then.
Luke Hughes is TERRIBLE in his own end. He's turnover machine. If he packs on some muscle and learns to play smarter in his own end, then maybe he makes it.
@MikeBartner great squad, definitely have closed the gap to the canucks. They could probably field three teams that could sweep the medals, the depth is undeniable. But A teams no longer have wide talent gap that US needs to overcome with grit, muck it up play, and goal-tending heroics to be competitive.
Maybe just being a biased Pens fan but I think Rust definitely deserves to be in the snubs and I think Guentzel makes the team like you said he’s an 80 point guy with experience team USA is definitely going to want him.
Farabee snubbed, really good two way winger and he’s 4th in the NHL in even strength scoring, the young beezer is a perfect 4th liner for this team, he is the winger version of Mike Richards for philly
Zach Werenski and Seth Jones make my list. They don’t even make your snubs? Honestly in a year if they have a healthy season you’ll see they deserve it. What they have done since the all star break has been great.
I don't think this team is better than Canada's A-Team overall... BUT Yanks' goal-tending, like Russia's, is SCARY GOOD. Carey Price howsa bout coming back for another Gold medal?
Luke hughes just helped the devils shut down MacKinnon on his 14 game point streak playing with a positive plus minus and leading TOI for the game. Not bad for a kid who people view as offense only.
I mean it's one game, I could point to a bunch of games that Sanderson and Faber shutdown elite guys. Hughes is a stud but I think Faber-Sanderson just makes more sense given the role.
Luke Hughes has zero chance in making this team, dudes a liability on the defensive end. He’s either getting deked out of his jock or he’s getting levelled lol which seems to happen every other night. They won’t need any more offence when there’s quin n fox. Faber playing 24 mins a night while being a really good shut down dman. He’s a lock for 2026
2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team Projected Lineup Forwards LW Matthew Tkachuk (A) C Auston Matthews (C) RW Alex Tuch LW Brady Tkachuk C Jack Hughes RW Cole Caufield LW Joel Farabee C Jack Eichel RW Troy Terry LW Jason Robertson C Dylan Larkin RW Alex Laferriere Defensemen LHD Quinn Hughes RHD Jacob Trouba (A) LHD Luke Hughes RHD John Marino LHD Zach Werenski RHD Scott Mayfield Goaltenders G Connor Hellebuyck G Jeremy Swayman G Thatcher Demko
Boeser is a terrible skater. Looks like he's skating in quicksand. He'll be even slower 2 years from now. USA will want faster guys out there, I think. We'll see.
Trochek is on the team if he’s playing this way in 2 years.
Play 21 minutes a night, great 2 way center, he’s on one of the top PP units, great penalty killer, leads the league in face off %. Oh and he’s at almost a point per game this season. Literally the perfect 3rd/4th center.
I was waiting for someone to mention him. Yes, he's having a good season. Trockeck is a bastard to play against. He'd be the perfect 4th line center...a grinder with skill that will forecheck/backcheck like a demon. Good pick!
one season wonder chill
Otter plays his absolute best in big games definitely my favorite tender in the league but honestly when it comes to chemistry the chucky brothers on a line with Matthews allows Matthews to be the emotionless killer that he is with skilled and gritty wingers throw tage at the wing for Hughes
Cant wait for international best on best hockey to return especially once we get olympics and world cup of hockey tournaments every 2 years
Yup the 2028 expanded World Cup is going to be awesome as well
Bart that haircut clean bro🤞🏾🔥
Ayyyyy thanks fam!
Me personally i think i might put eichs at C and Jack Hughes on the wing because eichs plays defense and at least is capable on draws
Whens the 2024 mock draft? Theres a lot of Questions here with Eiserman falling and Lindstrom rising. Its very interesting and not a lot like 2023 where most picks in the top 5 were locks.
I did one mid January so expect another one mid or late February
Please do Canada’s roster next!
They're coming next don't worry!
@@MikeBartnerSweet!
My forward lines look so much different than yours. All D pair were the exact same though.
HAHAAHAH yea I think there's so much variability in the forward core but those d pairs make too much sense
I gotta say, I'm impressed with the lineup you've chosen. Not many things I'd change. I'm kinda biased against smaller players. I don't like the idea of USA having Debrincat (5-8) and Keller (5-10) in the lineup. USA is NEVER going to out skill Canada! To win, USA is going to have to out work them in the dirty areas. Debrincat and Keller aren't winning USA any puck battles in the corners. So, I'd move Larkin or Brady Tkachuk up and insert Boldy, Beniers, Knies, or Norris on the 4th line instead. All are younger, bigger, faster and more defensively responsible than Debrincat and Keller. Next, I'd tweak line 2 slightly by swapping Eichel and Jack Hughes. I think USA will want bigger guys at center that can play two-way hockey and win facecoffs. Eichel really impressed me with his unselfish, gritty play in the playoffs last year. Didn't think he had it in him. Jack Hughes would perhaps be more effective as a playmaking winger. As for the defense, I love how you chose young guns in Sanderson and Faber. A bit risky, but I do think they'll make the team. The goalies you've chosen are perfect. Oettinger has been crap this year, so I agree with your Swayman pick.
Do you see Slafkofsky making Slovakia? That would be sick since Caufield and Suzuki almost definitely arent on USA or Canada for the Habs. Maybe Caufield but still unlikely
Slaf is a genuine lock to make Slovakia, he is literally the highest scoring Slovak in the NHL rn!
@MikeBartner Well thanks for sharing. I actually had no idea 😅. With all the past stars like Stan Mikita I thought of active Slovaks and Nemec is there and i thought I was forgetting someone. Guess I'm wrong haha
By 2026 Luke Hughes will be undeniably earned a spot on this team in my prediction
Sanderson and Faber are also very young and improving though, could see Slavin falling behind Hughes though.
