t Ubaldo Jimenez (ankle sprain) is close

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Its too early to say exactly how Team USA will fare at the 2015 World Junior Championship, but based on the 30 players invited today by USA Hockey to try out, this much is certain: the Americans will be the favourite team of NHL scouts. Team USA is going to be young, and young can often mean trouble at the WJC, but a number of these young Americans have been designated as special talents who have the wherewithal to rise above their inexperience. Six of their 30 invitees have not been through an NHL draft yet and at least four of those six – Boston University centre Jack Eichel, U.S. Under-18 star centre Auston Matthews as well as college freshmen defencemen Noah Hanifin of Boston College and Zach Werenski of the University of Michigan -- are expected to play prominent roles on Team USA. Eichel, Hanifin and Werenski are in this years NHL draft class; Matthews is 2016 eligible, although he only missed the cut-off for this years draft by two days. Were Matthews available this year, its highly likely the Americans would have three (Eichel, Matthews and Hanifin) of the top four prospects in this years draft. Heres a position-by-position look at the 30 players going to the final U.S. evaluation camp: CENTRE: Eichel, who is Connor McDavids No. 1 challenger to be first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, and Matthews, the Arizona-born product who is touted at No. 1 for 2016, will be Team USAs one-two punch up the middle. Toss in Detroit first-rounder Dylan Larkin of the University of Michigan and his Wolverine teammate J.T. Compher, a Buffalo Sabre prospect, and Team USAs four centres could be set. Larkin and/or Compher could be shifted to the wing if necessary. That could be a possibility if diminutive Chase DeLeo, a Winnipeg Jet prospect who plays for the Portland Winterhawks, challenges for a spot in the middle. RIGHT WING: There are two wild cards on the right side – 1997-born, 2015-draft eligible Jeremy Bracco, who is knocking down U.S. U-18 scoring records of Pat Kane and Phil Kessel, and 19-year-old Noble and Greenough Prep Schools Miles Wood, the New Jersey Devil fourth-round pick (2013) who is the son of former NHLer Randy Wood – challenging five bona fide NHL prospects, four of whom are 19. Minnesota first-rounder Alex Tuch of Boston College and University of Minnesota returnee Hudson Fasching, the Los Angeles King draftee whose NHL rights now belong to Buffalo, appear to be locks. Yale Universitys John Hayden, a Chicago Blackhawk prospect, and Vancouver Canuck prospect Cole Cassels of the Oshawa Generals, are strong contenders for spots. Cassels was recently suspended by the OHL for 10 games, which would make him ineligible to play in Team USAs first two games, but there has been talk of the OHL reducing his suspension to permit him to start the tourney, assuming he makes the team. Michael McCarron, the Montreal Canadien behemoth prospect who plays for the London Knights, is also in the mix on the right side, though he could also contend for a position at centre, depending on what head coach Mark Osiecki decides to do with Larkin and/or Compher. LEFT WING: The top contenders for the four spots on the left side include: returnee Adam Erne, the Tampa prospect who plays for the Quebec Remparts; Sonny Milano, the Columbus prospect who plays for the Plymouth Whalers; Tyler Motte, the Chicago prospect who plays at the University of Michigan; and Chicago prospect Nick Schmaltz, who plays at the University of North Dakota. Miami Universitys Anthony Louis, yet another Blackhawk prospect, will try to break up that group. If you want to draw any conclusions from Team USAs summer camp forward lines, Eichel played between Motte and Tuch; Matthews played between Schmaltz and Hayden; and Larkin played between Milano and Fasching. Erne didnt play at the summer camp because of injury and neither did Cassels, who was sidelined by mononucleosis. DEFENCE: Many question marks on the Team USA blueline; much potential or upside. But the most important question mark is the health of returnee blueliner Steve Santini of Boston College. The 1995-born New Jersey Devil prospect is still rehabbing from wrist surgery on Oct. 28 and hasnt played since then. Theres some question as to whether hell be ready to go by the Dec. 26 opener. If hes healthy enough to play, Santini could be Team USAs captain and the steadying influence on what will almost certainly be a highly-skilled, mobile but young defence. Will Butcher, a University of Denver player drafted by the Colorado Avalanche, and Ian McCoshen, a Florida Panther prospect who plays for Boston College, are