Sweden 🇸🇪/Finland 🇫🇮 | Canada 🇨🇦 | United States 🇺🇸
With a four-team, NHL-sanctioned international hockey tournament expected to take place in February 2025, theScore is choosing rosters for all nations set to partake.
For Canada and the United States, there are a lot of quality players to choose from. Opinions on who should make the rosters vary depending on who you ask, so we tasked five members of our hockey editorial team – Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O’Leary, John Matisz, and Josh Wegman – with selecting their own squads.
Below, we dive into each editor’s Team USA and the most pressing question surrounding their roster:
Kayla Douglas 👇
Biggest question: You’re the only one who didn’t tap Hellebuyck as the starter. USA is loaded in net, but can you explain your lack of faith in the experienced, three-time Vezina finalist?
The United States can’t go wrong with any of these three options in the crease. It’s an embarrassment of riches and, as a Canadian, I’m jealous.
I don’t have a lack of faith in Hellebuyck. He’s outstanding. It’s just that he’s currently 30 and is constantly one of the most overworked goalies in the league (he paced all netminders in shots faced for four straight seasons from 2018-22). With this event expected to be held in February 2025, Hellebuyck has one more year to get through. Wear and tear starts to add up.
Demko, meanwhile, is two years younger and excelling after a down year. By the time this tournament rolls…
