*Players are listed in order of how well I believe they performed throughout the tournament.
Forwards
Ryan Poehling
Voted the tourney’s MVP, maybe out of default. Don’t get me wrong Poehling played extremely well, especially in the earlier rounds, recording 8 points (5g, 3a) in 7 games.
He displayed an all-around game, played in every situation, and did a lot of the little things very well. I just think he wasn’t as effective in the medal rounds and that he struggled a great deal taking draws. Overall though, a very solid showing for Montreal’s 1st round selection in 2018.
Josh Norris
Norris was very consistent for Team USA. He was the best net front presence on the roster and also their top face-off guy, despite what the statistics might say. Sasha Chmelevski finished with a better percentage, but Norris took almost twice as many draws.
Norris also produced, 3 goals and 3 assists, and played exactly like someone with previous WJC experience should. Norris also was given the most ice time among the forwards for Team USA.
Joel Farabee
As someone who has already held Farabee in high regard as a prospect, I actually came away more impressed with his game. His compete level is off the charts and he plays with such an edge. Combine that with such a refined skill set and Farabee’s upside is extremely high.
Evidence of this was the ice-time given to Farabee by the Team USA coaching staff and how he was out there in almost every key moment for the Americans. Farabee also impressed me with how well he performs in tight quarters and keeps defenders at bay in small spaces.
Jack Hughes
Hughes missed 3 games with an undisclosed injury and although you would never hear this come from the Hughes’ camp, I have to believe he wasn’t 100%. Don’t get me wrong, Jack is still Jack and his skating and vision are as good as it gets. There were plenty of Jack moments.
I just don’t think he performed as well as he is capable of. That being said he still averaged a point per game and was 2nd on the team in assists. That is just part of the expectation level that comes with being the projected number one selection in the upcoming NHL draft.
Sasha Chmelevski
The surprise player for me for Team USA. Chmelevski just kept making plays and got better and better as the tourney rolled on, and his ice-time reflected it. He was also probably the best player for the U.S. in the gold medal game versus Finland.
He also proved invaluable in the face-off circle winning 67.86 % of his draws. The Sharks appear to really have something in Chmelevski and they may have made a real steal in grabbing him in the 6th round of 2017 NHL Draft.
Jason Robertson
Another forward who was given the responsibility of playing major minutes, Robertson was second in ice time for U.S. forwards, and performed quite admirably. Robertson has a high offensive upside and displayed that by leading the team in assists with 6 and also added a goal.
Robertson’s skating has also improved. He still has somewhat of a different stride, but he has no trouble getting to where he needs to be on the ice.
Tyler Madden
Another surprise in this tourney, Madden really performed well, especially early on for Team USA. Madden’s skating is above average and he plays much bigger than his frame suggests. Madden also is sneaky good on the offensive end and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Another player who could be a gem picked outside of the first two rounds.
Oliver Wahlstrom
Highly regarded heading in to the 2018 NHL Draft, some of the luster has come off of Wahlstrom due to his slow start this season with Boston College. I am not certain I agree with that sentiment.
Wahlstrom still has the incredible offensive upside and he did put up 4 points (2g, 2a) in 7 games while leading the team in shots with 27, but what impressed me with him is his willingness to do more than just score flashy goals.
He was more engaged at the defensive end and on the back check, while rounding in to a more of a 200 foot player. Not saying he is going to come out as a Selke candidate, but the effort to improve that area was evident.
Noah Cates
Cates performed admirably for Team USA and got better as the tourney went on. He seemed to get more comfortable in his role each and every shift he took.
Cates scored a highlight reel goal versus the Czechs and followed that up with a pair of helpers in the gold medal game. Highly skilled to go along with size, Cates adds to the stable of promising prospects up and coming for the Flyers.
Evan Barrett
Barrett started strong for Team USA, but his play seemed to fall off a bit during the medal round. He was second on the team in shots with 25 and he scored once, but I just expected a little more from Barrett coming off his very productive start this season with Penn State.
Barrett held his own in the face-off circle, winning 52% of his draws, but he was also a -2, which was worst among forwards on the roster, if you still give any credence to that stat.
Logan Cockerill
I liked Cockerill’s game throughout the tourney. He didn’t produce many points, 1 assist, but he wasn’t expected to. Cockerill has a very high motor and he did produce plenty of energy when given the opportunity.
Cockerill also was responsible defensively and finished the tourney a +3, which tied for fourth highest on the team.
