<p>Favorites to win gold? You bet.</p>



<p>Many are pegging the United States as the No. 1 contenders at the 2024 World Junior Championship, and for good reason. They’ve got the best forward group of any team, with two of the best U-20 goaltenders in the game today. Their blueline isn’t at the same level, but with Lane Hutson and Seamus Casey leading the way, you shouldn’t be too worried.</p>



<p>They’ll have a relatively favorable schedule with meetings against Switzerland, Czechia and Slovakia, but there’s no easy matchup when the world’s top prospects meet on the global stage.</p>



<p>With just under a month to go until the tournament kicks off in Sweden, Daily Faceoff’s Colton Davies and I have teamed up again to look at what USA’s roster might be:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STEVEN ELLIS’ LINEUP</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Forwards</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Cutter Gauthier (PHI) – James Hagens (2025) – Jimmy Snuggerud (STL)<br>Gabe Perreault (NYR) – Will Smith (SJS) – Ryan Leonard (WSH)<br><strong>Rutger McGroarty</strong> (WPG) – Frank Nazar (CHI) – Gavin Brindley (CBJ)<br>Gavin Hayes (CHI) – Oliver Moore (CHI) – Charlie Stramel (MIN)<br>Quentin Musty</strong> <strong>(SJS)</strong></p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="172"></div>



<p>He was originally the 13th forward, but I can’t see Hagens playing outside of the top six. The 2025 NHL Draft prospect is a lock, with no USNTDP player being as impressive as Hagens since the World Junior Summer Showcase. There, he looked so smart at both ends of the ice, and he was a standout at the recent U-18 Five Nations tournament. He can play with just about anyone, but having Gauthier and Snuggerud on the top line with him gives him two outstanding scoring threats. This could be the most dangerous, most dynamic line in the tournament.</p>



<p>I’ll keep the second line short: Smith, Perreault and Leonard need to be together. Don’t tinker with a good thing. They were amazing with the Program, and they’re outstanding in college, too.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="131"></div>



<p>The biggest question mark is McGroarty’s health. He’s injured now, but there’s a chance he could be healthy in time to return for the WJC. If he’s there, he’s a huge part of USA’s scoring depth. If not. I could see them giving Cole Eiserman a shot and potentially knocking Snuggerud onto Nazar and Brindley’s line. Speaking of the Michigan Wolverines duo, how’s that for a third line?</p>



<p>After that, there is just so much depth to go around. Moore will be the fastest skater in the tournament. Hayes had a strong summer showing, and I know the management team liked what they saw. Stramel has struggled in college, but he has already been at this tournament twice. I can’t imagine they’ll leave him off this time. The wild-card 13th pick for me is Musty, who has been excellent in the OHL. Scoring won’t be an issue for USA, so they could look for someone who can play other roles. But I like Musty’s ability to fill in and play just about anywhere.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="173"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defensemen"><strong>Defensemen</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Lane Hutson (MTL) – Ryan Chesley (WSH)<br>Zeev Buium (2024) – Seamus Casey (NJD)<br>Drew Fortescue (NYR) – Eric Pohlkamp (SJS)<br>Sam Rinzel</strong> <strong>(CHI)</strong></p>



<p>If you’re looking for puck-moving blueliners with immense skill, you’ve got it here. Hutson and Casey are both offensive dynamos for their respective college teams and should lead the power play units. Buium has been a delight to watch at Denver and can quarterback the man advantage or even just focus on a shutdown role. It helps that USA’s coach, David Carle, is Buium’s boss in college, too.</p>



<p>Chesley and Fortescue will help keep things rock solid on the back end, with Chesley likely getting the bulk of the ice time on the top pairing. Pohlkamp has looked good as a freshman at Bemidji State, and was one of USA’s better players at the WJSS, too. Rinzel had a so-so showing in Michigan, but I know USA Hockey likes him enough to give him a shot.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="157"></div>



