If the Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies or Senators' Jake Sanderson are chosen for the 4 Nations Face-Off, it will be because they are among the best U.S. players now.
Bill Guerin didn’t say which players he was keeping an eye on during Wednesday night’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights.
But with Auston Matthews still out with an injury and Jack Eichel already named to the team for the 4 Nations Face-Off, it is fair to say that the Team USA GM was on a scouting mission to check out Matthew Knies.
Unfortunately for the 22-year-old left winger, what Guerin saw wasn’t particularly promising. In the second period, Knies was rushing down the wing with the puck when Vegas' Zach Whitecloud caught him with a devastating open-ice hit that knocked Knies from the game. The Leafs reported that he suffered an "upper-body" injury.
The night wasn't a total loss for Guerin, who saw Joseph Woll — and Team USA hopeful — stop 31 shots en route to a 3-0 shutout win.
As for Knies, who is tied for 11th among U.S.-born players with eight goals in 20 games, it's not like this was Guerin's first time viewing him.
“I’ve seen him at the university of Minnesota, too,” said Guerin, who is also the Minnesota Wild GM. “He’s played well this year. We’re considering everybody. Not to get into the specifics or anything like that, but there’s just so many good players.”
In less than two weeks, final rosters will have to be submitted for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. But the bigger date on the international calendar is February 2026 — when NHLers return to the Olympics for the first time in 10 years.
Though Knies remains a long shot for the 4 Nations Face-Off, he could be someone who becomes a valuable piece for Team USA in the future.
However, just because the Olympics are two years after the 4 Nations Face-Off does not mean that Team USA is reserving a few spots for youngsters who will be playing an even bigger role two years from now.
“Not at all,” said Guerin. “We’ll build a team for this tournament and then we’ll reassess. I doubt very much it will be the same team (at the Olympics).”
In other words, don’t expect players like Knies and Ottawa's Jake Sanderson to get preferential treatment over veterans, such as 33-year-old Chris Kreider and 34-year-old John Carlson, who might be too old by the time the Olympics occur.
“No, no, no,” said Guerin, who stressed that a lot can happen between now and 2026. “Hey, look, if they’re playing well and they’re a good fit and it works for both, then it works for both. But we have to reassess as we go along. Obviously, you have to plan. But there’s a lot of time in between.
"There’s maturity in younger players’ games, there’s older players getting older, there’s injuries. So we just have to focus on this tournament right now, and then, we can move on to the Olympics after that.”
Guerin, who will likely be in Ottawa on Thursday to check out Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and Sanderson, said he is not close to finalizing a roster. But he is already preparing for the inevitable backlash, whoever gets selected.
There's just too much talent to get in, he said.
Indeed, there are 12 Americans in the top 50 in scoring. Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger are both ranked in the top five in goals-against average among goalies with at least 10 games, while everyone from Neal Pionk and Zach Werenski to Brock Faber and Shayne Gostisbehere is making a case to be among the top six defensemen.
Add it up, and there simply aren't enough roster spots for everyone — no matter their age and experience level.
“They’re hard decisions, because there’s so many good players,” said Guerin. “I don’t know if we can make a bad decision, because of the level of the player. But we want to make sure we’re making the right decision for fit and role and all that stuff. But it’s hard. There’s just so many good players. But it’s a good problem to have.”
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