Jack Drury
Drury accepted his role with Team USA and performed quite well with his limited ice-time. I actually believed that Drury’s play may have warranted more ice-time, but then who do you take the minutes away from on a very deep and talented Team USA.
Jay O’Brien
O’Brien really didn’t play enough to be evaluated properly, but just to be named the team is quite an accomplishment for the Providence freshman.
Defenseman
Mikey Anderson
Anderson was chosen as Captain of Team USA and it was an excellent choice. He led all players in ice-time and was out in every big situation. Anderson was also a calming force on the blue line and played every bit like a player making his second go around at the World Juniors.
Anderson also impressed on the offensive end, including the power play, recording 2 goals and 3 assists to pace the defensemen.
Quinn Hughes
Quinn is already becoming burdened by expectations. Despite putting up off the chart numbers in terms of zone exits, entries and breakouts. If any other player not named Hughes put up numbers like that it would be big news. Many people felt Quinn underachieved at the WJC.
To be honest, I am one of them. Quinn recorded a pair of assists, led the blue line with 18 shots and had many Hughes moments, but I firmly believe he was far from his best in the tournament.
I think that is a sign of things to come. Not the underachieving, but I don’t expect Hughes to be a goal-scoring machine at the blue line, but he will pile up the assists and put up unheard of numbers in terms of exits and entries and turn around that stagnant Vancouver breakout.
Phil Kemp
Kemp was the second most surprising player for Team USA. To some, a questionable selection, Kemp played the part of a “stay at home” defenseman to a “T” and really rounded out Team USA’s top 3 pairings. Kemp made big play after big play, doing it all with a hard hat mentality and following the basic premise of just keeping it simple.
Dylan Samberg
It almost feels like an injustice listing Samberg as maybe the fourth best defenseman for Team USA at the blue line. He may have started slow, but once he got comfortable Samberg was good as anybody on defense for Team USA.
Samberg logged the 3rd most ice-time, behind stalwarts Mikey Anderson and Quinn Hughes but could have easily stepped in to either one of their shoes if the situation presented itself. Players like Kemp and Samberg stepping up really made this defensive unit complete and was a huge strength for Team USA in the tournament.
Mattias Samuelsson
Samuelsson didn’t record a point in the tournament, but he did put 10 shots on net, which is only one less than Mikey Anderson. Offensive hockey isn’t really Samuelsson calling card. Not that he can’t contribute on that end, he does have 8 points (3g, 5a) in 16 games with Western Michigan, he just wasn’t asked to fill that role with the U.S.
Defensively, he played well, and used that long reach and put that 6’4”, 220 pound frame to good use. Samuelsson just seemed to struggle a bit when the pace of play picked up in certain game. No surprise coming from someone with his size at this stage of his development.
K’Andre Miller
Miller just never seemed to get comfortable for Team USA. Missing that game with an illness didn’t seem to help either. Miller didn’t play poorly, he just didn’t play as well as I believe ha can at times.
I honestly feel that outside of Quinn Hughes, Miller may have the highest upside amongst defenseman on Team USA. He is a dynamic defender, who is just learning his craft as a blueliner, and I feel the sky is the limit for this kid.
Jack St. Ivany
Another player like Jay O’Brien, who didn’t really play enough to receive an honest evaluation, St. Ivany fell victim to a stacked defensive unit for Team USA. Also, like Jack Drury, St. Ivany could have received more minutes, but who do you take them from on that blue line?
Goaltenders
Cayden Primeau
When this tournament started it was a 1A, 1B type situation and Cayden Primeau went out and changed that. I am sure Kyle Keyser getting sick didn’t help his cause, but Primeau’s play really made that decision pretty clear cut.
Primeau’s numbers justified his playing time, finishing the tourney with a 93.65 save percentage. At this stage of his development, it sure looks like Montreal got some real value when they selected Primeau in the 7th round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Kyle Keyser
Keyser played well in the opening game against Slovakia, struggled a bit in the OT loss versus Sweden and then contracted the dreaded December 28th flu. From there, Cayden Primeau seemed to grab the reins, but that was more due to Primeau’s play and not Keyser being ineffective.
An undrafted free-agent, Keyser signed a contract with the Boston Bruins and is currently in his 3rd season with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.
Spencer Knight
The underage Knight didn’t receive any playing time, but he did dress one game when Keyser was out with an illness. Look for Knight to be a major part of the goaltending tandem for Team USA at the 2020 World Junior Championship.