PLYMOUTH, Michigan – There were 25 forwards in Team USA’s World Junior Summer Showcase camp, all vying for spots alongside a number of returning players that will be looking to defend gold at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

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• What You Need To Know About The World Junior Summer Showcase
• Evaluations From WJSS: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Canada Vs. Finland | USA vs. Sweden | USA vs. Canada

Over a series of games and practices, coaches got a significant evaluation opportunity before the season. Players will continue to be scouted by USA coaches and officials over the course of the fall before the final selection camp roster is named in early December. 

For the U.S., they’ll return a core group of forwards led by Ryan Leonard (WSH) and Gabe Perreault (NYR), who each played significant roles in the gold-medal game against Sweden last year. Oliver Moore (CHI) and Danny Nelson (NYI) will also likely return, and I wouldn’t doubt Carey Terrance (ANA), who was an alternate last year will firmly be in the mix this time around.

The big question is whether Will Smith will be made available by the San Jose Sharks depending on how his rookie season is going. If Smith is available, it would change the dynamic of the lineup some and leave one fewer spot available. There’s a lot to like even without Smith, though. The amount of returning players and the skill among World Junior rookies should make USA a very threatening offensive team.

See Evaluations for Team USA's Defense And Goalies At The World Junior Summer Showcase here.

USA Forward Evaluations From World Junior Summer Showcase

Tanner Adams, RW

Adams’ best chance to make Team USA is as a bottom-of-the-lineup penalty killer and he had some flashes that he could fit into that role. I think he’ll have to have a bigger first half in order to make Team USA. He didn’t show much ability to finish and USA has been very clear that they want all four lines to be able to score. 

Austin Burnevik, LW (ANA)

Burnevik acquitted himself well with some good flashes. He had some looks on the power play and was able to use his big frame effectively. The fact that he can score and showed good enough skating here puts him on the radar, but he is likely on the outside looking in without a big first half of his college season at St. Cloud State.

Cole Eiserman, LW (NYI)

I didn’t love Eiserman’s first half of camp, but he improved as it went on. His scoring ability is such a weapon that I think he’ll probably be on the final roster, but I also would not call him a lock at this point. He still needs to find more ways to impact the game. In short tournaments like the World Juniors, if a goal-scorer goes cold, there’s not a lot of time to ramp it back up. The good news for Eiserman is that his cold spells are very often short-lived. If Eiserman can make an impact in more ways, he gives the coaches a bit more to work with for the final roster spot. I think he’ll be there in December, but he’s still got work to do to make sure of that.

📝 Note to self: Don't leave EJ Emery hanging. 🤝
(Don't worry, Cole Eiserman knows what he's doing 😉)#WJSS #TeamUSA #USAHockey pic.twitter.com/i7rQSIOAQV

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) August 2, 2024

Jake Fisher, C (COL)

Fisher had a nice USHL season last year, which got him drafted in his second year of eligibility and it was good to see him rewarded. He had a few nice moments in camp, but I think the level jump to playing against the elite U20 players of the world exposed a little bit of his game as perhaps not ready for this level. I think he’s going to be a particularly good college player and has plenty of development time ahead, but I did not come away from this camp thinking he was ready to be a World Junior player.  

James Hagens, C (2025)

We got a lot of looks at Hagens and his camp got better as time went on. His skill, speed and hockey sense will all be assets. He’s in the driver’s seat to be Team USA’s No. 1 center if Will Smith is not available and likely will spend much of the season alongside Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard at BC this year. They are going to be a problem for college hockey and Hagens is going to be in a very good position to hold onto his No. 1 draft prospect status.

Beckett Hendrickson, LW (BOS)

Hendrickson had a very effective camp. He showed he can fit a role in the depth of their lineup and made some plays. He’s gotten stronger and is more difficult to play against as a result. I’m not sure he has enough offensive pop to be part of the kind of forward group USA is building, but he was rewarded by playing in the game against Canada and showed there’s at least reason to keep him on the long list with solid penalty killing and good work ethic.

