Fantasy Hockey Four Nations Face-Off | Team USA In-Depth Analysis and Prediction

To cap this four-part series, we're going to break down another roster for the Four Nations Face-Off, and give some projections of how the team is going to perform, as well as cover any injuries, replacements, and what this may mean for your fantasy team.

Last but certainly not least is Team USA. Let's dive in, shall we?

Roster

Forwards

Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild

Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets

Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning

Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils

Chris Kreider, New York Rangers

Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings

Auston Matthews (C), Toronto Maple Leafs

J.T. Miller, New York Rangers

Brock Nelson, New York Islanders

Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

Matthew Tkachuk (A), Florida Panthers

Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers

Defensemen

Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild

Adam Fox, New York Rangers

Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights

Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

Charlie McAvoy (A), Boston Bruins

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

Goalies

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars

Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

Injuries *

None

Notable Opinions

While there are no official injuries listed yet, obviously we have to talk about the potential of Canucks captain Quinn Hughes missing the Four Nations Face-Off having now missed four games in a row.

He should be considered a gametime decision, and as mentioned in my Team Canada Article, we should hear an announcement before tomorrow as all of the teams are supposed to have practice tomorrow in Montreal, and submit their final selections on Tuesday.

If Hughes unfortunately is unable to play in the tournament, it's likely that Ottawa Senator, Jake Sanderson, would get the call up. We'll keep an eye on this. To me, it makes sense, but we'll see what happens with Hughes and if unable to play, what the powers that be will decide for a replacement.

Sanderson has had a great year, and coming off of a recent 10-game winning streak, he would be a decent fit here. While not as much of a finisher, Sanderson comes with elite playmaking ability, and is a penalty kill specialist who blocks a ton of shots.

Team USA is deeper than the Mariana Trench. This team is going to be absolutely relentless to play against. I don't just mean points production, but they will also play a hard physical style of hockey, and a shutdown defensive style on the blueline and world class goaltending (more on this later).

Up front and center is Matthews, who has won the Rocket Richard trophy three of the past four years and is the face of USA hockey - a prolific goal-scoring phenom who captains the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bringing a crash and bang style power forward resurgence into the league are the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady. Nobody will be safe on the ice with them out prowling. Both fierce competitors who bring a resurgence to their dad's (Keith) style of play, while also being able to put the puck in the net. It'll be amazing to see them on the ice together, and if they are split up it will be double the trouble.

Speaking of brothers, so long as Quinn is able to play, Team USA will also have two thirds of the Hughes brothers, in Quinn and Jack. Elite franchise players on different teams, just like the Tkachuks.

Imagine the play-by-play broadcast with me; “Tkachuk to Hughes, Hughes to Tkachuk, Tkachuk to Hughes, Hughes to Tkachuk, and he SCORES!” That, ladies and gentlemen, was four (not two) players on the ice. Absolutely what nightmares are made of if on the other side of that.

Eichel and Connor also need mention here for elite finishers. From a scoring standpoint, USA is head and shoulders above the rest. While they may not have the absolute top-end talent of Team Canada, the waves will keep coming in depth with Team USA.

 There will be no letting up or break. Both Eichel and Connor have just shy of 50 goals between the two of them, and nearly 90 assists. They aren't even among the top players up front, that's how talented and deep this team is.

On defense, Team USA is again on top of this tournament. Should Quinn Hughes be able to make this tournament, there is not a single weak link. Every defender this team brought is the best on their team, and all regarded as some of the best defenders in the league. Do they have the offensive prowess of say Team Canada, or Team Sweden on the blueline? No, but do they need it? Also no.

Fox, Hughes, and Werenski all have at least 40 assists each, while Faber, Hanafin, McAvoy, and Slavin are all around 16. That's enough, considering the snipers Team USA have up front. These guys should be focused on moving the puck, playing hard minutes, and defending more than scoring, and that's just how Team USA have built this team.

With defense first in mind, these seven defenders have a combined +/- of +50. Team USA has actually been brilliant when selecting this roster, and the chemistry and play style complementing they have done. They have actually put this team together with the mindset of cohesive playstyles and winning championships.

I think where this team shines the most is in the crease. I know, crazy right? With everything I have just said, the strongest part of this team is actually between the pipes.

Hellebuyck is having a Vezina Trophy year, and is considered by most to be the best goalie in the league this year. He also has the most wins this year, the most shutouts this year, and is third in both goals against average, and save percentage. We'll continue this long list of season accomplishments with him also leading in both saves, and shots against, too.

But it's not just Helly, because Team USA is also bringing Oettinger and Swayman. Overall, according to FantasySP's value charts; Oettinger is ranked sixth in the league, while Swayman, despite his atrocious start, is ranked 13th.

Both Oettinger and Swayman have elite numbers, and in my opinion would be the number one goalie on any of the other three teams in the Four Nations Face-Off.

That means, again in my opinion, that Team USA has the top-three ranked goalies out of the 12 that are playing, which gives them a huge advantage. Coupled with the fact they have the best defensive core, and the deepest forward skaters. Well, you know where this is going.

Prediction

Obviously, I have Team USA winning the Four Nations Face-Off. Sadly, I don't think it will be close, either. I predict they will not lose a game, and will sweep the tournament. They will likely carry this team forward into the Olympics, and repeat there, too.

As a Canadian, this is devastating news. And given the results of the World Junior Championship this year, Team USA dominated there as well and Team Canada fell flat and was the subject of much criticism for their roster selections and discipline during the tournament.

It's safe to say that Team USA, at every level, is dominating. I probably sound like a broken record, but it's not even close. I boldly believe that USA is going to run away with this thing and it's going to send shockwaves throughout the international committees and the NHL alike.

I would love to be proven wrong, strictly from a patriotical standpoint, but I would be seriously surprised to see an upset here. Still, I will be cheering hard for Team Canada!