Why Team USA Should Be Considered the Favorites at the 4 Nations Face-Off: 'We're Going To Be Tough To Beat'

Is Canada still the favorite when it comes to best-on-best international hockey competition? Or do the Americans, who might have the best collection of talent ever assembled, now have the edge?

It is a question that Quinn Hughes refused to answer, no matter how many times he was asked.

"That's for you guys to think about," said Hughes, one of six players named to Team USA's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off on Friday. "I'm not going to worry about if they're better than us or if we're better than them. That's why we play the game, and I know that they got a great team. I have a lot of confidence in the group that we have.

"We're going to be tough to beat. But so are they."

Maybe Hughes was being diplomatic. Or maybe he just didn't want to provide his opponents with bulletin board material. But you can make the argument that the Americans are the team to beat heading into the Four Nations Face-Off.

Yes, Canada won gold in each of the past two Olympics where NHLers participated, as well as the last World Cup of Hockey. But that was eight long years ago. A lot has changed since then.

Not so much with Canada, which named Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brad Marchand and Brayden Point as its six locks. But with the Americans, which are younger and deeper than ever before — particularly down the middle and on the back end.

"There's so much good talent in USA hockey and the NHL," said Auston Matthews. "It's an honor to be selected. I know there's going to be a lot of tough decisions coming down the line. I think that's a nice thing to have, to have that many players that are pushing for spots to make it competitive."

Along with Hughes, who won the Norris Trophy this year, Team USA also named Rocket Richard Trophy winner Matthews, Adam Fox, Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy as its six locks. That doesn't even include Hughes' brother, Jack, whose points-per-game average this past season ranked 13th in the NHL.

With Matthews and Eichel, as well as Jack Hughes, Team USA finally has the kind of centermen that should challenge Canada's Crosby, McDavid and MacKinnon. But it's in net, where Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck will be competing for the starting job with Thatcher Demko, Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger, where the Americans have a noticeable edge over Canada.

"It’s everywhere," Hughes said of Team USA's strengths. "We have great depth up at center, and we have great wingers and great defensemen and our goalies — like you said — we probably got four or five guys that you know can definitely play.

"If you’re going to beat us, you’re going to have to play good hockey. We got a good team."

Does that mean Team USA should be the betting favorites? Again, Hughes refused to take the bait.

"I didn't win money last night," said Hughes, with a smile. "So I wouldn't take my advice."

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