With December upon us and the 2025 WJC drawing near, hockey fans across the globe have begun to speculate potential lineups for each nation following the recent release of camp/roster invites. Team USA, the defending champions, are looking to win their third gold medal (and fourth total medal) in the last five years. While an initial look through the camp invite roster reveals a weaker overall team than last year, the US is hoping that the combination of an elite top line and starting goaltender will carry them back to the top of the podium. Below we will try to piece together what players the US will bring to the 2025 WJC and how they could line up to start the tournament.
Forwards:
Line 1: Gabe Perreault – James Hagens – Ryan Leonard
With Will Smith starting to pick up steam for the San Jose Sharks, it looks like he will not be able to answer the call for the US this year. Under that assumption, the top forward line will almost certainly feature this deadly Boston College trio who have combined for over 58 points this season in the NCAA. They come in looking to be the best line in the tournament and the success of team USA will largely depend on their continued domination.
Line 2: Cole Eiserman – Oliver Moore – Trevor Connelly
The US front end remains deep through their second line. Oliver Moore, a speedy centreman with playmaking ability, looks to bring some dependability through the middle between two of the biggest offensive threats in the tournament in Cole Eiserman and Trevor Connelly. It’s not hard to imagine these three linking up for multiple highlight reel goals, however, it remains to be seen whether their play off the puck will be satisfactory. Additionally, head coach David Carle may choose to separate Eiserman and Connelly in order to combat their lack of offensive firepower in the bottom six.
Line 3: Teddy Stiga – Danny Nelson – AJ Spellacy
The third line for the US is where we begin to see a bit of a drop off compared to last year’s team. Teddy Stiga has been “Mr. Dependable” for Boston College this year and looks to team up with center Danny Nelson to form a responsible third line that can be trusted late to protect a lead. We have them being joined by Windsor Spitfires’ assistant captain and 2024 3rd round selection AJ Spellacy, who brings some much needed size (6’3, 205 lbs) and athleticism to Stiga and Nelson’s flank. It is important to note that Stiga and Hagens have played well together before and that it is possible we see them together again if the US lines are thrown into a blender.
Line 4: Brodie Ziemer – Carey Terrance – Austin Burnevik
Extras: Chris Pelosi – Joey Willis
The bottom of the lineup this year will almost certainly see a variety of combinations, but here is how we think things start. The trio of Ziemer, Terrance, and Burnevik will look to provide the US with a line that is very hard to play against and capable of creating chances when they see the ice. Pelosi and Willis will look on from the outside, but will do everything they can to get their chance if one of team USA’s forwards go down or the roster needs a shake up (especially the latter if it’s in a more offensively oriented role).
Defense:
Line 1: Zeev Buium – EJ Emery
Zeev Buium comes back this year as the “crown jewel” of the US blue line where he will see heavy minutes and be relied upon to facilitate what will likely be a very good power play. While the US will largely depend on Buium to be the engine of the back end, Buium will lean upon partner EJ Emery to be a steadying presence and to fill in the defensive gaps that can stem from the occasional over-aggressive offensive play from the Denver University blueliner. Emery, a 6’3 RHD playing for North Dakota will be perfectly suited to this role and should help lead the way on the penalty kill.
Line 2: Cole Hutson – Aram Minnetian
Cole Hutson, brother of Montreal rookie Lane Hutson, will continue to provide the same excellent puck moving, rushing, and blue line walking capabilities that he has all year for the Boston University Terriers. We expect Hutson to see power play time on the second unit and we think it’s fair to say that the US forwards will have their hands full with covering back for their top two left-handed defenseman. On the other side, Minnetian will help the US push pace and be used as a reliable puck mover and veteran presence.
Line 3: Drew Fortescue – Adam Kleber
Extra: Paul Fischer
The third and final pair features steady returner Drew Fortescue and the towering defenseman Adam Kleber (6’5, 196 lbs) who provide much needed shutdown ability at even strength and on the penalty kill. The final RD spot is in our opinion the most up in the air spot in the US lineup. We could see them going with Kleber who can play there on his natural side or putting someone like Paul Fischer there on his off hand. Additionally, whether in that spot or as an extra, recent second rounder Colin Ralph is certainly an option as well as the draft eligible Blake Fiddler (captain of the Hlinka-Gretzky team) and Logan Hensler. It will be an interesting decision for Carle on whether he takes a more veteran presence as his 6/7 or chooses to give one of the younger defensemen valuable international experience ahead of next year’s tournament where they likely play a large role.
Goalies:
Starter: Trey Augustine
Backups: Sam Hillebrandt, Hampton Slukynsky
If the US hopes to replicate the success of last year, Augustine will be the key to victory. The 6’1 goaltender will see plenty of rubber behind an inexperienced blue line that likes to take chances. Augustine will look to replicate or even improve upon his .936 save percentage the previous year, while receiving much less help from the group in front of him. Hillebrandt and Slukynsky will do all they can to be reliable in case of injury, emergency, or needed rest behind Augustine.
Prediction:
With the roster laid out above, we believe the US has a very good chance to medal during this tournament. At the end of the day, where they place on the podium will heavily depend upon the Boston College trio up front, star defenseman Zeev Buium, a killer power play, and the game saving ability of Augustine in net.
Credits:
Addison Azar (@azar_addison_1), Gabriel Foley (@NHLFoley), Wade Messier (@wade_messier), Linc Zdancewicz (@LincZdancewicz)