Ryan Leonard, RW (WSH)

There’s not a lot left to say about Leonard. He competes no matter the stakes and as a returning player, he really didn’t have to do much but still played hard. He played in two games before being released from camp with the rest of the returnees. He could be the captain in Ottawa and the way he plays is going to give opposing players fits. Leonard is a critical piece for USA and very likely viewed as the leader of this group.

LJ Mooney, C (2025)

A late invite to camp, Mooney held his own. He’s a 5-foot-6 forward with a boatload of skill, a willingness to compete and some real hockey sense. The lack of size, however, was noticeable at times as he was overpowered. I still love his willingness to get in there and take pucks to the hard areas of the ice. He has three years of World Junior eligibility and while I don’t see him making it as an underager, he should be in the mix next year.

Oliver Moore, C (CHI)

One of the fastest players on ice at any level, Moore’s speed is a weapon. He showed that multiple times, creating chances and causing problems for opposing players. Moore is going to be a big piece for Team USA, likely as their No. 2 center and on the penalty kill and perhaps second power play unit. Moore’s two-way ability provides a lot of value, but if he ever can improve his ability to finish the plays he can create, he really could become a star at the NHL level. His hands are still catching up to his feet, but there’s a lot to like about his overall game.

Quentin Musty, LW (SJS)

Musty has showed improved pace and good scoring touch. He’s going to have to score for this team in order to make an impact, but he also brings that big frame of his. Having shown a bit more jump this year than he had last year helps his case. Being strong on the puck helps, too. I think he’s in the mix to be a top-six option for Team USA at the World Juniors. He scored against Canada in regulation on a very nice play between him and James Hagens, then scored in the shootout. His last game was certainly his best, which helps his case quite a bit.

After ✌️, the U.S. leads Canada 3-2!

U.S. Goal Scorer:
Quentin Musty (Hagens, Hensler) pic.twitter.com/5ix4nYIQgz

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 3, 2024

Danny Nelson, C/W (NYI)

Nelson was in camp, but did not participate as a precautionary measure. He did practice, but did not play in games. As a returnee, he’s a lock to be back and likely playing a more elevated role this time for Team USA. I could see him as the No. 3 center, killing penalties and being a tough matchups guy.

Chris Pelosi, C/W (BOS)

One of the real surprises in camp, Pelosi surely put his name high on the list of options for Team USA. His speed was a factor all week, he got involved on the penalty kill and he made some plays on top of that. I did not anticipate Pelosi’s name being on the list for my projected roster, but based on how he has played and how David Carle was talking this week, his chances look much improved. I still think he's on the bubble to make it, but he put himself on the more positive side of that bubble.

Gabe Perreault, LW (NYR)

An absolute magician and one of the smartest puck-movers in this age group, Perreault added a few more plays to his highlight reel. Very few players process the game at the speed that he does. There are still concerns about size and pace, but he has definitely added some muscle and some weight, which is making him tougher to play against. He’s never going to be a powerful hockey player, but his ability to make plays puts him among the elite players in his age group.

Max Plante, LW (DET)

I thought Plante had a great camp and put himself on the map as a potential option. He was given looks with some of USA’s most skilled players on the power play, putting him in the bumper position. Plante was a natural and was able to facilitate from the middle of the ice. On top of that, I think Plante was moving with quickness and showed his smarts with the puck on his stick. He looks like he has a chance to be a secondary scoring and power-play option for USA at the World Juniors provided he keeps this going in the first half of the season at Minnesota Duluth.

Noah Powell, RW (PHI)

Powell’s week in Plymouth showed that he could really be part of this group. He is a physical presence, gets on loose pucks quickly, wins board battles and more. Most importantly, he can also provide the offensive pop that USA is looking for out of its fourth line. They want players to defend, to be hard to play against and to score. Powell seems to check all the boxes. Now we’ll have to see if the trend continues going into the fall. Plenty of players have had great camps in summer and not made the team, but I think Powell has earned fans among the coaching this week and demonstrated the kind of role he can fit for USA in Ottawa.

James Reeder, LW (LAK)

Reeder was put in a lot of good spots, given opportunities on the power play and on the penalty kill. He wasn’t always particularly noticeable, but he made pretty simple plays that were effective. He scored one goal in the camp as well. I’m not sure I see a clear role for him on the team in the end, but he did not look out of place with this group.

