2024 World Junior Championship Preview: Team USA
When it comes to junior hockey, few teams have built a juggernaut like the Americans.
The USA Hockey National Team Development Program is one of the best sources of NHL Draft picks each year, including 13 from the past year. And while that hasn’t translated to success at the men’s hockey level – yet – it has allowed them to build a consistent pipeline for the World Junior Championship each year.
That being said, winning is easier said than done. USA last won gold in 2021, their first title since 2017. They took home bronze in a wild third-place game against Sweden, but it was far from the result they wanted in the end. This year, they’re looking for revenge.
The Americans enter the tournament as favorites, with one of the deepest lineups we’ve seen out of the country in quite some time. But they’ve still got to play the games, and while they’ll have the more favorable competition in Group B, they can’t relent in the slightest.
Goaltenders
There isn’t a team with better goaltending options than the United States. Take your pick: you’ve got Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings), regarded as one of the best prospects in the game and the returning starter. And then there’s Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens), who is having a standout college campaign and was the best goalie in the USHL last year.
For now, Augustine looks like the favorite to get the No. 1 job. He was the team’s starter last year and has been USA Hockey’s golden child for a few years now. Even though Fowler has better numbers this year, Ausutine has still looked great as a freshman at Michigan State University.
But Fowler could be considered the hot hand. He was just about everything he could possible in the USHL last year and was USA’s top goaltender at the World Junior Summer Showcase. If he has the better pretournament, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up with the gig. That type of flexibility is huge for the United States.
I’d be surprised if Sam Hillebrandt gets any playing time as the third goalie, but his story is great. He played Junior C in Ontario last year, and now he’s set to debut with the US national team. No matter what happens, his inclusion as an out-of-the-box option for the Americans is still a fun talking point.
Defensemen
If we’re going off of practice lines, it’ll be interesting to see Lane Hutson (MTL) and Ryan Chesley (Washington Capitals) line up together. Hutson is the high-flying, offensive-minded defenseman that’ll dominate the highlight reel. Chesley is the more stay-at-home option that should shut guys down and play an overall strong defensive game. As terms of first-pairings go, you can’t be much more dynamic than that.
The second pairing has the chance to be just as good if not more fun to watch. Seamus Casey (New Jersey Devils) has been excellent with the University of Michigan, filling the offensive role left behind by Luke Hughes. And then there’s Zeev Buium, a projected first-round pick in 2024. He’s having a great year at the University of Denver, and coach David Carle can trust him. Just like the first pairing, you’ve got a well-rounded approach here, one capable of driving the play from the back end.
The options run deep from there. Drew Fortescue (New York Rangers) was one of the top USNTDP defenders last year and plays a rugged, reliable game in his own zone. Eric Pohlkap (San Jose Sharks) was one of the team’s better defenders at the WJSS and his camp performance left a good impression on USA Hockey. I’m not sure how they’ll utilize him, but he’s madly underrated as a defenseman right now.
The Americans are bringing eight defenders to this event, but I’m giving the seventh – and final – roster spot to Sam Rinzel (Chicago Blackhawks). He had a great World Junior A Challenge last year and has been one of the better players on the University of Minnesota this year. Being a year older helps his case over Aram Minnetian (Dallas Stars), who could easily play wherever he’s needed.
The blueline is USA’s biggest weakness, but it’s barely a weakness. They’ve got a good enough mix of players having career-best seasons, and puck-moving won’t be an issue. Shutting down teams in the medal round will be key.
Forwards
Is there a team with a more dangerous attack in this tournament?
It’s hard to find a weak link on this team. Cutter Gauthier (Philadelphia Flyers) is the star prospect after showing some signs of dominance in the NCAA the past two years. No American player stood out like Gauthier at the summer tournament, and after putting up huge numbers at the men’s World Championship last year, USA will expect him to lead the charge.
It feels like the average fan underestimates Jimmy Snuggerud’s (St. Louis Blues) true value. He was an integral piece of the University of Minnesota’s top line last year that included Matthew Knies and Logan Cooley. And we can’t forget his near run of nearly two points per game at this event last year. He’s not dominating college this year, but he’s still one of USA’s most lethal goal-scorers.
And then there’s Rutger McGroarty (Winnipeg Jets), who wore a red no-contact jersey in camp but you couldn’t tell he was dealing with anything. The big University of Michigan winger plays with pace, and he was the team’s top set-up man last year in Canada. If he’s fully healthy, he’s going to put up double-digit points.
That’s the first line. But the second? Stupid good with incredible chemistry between Will Smith (SJS), Ryan Leonard (WSH) and Gabe Perreault (NYR). Smith is the driving force between them, a group that have stuck together for the past three years since beginning their journey with the USNTDP. Leonard has the size and the drive to generate chances from anywhere, while Perreault is more of the finisher coming off the most productive season in USNTDP history. Keep them together, play them on the power play, and boom. Success. They’ve proved it time and time again.
While he hasn’t played to the level many expected him to, Frank Nazar (CHI) is one heck of a third-line center. He missed most of 2022-23 with an injury but he didn’t look out of place at the WJSS. His hockey IQ, mixed with Gavin Brindley’s (Columbus Blue Jackets) speed and tenacity, as well as Isaac Howard’s (Tampa Bay Lightning) goal-scoring prowess, would make them a top trio on many other teams in this event.
From a shutdown perspective, the trio of Danny Nelson (New York Islanders), Quinn Finley (NYI) and Gavin Hayes (CHI) will be difficult to play against. Hayes has energy to burn, while Nelson and Finley are both strong defensive forwards. They’re here for a reason: to make life miserable for everyone else.
2024 NHL Draft
With no Eiserman, the attention will instead shift in Buium’s direction. The University of Denver standout is on pace for over 40 points as a freshman, which is quite tremendous from a draft-eligible talent. There were a few times last year when Buium looked like the best player on the ice – other times, he can be invisible. This year? More of the former, which has allowed him to stay so impactful. Scouts think he’s a top 15 talent, but this event could help boost his profile further.
Projection
It’s gold or bust for this group. And that’s always the case, but in a year where many others are missing quality talent, the Americans have a chance to take advantage. How many teams can miss their No. 1 center – Logan Cooley – and not bat an eye? The Americans have great depth up front, a solid blueline and the best goaltending in the tournament. But it doesn’t matter if they can’t put everything together, and we’ve seen the Americans fall flat in the playoff round in the past. If they can tighten things up better than last year, they’ll find themselves in the championship game once more.
Round-Robin Schedule
Local/ET Time
Dec. 26 vs. Norway – 17:00/11:00 AM
Dec. 28 vs. Switzerland – 17:00/11:00 AM
Dec. 29 vs. Czechia – 17:00/11:00 AM
Dec. 31 vs. Slovakia – 12:00/6:00 AM
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World Junior Championship Previews by Steven Ellis
Dec. 12: Team Sweden
Dec. 13: Team Norway
Dec. 14: Team Latvia
Dec. 15: Team Switzerland
Dec. 17: Team Finland
Dec. 18: Team Germany
Dec. 19: Team Canada