Imagine a world where the NHL’s most dazzling young stars from the United States and Canada join forces on a single, powerhouse team. It’s a tantalizing thought, isn’t it? While it won’t become reality at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, that doesn’t stop us from dreaming up what a resurrected Team North America might look like for the 2024-25 season.
Cast your mind back to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where the under-24 phenoms of Team North America stole the show. A roster glittering with names like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon had fans on the edge of their seats. Now, a new wave of prodigies is poised to carry the torch.
A Forward Group for the Ages
Leading the charge up front would undoubtedly be none other than Connor Bedard, the generational talent who’s been dazzling scouts for years. Fresh off his rookie NHL campaign, Bedard’s elite skill and vision would be the engine that drives this team. Flanking him could be Jack Hughes and Alexis Lafreniere, forming a trio of first-overall draft picks that would give defenders nightmares.
But the forward riches don’t end there.Quinton Byfield and Matt Boldy would bring a physically imposing presence, while the likes of Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther inject even more gamebreaking ability. And with two-way aces like Matty Beniers and Dylan Cozens in the mix, this group could dominate in all three zones.
Blue Line Brilliance
On the back end, Brock Faber and Jake Sanderson stand out as minute-munching workhorses who can shut down opposing stars. Both have already proven themselves as NHL regulars, with Sanderson even quarterbacking the top power play unit in Ottawa. They’d be ably supported by the likes of Owen Power, Bowen Byram, and more, giving this blue line skill, smarts, and sandpaper in equal measure.
Crease Questions
Admittedly, the goaltending situation is less certain for our hypothetical squad. With many of the top young netminders hailing from Europe, the options are somewhat limited. Devon Levi and Dustin Wolf stand out as the most likely candidates based on their NHL experience to date, but it’s an area where Team North America wouldn’t be quite as dominant as in 2016, when Connor Hellebuyck patrolled the crease.
It is a shame that Team North America was just a one-off, because many of the players on this projected roster will not play in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
According to a close source
Looking at this collection of U23 stars, it’s hard not to get excited about the potential. The speed, skill, and creativity on display would be breathtaking. While it remains a distant dream for now, I for one would love to see the NHL powers-that-be consider resurrecting the Team North America concept for future best-on-best tournaments.
Until then, we’ll just have to imagine the highlight-reel plays this group would unleash on the international stage. But oh, what a sight it would be.
Note: This is a hypothetical exercise and the team selections are based on the author’s analysis. Actual rosters may vary based on player availability and management decisions.
