Quinn Hughes adds another dynamic to USA’s backend

The United States came oh-so close to winning their first best-on-best hockey tournament last year at the 4 Nations Face-Off. If not for some phenomenal saves from Canada‘s Jordan Binnington in the overtime period, the game may not have made it to the point where Connor McDavid could have wired a wrist shot past Connor Hellebuyck for the win.

It’s no win, but the fact that the USA were so close to a win at 4 Nations can be a moral victory, especially when they were without one of their best players: Quinn Hughes. The Minnesota Wild defenseman is one of the best in the league, and was absent from 4 Nations due to an oblique injury. He’s healthy this time around, and he’s going to add a completely different dynamic to the American blueline, one that could give them the edge over Canada this time around.

Steve Peters joined Daily Faceoff Live to talk about Hughes and how his game can give the Americans an edge at the Olympics.

Steve Peters: I think when you look at what’s happening with Team USA, you’ve got that skilled defensive core that can move the puck quickly, and I do think that’s going to be important for Team USA. You do have some size and some physicality, and you’ve got guys that can defend.

But Werenski was relied on heavily on that team in the 4 Nations to be the guy that could carry the offense. He was outstanding, he led the tournament in points. But I think Quinn Hughes is going to give Team USA a different element in their ability to get out of the zone, and the ability to play that active style on the offensive zone that I don’t think they got to do as much in the 4 Nations.

I think they were more hard on the forecheck, low to high, pucks on net with traffic. I think Quinn Hughes has a new element where he is able to make those plays off of the blueline and add that active element and hope to add to that secondary offense for Team USA.

You can watch the full episode here…