returnees on the left side blueline from last years WJC team. But theyre going to get pushed, and pushed hard, by the 2015 draft eligibles Hanifin and Werenski. Both are outstanding skaters with high-end offensive ability. Michael Downing, a University of Michigan player and Florida Panther prospect, is a steady defensive defenceman wholl also contend for a spot on the left side. On the right side, if Santini cant go, it creates an enormous hole. Tampa first-rounder Anthony DeAngelo, the so-called Sarnia Sting bad boy who has world-class skating and offensive ability, is a strong right-side contender so long as he doesnt lapse into taking bad penalties or losing his cool. Jack Dougherty, the University of Wisconsin freshman drafted by Nashville, and Ryan Collins, a University of Minnesota freshman and Columbus Blue Jacket prospect, are both known as reliable, steady defenders. Brandon Carlo, the Tri City American defender who is draft eligible this year, rounds out the right-side competition. Getting Santini into the lineup and finding the right mix of offensive and defensive talents will be key for the Americans. GOAL: Returnee Thatcher Demko of Boston College, a Vancouver Canuck prospect, is expected to be no worse than one of Team USAs two goalies and could be the starter. Hell be challenged by a pair of OHL netminders – Carolina prospect Alex Nedeljkovic of the Plymouth Whalers and New York Ranger prospect Brandon Halverson of the Soo Greyhounds. Team USA is in the same group as Team Canada this year, so that means the two rivals will re-establish their New Years Eve tradition, going head-to-head in a preliminary round game at the Bell Centre in Montreal at 4pm et on Dec. 31. Federico Mattiello Jersey . There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal. Moise Kean Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. http://www.juventusfcstore.com/authenti ... us-jersey/. THE THUNDER & PACERS BENCHES: In a nutshell, not impressive at all. Rolando Mandragora Jersey . It was a move of some time in the making. “He hasnt thrown well, clearly some guys are being used more than him right now and the only way to get out of this funk is to pitch,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. Paulo Dybala Jersey . Wheeler scored at 4:58 of overtime, with Scheifele getting an assist, and the Jets beat the slumping Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Sunday night. BALTIMORE -- The AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles are seeking to secure a few good arms before Thursdays non-waiver trade deadline. "Weve had conversations with a number of teams and weve been looking for some pitching depth," Dan Duquette, the Orioles vice-president of baseball operations, said Tuesday. "Thats primarily what were focused on." Baltimore currently has five dependable starters -- Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris and Kevin Gausman. Not only that, but Ubaldo Jimenez (ankle sprain) is close to leaving the disabled list. So Duquette isnt necessarily looking for a front-line starter, primarily because the cost would be too high. He is more likely to shore up the bullpen. At this point, however, nothing is imminent. If nothing happened at all, Duquette would be fine with the team as it is currently constructed. "So far, so good," he said. "Every team has strengths and areas we could improve upon. Our team is like that. We have been able to get more consistent starting pitching, which will cover up a lot of areas of your team. Weve been able to execute defensively, which has helped us win the close games. TThis is a good ballclub.dddddddddddd" Baltimore started the day with a 2 1/2-game lead over Toronto and a 4 1/2-game advantage over New York. Duquette isnt satisfied, but he isnt going to mortgage the future for a quick fix. He would rather call upon his minor leaguers down the stretch than deal them away. "Wed like the star players to come up and make an impact on the team," Duquette said. "In 2012, we brought up Manny (Machado) and he made a difference in the pennant race. In 2014, weve got Kevin Gausman on our team, and we hope he will impact the race. So thats really the first choice, to have those really talented players play for us and prove themselves in the big leagues." If he cant get a pitcher, Duquette might be in the market for a second baseman or catcher. Rookie second baseman Jonathan Schoop is batting .216, and starting catcher Matt Wieters is out for the year after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery. "If you look at it, those are a couple areas where we could improve," Duquette said. "We have the defence. 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