Team USA will face Finland, Russia, Slovakia and Germany.
At forward:
Adam Erne
Jack Eichel
Hudson Fasching
Will almost surely all be back. Eichel is not draft eligible. Erne seems a long shot to put it kindly to make the Lightning and Fasching almost surely will spend another year in Minnesota. Eichel gives this team a game breaking talent and potential to be the best player in the tournament along with Connor McDavid. Erne had a poor tournament this year but he'll still be a valuable member of the team, whose game probably gets better on the smaller north American rinks. Fasching was outstanding and will be counted on to play a big role next year.
On defense:
Three potential returning players. Wil Butcher, Ian McCoshen and Steve Santini are all in my mind locks to spend another year in college hockey. Santini is a candidate to captain the team and probably will be the top defenseman. Butcher and McCoshen struggled at times, but hopefully this year gives them the experience to come back stronger next year.
Thatcher Demko was obviously brought along as the 3rd goalie in preparation for next year. He'll probably have at least some kind of battle with Nedeljikovic for the starting job, but it's obviously his to lose. Nedeljikovic will probably be groomed for 2016.
After that guys who just missed the cut this year like Compher and Deangelo, one would expect would be key members of the team. Leaving something like this as the framework for the roster in terms of returning players, counting players cut just before the tournament.
Erne--Eichel--Fasching
X-----Compher---X
X--------X---------X
X-------X----------X
Butcher-Santini
McCoshen-Deangelo
X----------X
Demko
Nedeljikovic
X
It will be interesting to watch how players like Schmaltz and Hurley do their freshman seasons. If Michael McCarron can turn it around, although his candidacy helps on smaller ice. Whether some of the young pups from the U17s like Hanifin can make the jump AND make an impact like Eichel did this year.
At forward:
Adam Erne
Jack Eichel
Hudson Fasching
Will almost surely all be back. Eichel is not draft eligible. Erne seems a long shot to put it kindly to make the Lightning and Fasching almost surely will spend another year in Minnesota. Eichel gives this team a game breaking talent and potential to be the best player in the tournament along with Connor McDavid. Erne had a poor tournament this year but he'll still be a valuable member of the team, whose game probably gets better on the smaller north American rinks. Fasching was outstanding and will be counted on to play a big role next year.
On defense:
Three potential returning players. Wil Butcher, Ian McCoshen and Steve Santini are all in my mind locks to spend another year in college hockey. Santini is a candidate to captain the team and probably will be the top defenseman. Butcher and McCoshen struggled at times, but hopefully this year gives them the experience to come back stronger next year.
Thatcher Demko was obviously brought along as the 3rd goalie in preparation for next year. He'll probably have at least some kind of battle with Nedeljikovic for the starting job, but it's obviously his to lose. Nedeljikovic will probably be groomed for 2016.
After that guys who just missed the cut this year like Compher and Deangelo, one would expect would be key members of the team. Leaving something like this as the framework for the roster in terms of returning players, counting players cut just before the tournament.
Erne--Eichel--Fasching
X-----Compher---X
X--------X---------X
X-------X----------X
Butcher-Santini
McCoshen-Deangelo
X----------X
Demko
Nedeljikovic
X
It will be interesting to watch how players like Schmaltz and Hurley do their freshman seasons. If Michael McCarron can turn it around, although his candidacy helps on smaller ice. Whether some of the young pups from the U17s like Hanifin can make the jump AND make an impact like Eichel did this year.
