USA’s roster for Four Nations tournament is full of surprises

Next year, the NHL will relaunch the Four Nations Face-off. The tournament will feature top hockey players from the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. It will be the first time NHL players will compete in an international tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Official rosters have yet to be announced, with the tournament just months away. The first six players from each country have been announced, but there are still 16 roster spots to fill for each country. NHL.com has compiled its latest projections for each country’s rosters, including several surprise picks and roster exclusions.

Their prediction for Team USA will certainly not be taken seriously. The talent in the United States has grown exponentially over the last decade, and they easily have 30 players worthy of representing the red, white and blue at this event.

So it was with surprise that they left out goaltender Jake Oettinger. Instead of the Dallas Stars goaltender, the lineup prediction has Thatcher Demko, Connor Hellebuyck and Jeremy Swayman as the three goaltenders. All three are incredible goaltenders in their own right, but leaving Oettinger out of this lineup would be a huge mistake.

At 25, Oettinger has established himself as one of the best in the United States and the NHL. He has three consecutive seasons of 30 or more wins and has not posted a goals-against average (GAA) higher than 2.72 in four years in the NHL. The American net should belong to Connor Hellebuyck, but there is no doubt that Oettinger should be the number two behind him.

In attack, the lineup could also be improved. The United States is full of creative playmakers and attacking dynamos. They will not be short of scoring options.

What they do need to consider, however, is how they can balance their lineup. With that in mind, NHL.com included center Vincent Trocheck and winger Cole Caufield. Both players had stellar 2023 seasons. Trocheck was a standout, putting up 77 points in the regular season and becoming a key forward for the New York Rangers.

The problem is that Trocheck and Caufield don’t do enough to deserve a spot on this list. Trocheck could play third or fourth line on Team USA, but faceoffs and defensive responsibility are all he can offer on this roster. Dylan Larkin can do the same thing, plus give you a more complete offensive game.

To balance the roster, they need to have complementary styles. Trocheck and Caufield are talented, but they aren’t the best choices. Instead, they should add Tage Thompson and Alex DeBrincat to the roster. Thompson is a natural scorer and a massive force at 6’10. He can play center, but ideally, gives you a right winger on the third line. Similarly, DeBrincat’s game has developed since being traded to Detroit. He’s still a 70-point scorer, but he’s become a 60-yard player with the Red Wings. With Thompson and DeBrincat, the U.S. would get the defensive commitment it’s looking for while also expanding its offensive arsenal.

The teams that will compete in the Four Nations Tournament will certainly change between now and February 2025. The tournament will be an explosive and entertaining event, and the United States has a good chance of winning the gold medal. If they want to secure a victory, they will need to make some changes to their roster.

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