trim_14028474-D033-4FF6-B654-3A09671C9AFC On Wednesday night, New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] forward Brock Nelson learned that he had been selected to Team USA's 4 Nations Face-Off roster. But what about his teammate, Kyle Palmieri? There were some big names left off the list, like Buffalo Sabres star forward Tage Thompson (13 goals, 7 assists) and Montreal Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield (16 goals, 7 assists). However, unlike those two, Palmieri (10 goals, 10 assists) brings more than just the offense, which pays dividends in a tournament such as this. Throughout his career, the Smithtown, New York native has been an underrated player in his own zone, winning board battles and doing the little things that go unnoticed on a nightly basis. Palmieri can play on the power play, whether it's in a one-time spot or at the net. He can play on the penalty kill, too. Of the forwards that did make the roster, one could argue that Palmieri's all-around game, especially what he's done this season -- he's built off a dominant 2023-24 season -- earned him an opportunity to play in this tournament. But who would he have replaced? New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider's overall body of work over his career is why he made the team, but based on season stats, he trails Palmieri by 10 points. Sure, Kreider has a knack for being in front of goal, and that very well could have been what Mike Sullivan and General Manager Bill Guerin were looking for. But it's hard to say that Kreider deserved the chance more than Palmieri. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMTgzOTQ3MDEzNDMzMzAz/usatsi_24802274-1.jpg] This isn't a tournament about what a player has accomplished in years past but about it being a best-on-best, and right now, Palmieri is better than Kreider. Although Vincent Trochek is a centerman, not a winger like Palmieri, USA's roster has seven center icemen on the team. Trocheck has 12 points on the season, including six goals and six assists. He has also won 60.9 percent of his draws, which is likely why he's on the team. Yes, having an extra centerman isn't a bad thing, but it's a best-on-best tournament, right? Did Team USA need seven centers? One could argue that Caufield and Thompson should have made the team as well, as clearly, there were a lot of strong names to choose from. One could make a case for Islanders captain Anders Lee, who has 11 goals and nine assists this season, but his lack of foot speed is what limits his ability to be ultra-effective in a tournament such as this. This isn't an All-Star Game and strong all-around players hold more value than one-trick ponies. Palmieri is an all-around forward who can shoot from range, drive the net, and play on both special teams.
