How long before USA hockey surpasses Canada's?

[Chef de Cuisine]

Too much US talent coming up to feel safe as a Canadian.

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[William H Bonney]

A long, long time if it even happens.

 

[crowi]

Based on multiple statistics and research I'd say 103 years.

 

[Claypool]

Too much US talent coming up to feel safe as a Canadian.

You look at all the players taken today, a lot of them are multi-sport athletes. That's the trend I noticed, anyway.

 

[Snippit]

Canada still has the 3 best centres in the world, and 2 of them are really young

 

[SabresSharks]

USA is certainly catching up. Canada's ultra-elite talent and star-level depth are still superior.

We've never seen a legit "generational" American player at the level of Orr-Gretzky-Mario-Crosby-McDavid. If/when we do that might be a signal parity has arrived.

 

[razor ray]

The day that hockey is bigger then the NBA or NFL or MLB in the US....which is likely never.

 

[Plub]

As a proud American that once had the pleasure of being invited to a USNTDP tryout camp and promptly didn't get another invite to regional tryouts, I can say never. U.S. is certainly on the rise and their program being purely about the development of the players over winning games is paying dividends in the draft. However, I don't ever see the U.S. surpassing Canada in hockey. We just don't have the majority of the top athletes committed to it. Football and Baseball are still the top sports for most areas and I don't see that ever changing with how absurdly expensive hockey is.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Soon

 

[Uncle Rotter]

9 of the top 31 this year were products of U.S. hockey. In 2016 it was 11 of 31. In 2010 it was 12 of 31. In 1986 it was 10 of 31. It varies from year to year.

 

[983 others]

When they shut down the NFL and NBA and all the top American athletes have to pick between hockey and soccer, which is to say never.

 

[ORRFForever]

After dominating the early draft for almost a decade (2006 on), the last 5 years having NOT been great for Canada - we were due for an inevitable lull and the last 5 years have been painful. Canadians will adapt and bounce back.

I know 2020 looks quite good for Canada. I understand, the 2020 draft going to be a really weak year for the U.S., so...

Like I said, things tend to even out.

 

[ORRFForever]

P.S.

If having 13 of the Top 31 players is an OFF year, Canada is doing fine.

 

[ORRFForever]

P.S.S.

With an inexpensive sport like soccer advancing and giving kids in both countries an alternative (the MLS), an EXPENSIVE sport like hockey may lose on both sides of the border - altho, I have been hearing this argument for 50 years.

 

[AmericanDream]

9 of the top 31 this year were products of U.S. hockey. In 2016 it was 11 of 31. In 2010 it was 12 of 31. In 1986 it was 10 of 31. It varies from year to year.

this has always been the truth.

until USA Hockey can continually put out drafts that have 3-4 top 10 picks, and double digit 1st rounders, then it just isn't going to happen anytime soon. we have these great drafts here and there, but rarely are they back to back to back to back..that is what will be needed to get there. the 2015 draft was amazing for USA Hockey (and every other nation as well lol)..2016 was very strong and a great signal as having back to back strong drafts is where we usually lacked..then 2017 draft came and blah..f***ed it all up..now the 2018 draft looks strong for the US and 2019 obviously as well..but if 2020 turns into a stinker it is just another missed opportunity to put something truly epic together.

but I will say this, from 2015,2016,2017,2018 and 2019 this is the best 5 year span for USA Hockey I have ever seen - outproducing 1987,1988,1989,1990 and 1991 which was our previous best grouping of years in a row IMO.

 

[Baxterman]

Impossible to say but at this point the best answer is probably never.

Right now the US is improving but still not close to overtaking Canada. They are certainly doing better than they had but that is a big difference from overtaking Canada.

If you combined the players from both Countries the team would be a vast majority of Canadians. I doubt there would even be 5 Americans on the team (Kane, maybe Gaudreau, maybe Matthews if they wanted a young guy to get experience but not on merit, no defenseman is close, maybe Bishop behind Price).

The Americans are getting close but still not close enough to talk about them overtaking Canada.

 

[Rob]

With no NHL players in the Olympics anymore (and no World Cup) it is getting more difficult to determine the rankings.

 

[OldScool]

USA really inst that close to taking over Canada as the hockey leader. This 01 birth year was really strong for the USA, next years 02 class is really strong for Canada. It varies year to year and even with a strong USA birth class their was still a lot more Canadian players selected in the draft.

 

[smitty10]

Look at recent drafts and international success. They aren't far off at all right now.

Given the USA's population and wealth, it's only a matter of time before they surpass Canada as the #1 hockey nation in the world. Give it 10-15 years.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Look at recent drafts and international success. They aren't far off at all right now.

Given the USA's population and wealth, it's only a matter of time before they surpass Canada as the #1 hockey nation in the world. Give it 10-15 years.

The tired trope about "rich American cousins" dies hard in Canada.

 

[BOS358]

Look at recent drafts and international success. They aren't far off at all right now.

I'm pretty sure the US hasn't won a tournament at the senior level since 1996. What international success do you speak of?

 

[JackSlater]

I can happen, I don't know if or when. Canada has been complacent for some time however and there is ample room for improvement.

 

[Zippy316]

US is finally getting to the point where their best roster might be able to go toe-to-toe with Canada best.

Canada still is far deeper than the US though.

 

[smitty10]

I'm pretty sure the US hasn't won a tournament at the senior level since 1996. What international success do you speak of?

Juniors. U18 and U20.

 

[BOS358]

Juniors. U18 and U20.

Judging by the results at the senior level, the success isn't sustainable. I'd love to see US overtake Canada, but I don't see it happening.