<p>Hunter Brzustewicz should be here, but like I said last time, there’s no shortage of politics that come into play when a former USNTDP player bolts for the CHL. The Canucks prospect has been incredible for Kitchener this year and deserves to play a big role. But as <a href="https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/11538803-2024-world-juniors-team-usa-roster-updates-bubble-watch">FloHockey’s Chris Peters</a> wrote earlier this week, it seems like Brzustewicz is unlikely to be invited to camp. He deserves to be there, no question about it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Goaltenders</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Trey Augustine (DET)<br>Jacob Fowler (MTL)<br>Andrew Oke</strong> <strong>(2024)</strong></p>



<p>America is starting to become a goaltending factory. Augustine is one of the best goalie prospects in the game today, but Fowler has played well enough to at least make the starter’s gig interesting. Augustine will likely get the edge due to his pedigree – and he’s playing some great hockey for MSU – but Fowler would be a starter on most other teams in this tournament. That flexibility to go with either is huge, but Augustine is a returning starter, so that’ll help him.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="167"></div>



<p>As for the third goalie, Oke has been USA’s third goalie twice now, but has had a rather ugly junior career. He was terrible at the summer showcase, but Oke is playing his best hockey with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. Given Augustine and Fowler’s play in college this year, it doesn’t matter who fills the third spot, but Oke at least has the connection with USA Hockey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COLTON DAVIES’ LINEUP</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Forwards</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Cutter Gauthier (PHI) – <strong>Frank Nazar (CHI)</strong></strong> <strong> – Jimmy Snuggerud (STL)<br>Gabe Perreault (NYR) – Will Smith (SJS) – Ryan Leonard (WSH)<br><strong>Rutger McGroarty</strong> (WPG) – <strong>James Hagens (2025)</strong> – Gavin Brindley (CBJ)<br><strong>Quentin Musty</strong> <strong>(SJS)</strong> – Oliver Moore (CHI) – Charlie Stramel (MIN)<br>Cole Eiserman (2024)</strong></p>



<p>My top six is nearly identical to Steven’s. It’s hard to break up the trio of Perreault, Smith and Leonard, who have dominated at every level together. Then you slot in the electric Gauthier alongside Nazar and Snuggerud, giving you a mix of net-front presence and close-quarters skill.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="159"></div>



<p>McGroarty would be a huge addition to the third line with the young Hagens and Brindley. For the fourth line, I went with a little mix of everything. I can see them pairing Musty with Stramel and Moore, which gives the team speed and size. I decided to put Eiserman on my team because his goal-scoring touch is undeniable, and he could be exclusively used on the power play if they wanted to go down that route.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Defensemen</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Lane Hutson (MTL) – Ryan Chesley (WSH)<br>Drew Fortescue (NYR) – Seamus Casey (NJD)<br>Eric Pohlkamp (SJS) –&nbsp;<strong>Sam Rinzel (CHI)</strong><br>Hunter Brzustewicz (VAN)</strong></p>



<p>The defense corps is status quo for the most part, too. It starts with the dynamic and electric Hutson, who looked good at the World Championship. With Hutson being paired with Chesley, it gives the Americans a mix of offensive and defensive capabilities on their top unit. Then I have Fortescue and Casey on the second pairing, both who have played great college hockey this season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="163"></div>



<p>The final pairing is Pohlkamp and the large Sam Rinzel. Steady, solid, and smart. And then there’s Brzustewicz, who could slot in just about anywhere. He has been rock solid with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL, but as Steven pointed out, politics could play a role.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Goaltenders</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Trey Augustine (DET)<br>Jacob Fowler (MTL)<br>Andrew Oke</strong> <strong>(2024)</strong></p>



<p>Augustine is, without a doubt, the bonafide No. 1 starter as of right now. But Fowler could give Augustine a run for his money. Fowler has been the more impressive goalie right now, and he was a standout in the summer.</p>



<p>Oke has bounced back and been steady in the net for the Spirit. I expect to see USA Hockey knocking on Oke’s door for the third straight year.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



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