The North American World Cup squads were announced – the USA fields a hidden team, Canada failed to sign a big NHL star

The Men’s Ice Hockey World Cup begins on Friday and the North American teams are taking shape. After the frames were presented, it is clear that neither Canada nor the USA can put together a particularly high-profile national team.

The North American teams have now presented their preliminary squads which will be supplemented and may also change. Canada has presented 22 names and the USA 23. The teams are allowed to take out 25 World Cup players.

The USA plays its group stage matches in Tampere, while Canada is in Riga. The World Cup begins on May 12 and the second round of the NHL playoffs ends on May 16 at the latest.

In the USA’s low-profile team, Buffalo Sabres’ forward Alex Tuch is the big poster name. He had by far the best season of his career when in 74 games it was 36+43=79 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Jake Guentzel intended to play in the World Cup, but was forced to opt out due to injury.

In the attack squad, apart from Tuch, there is really only one other heavy NHL name.

In the Vancouver Canucks, Conor Garland was noted in 81 games for 17+29=46 points. Garland has played in a World Cup before. Two years ago, there were 13 points in 10 games and a second place in the WC’s points standings.

Otherwise, it’s about defensively marked NHL foxes (Anders Bjork, Nick Bonino, Drew O’Connor), seasoned players who produce in the AHL (Rocco Grimaldi, TJ Tynan) and a couple of interesting youngsters in their 20s (Matt Coronato, Sean Farrell).

The squad also includes Philadelphia Flyers 2022 draft pick Cutter Gauthier, who has played college hockey.

Tampa Bay’s Nick Perbix is ​​perhaps the top running back name on the USA squad. Scott Perunovich has offensive skills, but has struggled to fit into the NHL and spent the entire season in St. Louis Blues farm team.

Friends of NHL hockey can turn their eyes to Lane Hutson, who just turned 19 years old, who was reserved as the 62nd player in the summer of 2022. Hutson has had an excellent season in the NCAA where in 39 games he was recorded for 15+33=48 points.

He belongs to the Montreal Canadiens but does not yet have an NHL contract.

The US goal will likely be guarded by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Casey DeSmith or the Los Angeles Kings’ Cal Petersen.

Petersen, who is on a three-year contract worth five million dollars per season, was sent to the AHL on December 1 and was never recalled.

Three Calgary profiles in Canada’s squad

Canada looks sharper than the US, but doesn’t impress on paper either.

Forward Tyler Toffoli of the Calgary Flames is the biggest name. In fading Calgary, Toffoli played 82 games for 34+39=73 points.

Another Canadian profile is also in Calgary. Running back Mazkenzie Weegar, formerly of the Florida Panthers, started the season weak but played up in the spring.

The third profile from Calgary is Milan Lucic who has achieved great success in the NHL. The 34-year-old winger’s career has nevertheless been on the decline for many years.

The 21-year-old newcomer Jack Quinn has a sharp NHL season under his belt. In the Buffalo Sabres, the winger played 75 games for 14+23=37 points.

The heavy and versatile winger Lawson Crouse goes under the radar in the Arizona Coyotes where in 77 games he scraped together 24+21=45 points.

Just like Crouse, Sammy Blais is a heavy grater. He began the season with the New York Rangers and moved to the St. Louis Blues in the Vladimir Tarasenko deal. In St. Louis played Blais a lot alongside Kasperi Kapanen and was noted for 20 points in 31 games.

Adam Fantilli is the only player on Canada’s team who does not belong to an NHL organization. Many believe that the 18-year-old is reserved as second in this summer’s NHL draft.

On the night of Tuesday, the draft lottery will be organized and after that it will be clear in what order the clubs can reserve players.

Of the defenders, Jake Walman had an excellent season with the Detroit Red Wings and established himself in the NHL. He has reached the age of 27 and was recently rewarded with a three-year contract.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph is an offensively skilled player who has yet to quite hit it off with the Pittsburgh Penguins. On the big WC ice, he gets the opportunity to use his strengths.

Canada has three goalkeepers with NHL experience, of which Sam Montembeault from the Montreal Canadiens has played the most games. Devon Levi signed an NHL contract with the Buffalo Sabers this spring and immediately took over the first shovel.