The only differences from the seven defensemen who played for the United States at the Four Nations are Hughes, who was injured last season, and LaCombe, who is replacing Seth Jones of the Florida Panthers due to injury. Adam Fox of the New York Rangers participated in the tournament but did not make the Olympic team. Fox won the Norris for the 2020-21 season.
“The depth that the U.S. has right now — and we’re a confident group there — I feel like the whole team is a confident group,” Werenski said this week. “And yeah, I mean, it’s hard to go back to some of the older teams and say it’s the best group ever, but I think it’s probably the deepest pool to choose from that the United States has probably ever had or ever had.”
Although Werenski wouldn’t go so far as to say this is the most complete group ever, considering that past U.S. teams had players like Hall of Famers. Chris Chelios And Brian Leetchhe said that even being in the conversation speaks volumes.
“I really think the fact that people feel that way is a testament to how far American hockey has come,” Werenski said. “And I think if you look at the defenders who made it, and the (defenders) who probably missed their chance, it’s pretty incredible.”
What makes this group so special is the versatility each player brings. Even though Hughes and Werenski produce gaudy offensive numbers as defensemen, they are also elite in their own end.
And then there’s Slavin, who can shut down the best of the best, freeing up his defensive partner to go on the attack.
“When you look at our group, we’re all long, lanky guys who skate really well,” Sanderson said. “Obviously there’s a lot of offense, but every guy uses their feet and has great sticks to defend as well.”
It is this diversity that makes the American group so dangerous.
“You just can’t have six hammers in a toolbox,” Slavin said Thursday. “You have to be able to have different tools. All defenders are excellent players, but some are very good at certain things, so you need them to excel in those areas in a short tournament like this.”
Faber agreed.
“Yes, from 1 to 8, any player can play any position at any time,” Faber said. “Whatever the pairings are, no matter who’s in the lineup, it’s a really deep, really skilled, really good skating (defense) corps, and that helps.
“In tournaments like this, best against best, you need guys who can defend and play and skate with the best of them. I think we have that, and it’s exciting.”
Winnipeg Jets Goalie Connor Hellebuyck During the Four Nations, I saw firsthand how strong this group is, helping the United States win the championship match against Canada. He will also likely be Team USA’s No. 1 goalie at the Olympics.
“It’s total reign,” Hellebuyck said. “You have your defensive defensemen, your offensive defensemen, your puck shooters, your skaters and your guys who do everything.
“So it’s fun to be behind them, and honestly it makes my job a lot easier to play behind this pool of players.”
What also helps the American group is familiarity. American general manager Bill Guerin, who also manages the Minnesota Wild, made perhaps the trade of the season on December 13 when he acquired Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Not only did it give the Wild a boost in the quest for their first Stanley Cup championship, but it also put Hughes and Faber back on the ice two months before the Olympics.
“Of course, familiarity is important in an event like this,” Faber » said Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com last month. “I mean, when you play with elite defenders like the ones on (Team USA), it’s a smooth transition no matter who you’re playing with. But obviously, for me with Quinn, it’s pretty smooth.
“We spend a lot of minutes. We spend a lot of time together, and it’s been great.”
LaCombe is only in his third full season in the NHL, but he has gained experience with some of his fellow defensemen, playing with Werenski at the World Championship last season.
“I think it’s huge,” LaCombe said. “We got an international taste there and we had a great group there and did a good job. It just gives us more experience and it’s going to help all three of us that were there.”
And then there is the 4 Nations, where everyone competed except Hughes and LaCombe. With just four days between their arrival for the Olympics here on Sunday and their first match on Feb. 12 against Latvia (3 p.m. ET; Peacock, USA, CBC Gem, SN, CBC), any prior experience is essential.
“You had a few (different) guys, but I think just the guys understanding the roles, how we have to play, kind of understanding what guys are like off the ice, in the room, that goes into a lot of it,” Werenski said. “When we got to the 4 Nations, there was kind of a feeling-out process the first few days of understanding — if it’s the power play, where guys like the puck, if it’s in the room — different things that guys do. There’s just a lot of different personalities that you’ve never been around before. And I feel like we’ve really gotten closer as this tournament has gone on.
“And I feel like it’s going to be the same in a few days here, once we get to Milan and we’re back on the ice, we get in the room, we get in the village. I mean, we’re an extremely tight-knit group, and I feel like that’s an advantage.”
