With the IIHF World Junior Championship headed back to Buffalo, New York, the host Americans are looking to do something no U.S. squad has done before them: repeat as champions. Team USA was in this exact position back in 2011, the last time Buffalo played host to the tournament, but ultimately settled for bronze. Following up last year's dramatic run to World Junior gold is no easy task, and this year's tournament will include a few extra wrinkles, making it all the more challenging.
When things get started on Dec. 26, the United States is expected to have seven players returning from last year's championship team including forwards Kieffer Bellows, Joey Anderson and Patrick Harper, defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox and goalies Joseph Woll and Jake Oettinger (who was rostered, but did not dress in a game). As of this writing, three players still need to be released to finalize the roster. That is expected to happen on Saturday, ahead of the tournament.
This is a team, much like last year, that is going to be built on speed, highlighted by both the versatility and depth of the forward group. Head coach Bob Motzko is returning, along with his entire staff from last year. Pushing and dictating the pace was a priority last year, and it will be again in Buffalo, but there is a pretty loaded field to contend with in 2018.
To get you ready for the tournament, here's a look at which players to watch more closely for Team USA. Have a look at our full reports on Team Canada, as well as a run through players to watch from the European teams.
Team Canada | European teams
Casey Mittelstadt, C/W, University of Minnesota (Buffalo Sabres)
Drafted seventh overall by the Sabres in 2017, few prospects will have as many eyes on him in Buffalo as the University of Minnesota freshman. Sabres fans will surely be looking for a peek at the promising highly-skilled center. He should be playing a prominent enough role for Team USA to be put in a pretty good position to give the home crowd a bit of a show.
The 19-year-old is off to a good start in his college career with 17 points in 19 games for the Golden Gophers. Mittelstadt is a creative player who moves the puck effectively, showing great anticipation and vision. While he is a natural center, don't be surprised to see Mittelstadt moved around a bit for Team USA. During USA's summer evaluation camp, he primarily played on the wing with Logan Brown at center and Kailer Yamamoto on the right side. However, Motzko has been using Mittelstadt more at center in the pre-tournament camp, perhaps to spread out the scoring a bit. If things aren't cooking offensively, Mittelstadt could head back to the wing. You always want to have options in this short tournament, and when you've got a player as skilled as Mittelstadt, you have a lot of different ways to set up the lines.
Quinn Hughes, D, University of Michigan (2018)
In short tournaments, the transition game is vital. That's where Hughes is going to be particularly helpful to Team USA. A brilliant puck mover, Hughes is excellent at getting the puck up ice quickly. A potential top-five pick in the 2018 draft, Hughes is one of the most skilled blueliners I've seen the U.S. bring to this tournament, and he should play meaningful minutes throughout, including heavy power-play time.
As a freshman at Michigan, Hughes has 10 points in 16 games. Having seen him last year with the U.S. Under-18 Team, I think he's had to rein things in a little bit, but that hasn't stopped him from being able to control shifts from the back end. Michigan is simply a different team when he is on the ice, and there's no doubt he can have that same kind of impact with Team USA. He should be a weapon on the power play and offer the Americans some scoring depth from the blue line. It should be a great showcase for why he's so highly regarded.
Adam Fox, D, Harvard University (Calgary Flames)
One of the key returnees for Team USA at this tournament, Fox is a high-end puck mover and often has plenty of assists to show for it. He has nine helpers in 10 games for Harvard as a sophomore this season. Last season, Fox finished with 40 points in 35 games as a freshman for the Crimson, helping them all the way to the Frozen Four. Per eliteprospects.com, Fox's 1.14 points per game was the best scoring rate for a U19 defenseman in the NCAA since 1998-99.
At this year's World Juniors, Fox is far and away the team's top right-shot defenseman. He'll receive significant power-play time and, like Hughes, will be leaned on heavily to be one of the engines in USA's transition game. Fox still needs some work defensively, but his ability to help tilt the ice in favor of his team certainly overshadows any concerns there, at least for this tournament.
Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (Montreal Canadiens)
Having the benefit of playing for the coach will certainly help Poehling, but his play will do the talking. The sophomore center has been a force for top-ranked St. Cloud State at both ends of the ice. With 16 points in 14 games, he's been plenty productive, but versatility is what makes the Habs' 2017 first-round pick so valuable.
There probably isn't going to be a center Motzko trusts more than Poehling. It would not be shocking to see him go head-to-head against opponents' top lines. With both Canada and Finland in Group A, that's going to make for some difficult assignments.
Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston University (2018)
Tkachuk is another big-time, draft-eligible player who will have many NHL scouts watching intently, Tkachuk has had a fair season to date. Playing for the struggling BU Terriers, Tkachuk has shaken off an underwhelming start (offensively, at least) to rattle off nine points in his last nine games, including the first four goals of his NCAA career. He now has 14 points in 19 games and is showing more what he is capable of producing.
Tkachuk should provide a lot of strength and snarl to combine with his offensive talent, a skill set we've seen from his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, at the NHL level. Brady is good around the net and has nice touch for a big man. Even when he's not producing, he's a handful to deal with in all areas of the ice. That said, his physical strength should not overshadow his high-end hockey sense. Tkachuk reads plays really well and should be viewed as a solid scoring option for the Americans while being a burr in the side of every team they play in the tournament.
Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane Chiefs (Edmonton Oilers)
One of two players with NHL experience on the roster, Yamamoto is going to be leaned on heavily in a top-six role for Team USA. Having played at the NHL pace already, the speed of the World Juniors shouldn't bother the speedy winger. Additionally, USA has plenty of big, strong forwards to help create a little extra space for the 5-foot-8 dynamic forward.
Yamamoto hasn't been as productive as expected since being sent back to Spokane, posting 12 points in 13 games. That said, he's a perfect fit for what the U.S. is trying to do with pushing the pace. Team USA is going to be expecting production from the first-rounder.
Logan Brown, C, Windsor Spitfires (Ottawa Senators)
Having also gotten a taste of the NHL earlier this year with the Senators, Brown appears poised to be a major factor for the Americans. At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, Brown has the frame to be a dominant physical presence between the faceoff dots. He nearly made the team last year, and there has been undoubted improvement in the last 12 months. He's a very mature player and seems to have more patience this year.
While Brown can hold his own offensively, having produced 24 points in 15 games since being returned to Windsor, surrounding him with skill and speed unlocks even more of his game. He might not be the fleetest of foot, but Brown has the ability to open things up for his linemates, and he creates a lot of matchup problems for opposing defenses. Having guys who can get him the puck in front could be an offensive boon for the U.S.
Kieffer Bellows, LW, Portland Winterhawks (New York Islanders)
Another returning player from last year's golden team, Bellows saved his best for last in the 2017 World Junior Championship. He scored his only two goals of the tournament in the gold-medal game, helping the U.S. come back to beat Canada in dramatic fashion. Despite the great ending to the tournament, you'd expect Bellows to make an even bigger impact this year.
Last season was a bit of a weird one for Bellows. He struggled to produce at Boston University, sometimes finding himself scratched. He finished the campaign with 14 points in 34 games. Deciding to move to the WHL, Bellows regained his scoring touch in a big way with 40 points in 31 games for Portland. The biggest thing Bellows has to prove this year is that he can play at the pace necessary to make a bigger impact. A lot of the other tools are there for him to be an offensive force.
Joey Anderson, RW, University of Minnesota Duluth (New Jersey Devils)
Another returnee, Anderson has already been named Team USA's captain for the tournament. Anderson has not put up great numbers at Minnesota Duluth this year, but he perhaps got himself going at the right time. He had five points last weekend to improve his total to nine in 13 games for the Bulldogs. Even if he doesn't score, he'll be an important forward for the U.S.
At the beginning of last year's tournament, Anderson was essentially a fourth-liner. By the end of the tournament, he became heavily leaned on in high-leverage minutes for Team USA, leading all American forwards in the overtime period in the gold-medal game. Anderson often stands out because of his speed and high-motor skills. Like Poehling, he should be getting a lot of the tougher assignments for the Americans.
Joseph Woll, G, Boston College (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Jake Oettinger, G, Boston University (Dallas Stars)
I'm lumping Team USA's top-two goalies together because it's not yet clear which of them will end up taking the No. 1 job. The U.S. rotated between Woll and Tyler Parsons in the preliminary round last year before giving the latter the net for the playoff round. It could be a similar situation in this tournament for these two.
Neither has stood above the other in terms of 2017-18 performance, as both have been merely average for the most part. That said, Woll was excellent when he did play at last year's WJC, and both had strong seasons for their respective teams. There's no doubt they have the talent. It's just going to come down to which of them gets hot at the right time. This staff has already seen Woll in some high-pressure situations, which might give him the edge at this point.
Other Team USA players to watch
Ryan Lindgren, D, University of Minnesota (Boston Bruins): A returnee from last year's team, Lindgren will be playing a much more substantial role in his second tour of duty. Likely partnered with Fox on USA's top pairing, he'll be the muscle opposite Fox's flash and dash. Lindgren has good mobility and uses all of his 6-foot, 198-pound frame to make an impact in his own zone.
Trent Frederic, C/W, University of Wisconsin (Boston Bruins): Frederic is one of those players who is just solid in all facets of the game. He can be used all over the lineup, which makes him especially valuable to Team USA. Frederic has 16 points in 21 games for the Badgers this season, but based on the depth that the U.S. has up front, he could be in more of a bottom-six situation. He'll still be able to provide good value there.
Andrew Peeke, University of Notre Dame (Columbus Blue Jackets): The sophomore defenseman has been a key contributor to Notre Dame's incredible start to the season. It appears he will be paired up with Hughes as part of USA's top four and will likely find himself killing penalties as well. Of USA's right-shot defensemen, Peeke is the best defender, thanks to his good footwork and smarts.
Max Jones, LW, London Knights (Anaheim Ducks): Jones is a really interesting case on this team. Because of Team USA's forward depth, Jones might have to accept a lesser role on this team than the one he's playing in London. That said, he is a good fit for the system this team wants to play with his combination of size and speed. He also has a little bit of edge in his game to go along with the skill that has allowed him to score 18 goals in 25 OHL games this season.
Patrick Harper, RW, Boston University (Nashville Predators): After playing as the 13th forward last year for Team USA, Harper should have more to do this time around. Though undersized, Harper is one of the better playmakers among Team USA's forwards. He does a nice job of finding space and making smart plays. A fifth-round choice of the Preds, Harper has 21 points in 19 games for the Terriers this year.