Quinn Hughes is the best player for Team USA
Continuing with Friday’s preview of Friday’s semifinals at the Men’s Olympic Hockey Tournament, during a segment on SportsCenter on TSN, Director of Scouting Craig Button was asked by Sarah Davis who were the most dangerous players for Team USA and Slovakia.
NHLRumors.com Transcripts
NHL Rumors: Quinn Hughes is open to staying in Minnesota
Sarah Davis: “We’re with Craig Button and Craig one of Canada, Finland, the US and Slovakia will win men’s hockey gold this weekend. So we want you to tell us the most dangerous player on each remaining team, and we want you to start with the Americans.”
Craig Button: “I think there’s no doubt about it, it’s Quinn Hughes. Quinn Hughes is going to play the most minutes. Quinn Hughes is going to provide the most challenges. He’s so good at improvising. And so if he’s not sure what he’s going to do, how can an opponent know what he’s going to do? His mind is always working. He’s always looking for where he can take advantage. And when you have someone who can play almost half the game and understands that he can be called upon. You’re talking about someone who not only has a significant impact on it. has, but who also keeps everyone on Quinn Hughes’ heels for the US.’
NHL Rumors.com Note: We saw the impact Quinn Hughes has for Team USA in these games. He scored the winning goal in extra time in the quarter-finals against Sweden. Many wonder what could have happened if Hughes had played for Team USA during the Four Nations Faceoff. Team USA has other players who can be dangerous, such as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, forwards Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews, but everything runs through Quinn Hughes.
Who is the most dangerous player in Slovakia? Slafkovski or Dvorski?
Davis: “And then the team that the Americans will face in the semi-finals. What about Slovakia?”
How many goals will Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Norris and Matthew Knies score?
Button: “Yes, Juraj Slafkovsky. Been there, done that. Bronze medal in 2022, and he’s come to these Olympics, and he’s been a tour de force. He’s been everything you expect from their best player. Juraj Slafkovsky has done it all. He set the tone physically; offensively, he set the tone. He set the tone for a complete game. We saw that development in Montreal, and now you see it on the Olympic stage.” So there are many other good players, but Juraj Slafkovsky stands alone as their most dangerous player.”
NHL Rumors.com Note: Slafkovsky was incredible for Slovakia with his ability to shoot the puck and use his big body while Slovakia plays an in-your-face game, but you could argue that Dalibor Dvorský is just as dangerous. He has six points (three goals and three assists) in four games. That’s the most points by a rookie at an Olympic Games involving NHL players. Moreover, he has done this before on the international stage. So Slovakia has a number of choices.
Team USA will face Slovakia on Friday afternoon. The winner plays against the winner of Canada/Finland in the Gold Medal Game. However, on Saturday the losers will play for bronze.
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