@@MikeBartner Faber is the guy I could see up in the top pairing by 2026 he is already as good defensively as slavin and will be the best 2 way defenseman that the US will have to offer by then.
Luke Hughes is TERRIBLE in his own end. He's turnover machine. If he packs on some muscle and learns to play smarter in his own end, then maybe he makes it.
@MikeBartner great squad, definitely have closed the gap to the canucks. They could probably field three teams that could sweep the medals, the depth is undeniable. But A teams no longer have wide talent gap that US needs to overcome with grit, muck it up play, and goal-tending heroics to be competitive.
Yup the honorable mentions I read out are insane
USA , CANADA, AND SWEDEN are all great contenders they all look scary. GO CANADA btw lol
Maybe just being a biased Pens fan but I think Rust definitely deserves to be in the snubs and I think Guentzel makes the team like you said he’s an 80 point guy with experience team USA is definitely going to want him.
Love that there are three Ottawa Senators on the team!
I feel like kaner could also crack the roster possibly he may be 37 years old but he would be a great lader
It's definitely possible but I'd opt for the younger guys
I know a lot of us wanted J-Rob, but I actually see him represent my own country instead, yet that's a long shot.
Didn’t Sandy and Brock play together on that gold winning USA team?
Great point!
idk I feel like if P. Kane is still playing you have to bring him as at least an extra forward.
Canada is obviously coming next but do russia after that.
Will be very interesting because they have so many good wingers but literally no centers 😂
HAHAHHAHAHA yea Russia is a very interesting team great goalies and wingers but very shallow when it comes to centers and defenseman
Farabee snubbed, really good two way winger and he’s 4th in the NHL in even strength scoring, the young beezer is a perfect 4th liner for this team, he is the winger version of Mike Richards for philly
But is Farabee really better the. Guys like Larkin or B Tkachuk? No.
@@4u2nvHock3y it’s subjective, in a 4th line role yeah he’d fit better
Zach Werenski and Seth Jones make my list. They don’t even make your snubs? Honestly in a year if they have a healthy season you’ll see they deserve it. What they have done since the all star break has been great.
Seth Jones is horrible.
Love the F1. But have Thompson on the LW and Tkachuck on the RW.
Damn you think? Tkachuk plays mostly LW on the Panthers and Thompson occasionally plays RW on the Sabres according to MoneyPuck.
Keller and Matthews will play with each other
I get that because of their chemistry from USNTDP but that was a decade ago and I'd roll with the better player in Tage
US got some S-tier goalies!
You deserve more subs love the vids 🤌
Thank you!
I don't think this team is better than Canada's A-Team overall... BUT Yanks' goal-tending, like Russia's, is SCARY GOOD. Carey Price howsa bout coming back for another Gold medal?
Luke hughes just helped the devils shut down MacKinnon on his 14 game point streak playing with a positive plus minus and leading TOI for the game. Not bad for a kid who people view as offense only.
I mean it's one game, I could point to a bunch of games that Sanderson and Faber shutdown elite guys. Hughes is a stud but I think Faber-Sanderson just makes more sense given the role.
Luke Hughes has zero chance in making this team, dudes a liability on the defensive end. He’s either getting deked out of his jock or he’s getting levelled lol which seems to happen every other night. They won’t need any more offence when there’s quin n fox. Faber playing 24 mins a night while being a really good shut down dman. He’s a lock for 2026
I like your cut G
Thanks stud!
@@MikeBartner w man
Do Canada next!
Im gunna be sad to see matthews on the opposite side.
HAHAHAHAH yes thank god I can finally root for him
2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team Projected Lineup
Forwards
LW Matthew Tkachuk (A)
C Auston Matthews (C)
RW Alex Tuch
LW Brady Tkachuk
C Jack Hughes
RW Cole Caufield
LW Joel Farabee
C Jack Eichel
RW Troy Terry
LW Jason Robertson
C Dylan Larkin
RW Alex Laferriere
Defensemen
LHD Quinn Hughes
RHD Jacob Trouba (A)
LHD Luke Hughes
RHD John Marino
LHD Zach Werenski
RHD Scott Mayfield
Goaltenders
G Connor Hellebuyck
G Jeremy Swayman
G Thatcher Demko
kane and krieder and trochec
Brock Boeser deserves to be there
Boeser is a terrible skater. Looks like he's skating in quicksand. He'll be even slower 2 years from now. USA will want faster guys out there, I think. We'll see.
What US has over Canada is goaltending. Their tenders are far above Canada
Hill will get the job done
Team USA 2026
Tkachuk MatthewsTkachuk
Hughes Miller Thompson
Robertson Eichel Keller
Connor Larkin DeBrincat
Guentzel Trochek Boeser
Hughes McAvoy
Sanderson Fox
Werenski Jones
Hughes Faber
Hellebuyck
Demko
Oettinger
Swayman
Jason Robinson Auston Matthews Tage Thompson
Matthew Tkachuk Brock Boeser Clayton Keller
Kyle Connor Dylan Larkin Brady Tkachuk
Chris Kreider Cole Caufield Jake Guentzel
Defensemen
Quinn Hughes Charlie McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin Jake Sanderson
Adam Fox Brock Faber
Goalies Connor Hellebuyck Thatcher Demko
Extras Connor Garland Luke Hughes Thomas Harley Drew Commesso Frank Vatrano
Your 2nd and 3rd defensive pairings are a little goofy. You've got two lefties and two righties paired together.