Jayson Shaugabay, RW (TBL)

Shaugabay showed flashes of his skill and made a few really nice plays. I just don’t see where he fits on the roster. I don’t think there’s much of a spot for him in their top nine and his style of game isn’t built for the fourth line. My expectation is he will have a solid freshman season at Minnesota Duluth, but it just won’t be at the level needed for the World Juniors. Either way, he's on a very positive track in his development as a hockey player.

AJ Spellacy, RW (CHI)

Spellacy is clearly a tremendous athlete and an excellent skater. His speed was noticeable throughout the entire camp. He also brings some size and strength Team USA could use, but I don’t think he’s quite ready to be part of the team this year. He’ll be in the mix next year for sure. He’s another player where his brain and hands have to catch up to his feet so he can execute plays, but he brings a lot to the table due to his athletic toolkit. His best game of the event was against Canada, where he scored a goal and caused so much disruption. It was a positive week for him in the end.

Teddy Stiga, LW (NSH)

Stiga had moments where he was noticeable and made a few plays. His speed and aggressiveness on the forecheck were certainly notable traits, but he didn’t make as many plays as he’ll probably have to, to compete for a role the way that some of his fellow 2006-born players did. He’ll be one to watch in the first half, but I’m not thinking we’ll see Stiga on the roster this year. He’ll certainly be an integral guy the following year, though.

Brandon Svoboda, C/W (SJS)

Size and speed made Svoboda stand out, but he also made enough plays to give him a chance to be on this roster. He’s got the big body, but his ability to win races and pressure defensemen is probably more important. Svoboda was one of USA's most productive players throughout the camp. He also scored against Canada and made a few nice plays in the middle of the ice and was able to get pucks to more dangerous areas. He’s a tough man to move off of it. He’s got a great chance to be a depth player for Team USA thanks to that speed, size and scoring touch. If he plays the first half at BU like he did in camp, I think he's on the team.

The U.S. is up 2-0 over Canada after the opening 20 in today's #WJSS final game! 🇺🇸

U.S. Goal Scorers:
Brandon Svoboda (Plante)
AJ Spellacy (Hendrickson, Hutson) pic.twitter.com/sfUgRQjNYl

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 3, 2024

Mac Swanson, C (PIT)

Swanson showed why he was a top player in the USHL this year. He made effective plays, played competitively and showed good work ethic. The size situation with him will always be part of the discussion and I think USA has enough players that do what Swanson does at a similar or better level and also come with a bigger frame and a bit more versatility. Swanson will still be monitored at North Dakota, but I don’t know that he has a path to making USA’s roster. Not this year, at least.

Carey Terrance, C (ANA)

The speed, physicality and willingness to defend are all things that made Terrance effective in camp. Coach David Carle remarked how much he is developing physically from a year ago at this time, getting stronger and being more effective in how he uses his frame. Terrance has the work ethic and the pace to play a role on USA’s lineup after not getting in a game at last year’s WJC.

William Whitelaw, LW (CBJ)

Whitelaw has a lot of skill and he can be an abrasive player, but he also can be inconsistent. I think we saw that in camp at times this week as well. He had some really impressive games and others where he was a little too much in the background. I think he’ll be an option for USA on their roster, but also thought it was telling that he did not get a look against Canada. I think he’s firmly on the bubble and will need a big first half to change some minds.

Joey Willis, LW (NSH)

Willis is another guy who showed that he might be a fit for the depth of USA’s lineup. He scored some goals, got on the power play, got some looks on the PK and handled himself well. Willis hasn’t played in any prior international tournaments, which may hurt his case some because there are enough more experienced players that can do what he does, but if this camp is about getting to know players better, Willis gave a good idea of what he’s capable of. 

Brodie Ziemer, RW (BUF)

Ziemer put himself firmly in the mix to make Team USA. He made a lot of good plays, showed great effort down low, won some pucks and turned them into dangerous chances and sometimes goals. He is not flashy, but he is effective and has enough skill to score. I think he’s a Swiss Army Knife of a player, which dramatically helps his cause. My expectation is he will play a big role at Minnesota this year and put himself firmly in the mix to be on USA’s roster, potentially even in a top-nine role.

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