I find it amusing that people are considering Canada's forwards to be lesser than their American counterparts.
The top 3, and 5 of the NHL's top 10 scorers are on that roster, 8 of the top 20, and another 4 of the top 20 could not even crack the Canadian lineup (that's 12 / 20 that are Canadians). That's without Stamkos.
In addition to the top 3 scorers in the NHL, all Canadian centers, Canada has a pair of the best two way centers in the world in Bergeron and Toews, who also happen to be two of the best faceoff guys in the NHL. Pretty strong down the middle, which kind of matters, and those are also the guys who will be the first to backup their blueline.
Joe Thornton could well be the USA's top line center. and didn't make Team Canada.
The USA has a pair of floaters in the top 10, and Pavelski at 20. One of those floaters has a tendency to disappear when the game gets physical, and the other is one of the NHL's premier liabilities and giveaway leaders. That can prove deadly if they're on the wrong side of that equation. Not to mention the lack of character!
Every last guy on that roster with the exception of Kesler wishes he were Canadian.
And then you look at the bluelines:
Weber Suter
Pietrangelo Shattenkirk
Keith McDonagh
Doughty Fowler
Vlasic Martin
Bouwmeester Orpik
Hamhuis Faulk
Subban Carlson
Hard to like that matchup from a USA point of view.
The only positive here is that it's only a one game gig. That alone, and Quick, gives the USA a prayer.