• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

US Olympic Roster Announced

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jalili
  • Start date Start date
J

Jalili

Guest
Following today's game, the Americans are announcing their Olympic Roster.

The goalies have already been leaked.

Quick - Miller - Howard

And there are some rumours that Parise has a fractured foot and may not be ready in time to play, although he'll be named to the roster just the same.

The other rumour is that the Americans are considering leaving Bobby Ryan off their team. Apparently he's one of the borderline picks to make it. That he's not considered a lock seems like a huge mistake, but we'll see what happens.
 
Nice that Kessel, JVR and Jimmy Howard got to go out on the ice for the Team USA announcement.
 
Wow, so they did leave off Bobby Ryan. Wonder what happened there.
 
Team USA

Forward
Phil Kessel
James Van Riemsdyk
Zach Parise
Derek Steppan
Blake Wheeler
TJ Oshie
Joe Pavelski
David Backes
Dustin Brown
Ryan Callahan
Patrick Kane
Ryan Kesler
Max Pacioretty
Paul Stastny

Defense
Ryan McDonagh
Kevin Shattenkirk
Ryan Suter
Brooks Orpik
John Carlson
Paul Martin
Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler

Goalie
Jonathan Quick
Jimmy Howard
Ryan Miller
 
Good group and a lot of depth but they're still lacking the high end talent that Canada and Russia will be bringing.
 
Wow, and also left off Keith Yandle.

I guess it's a good thing, from a Canadian perspective, that the Americans fudged a few of their picks.
 
Nik the Trik said:
Good group and a lot of depth but they're still lacking the high end talent that Canada and Russia will be bringing.
Click to expand...

Not a lot to gripe about.  Ben Bishop probably just doesn't have the track record but he's been great for Tampa this year while Howard really hasn't been all that good.

Two of the USA's goaltenders are T-32 and 37th in qualified SV% this year.  I really think you are taking a big risk running with 2 of your three goaltenders based on past performance rather than current production.  It should assure Ryan Miller of the starting position though.

Simiarly Keith Yandle is 8th in defenseman scoring in the NHL.  I probably would have taken someone like him over Brooks Orpik (who is going to get hurt badly by the bigger ice/no touch defense).  But again, they are still taking 4 of the top 14 scoring defenseman to the Olympics with Suter, Shattenkirk, McDonagh and Fowler.
 
They made a few pretty stupid mistakes but it's still a strong team.

I'd rank them between the Canadians and Swedes as the teams strongly favoured to win. As much as it's a short tournament, I don't see the other teams having the horses to win it.
 
Snoopzilla said:
They made a few pretty stupid mistakes but it's still a strong team.

I'd rank them between the Canadians and Swedes as the teams strongly favoured to win. As much as it's a short tournament, I don't see the other teams having the horses to win it.
Click to expand...

I was looking at Sweden's defensemen, I wonder if Gunnarsson has a shot at the Olympic team.  I know he got snubbed from the summer camp but when you look at their defense.

OEL - Karlsson
Hedman - Ericsson
Kronwall - Hjamarsson
Oduya

Edler has had a really poor year.  Stralman has had a poor year.  Larsson isn't remotely close to ready.  Maybe Edstrom or Brodin?  I'm sure he won't get picked, but he would certainly add a good defensive presence to their blueline.
 
L K said:
I was looking at Sweden's defensemen, I wonder if Gunnarsson has a shot at the Olympic team.  I know he got snubbed from the summer camp but when you look at their defense.

OEL - Karlsson
Hedman - Ericsson
Kronwall - Hjamarsson
Oduya

Edler has had a really poor year.  Stralman has had a poor year.  Larsson isn't remotely close to ready.  Maybe Edstrom or Brodin?  I'm sure he won't get picked, but he would certainly add a good defensive presence to their blueline.
Click to expand...

Gunnar would be a good choice although he probably is on the outside looking in.

I would go with those 7 D-men you listed, plus Brodin.

He just seems like the best choice even though he's young. A high IQ, mobile D-man is probably your best bet for a tourny like this.
 
L K said:
Simiarly Keith Yandle is 8th in defenseman scoring in the NHL.  I probably would have taken someone like him over Brooks Orpik (who is going to get hurt badly by the bigger ice/no touch defense).  But again, they are still taking 4 of the top 14 scoring defenseman to the Olympics with Suter, Shattenkirk, McDonagh and Fowler.
Click to expand...

I'm not super familiar with Orpik's game but I think that the big-ice transition stuff gets unfairly ascribed to stay at home d-men sometimes. So long as he's decently mobile I think that 90% of what they do in the NHL translates effectively. Scott Stevens, for instance, I thought was really quite good at the '98 games.
 
Looks like many are surprised, puzzled, even upset at Bobby Ryan being left out of Team USA's roster:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/fans-outraged-at-ryan-snub-for-sochi/
 
This article explains the decision-making process.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10195703/how-us-hockey-team-bound-sochi-olympics-was-named

Brian Burke on Bobby Ryan:
"If he's not going to be put in a role in which he can score an important goal, use his skills as a sniper, he shouldn't go"

So I guess it was a matter of either making the top 2 lines or not going.
 
Snoopzilla said:
This article explains the decision-making process.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10195703/how-us-hockey-team-bound-sochi-olympics-was-named

Brian Burke on Bobby Ryan:
"If he's not going to be put in a role in which he can score an important goal, use his skills as a sniper, he shouldn't go"

So I guess it was a matter of either making the top 2 lines or not going.
Click to expand...

That was a really good read. It really sounds as though they considered Ryan a one-dimensional scorer who doesn't bring the speed they wanted. Didn't seem to be much love for him at all, from either the coaches or the execs.
 
Nik the Trik said:
Snoopzilla said:
This article explains the decision-making process.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10195703/how-us-hockey-team-bound-sochi-olympics-was-named

Brian Burke on Bobby Ryan:
"If he's not going to be put in a role in which he can score an important goal, use his skills as a sniper, he shouldn't go"

So I guess it was a matter of either making the top 2 lines or not going.
Click to expand...

That was a really good read. It really sounds as though they considered Ryan a one-dimensional scorer who doesn't bring the speed they wanted. Didn't seem to be much love for him at all, from either the coaches or the execs.
Click to expand...

I was a little surprised by that to be honest.  Ryan has some flaws but they seemed to be really justifying why he shouldn't be on the team with some of their statements.  6 straight 20+ goal seasons (including a poor abbreviated season last year projected over 82 games).  And is on pace for 5 straight 30+ goal seasons in full 82 game seasons. 

Very negative towards him in general.
 
L K said:
I was a little surprised by that to be honest.  Ryan has some flaws but they seemed to be really justifying why he shouldn't be on the team with some of their statements.  6 straight 20+ goal seasons (including a poor abbreviated season last year projected over 82 games).  And is on pace for 5 straight 30+ goal seasons in full 82 game seasons. 

Very negative towards him in general.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I mean,  they could be overthinking it but I remember from 2006 there were quite a few bigger guys who were good NHL scorers who really struggled to get it going on the bigger ice. Likewise I can't help but sort of look to how Anaheim's played since making a trade people killed them for on a talent basis and think there may be something to the idea that he doesn't add much beyond scoring.

Still, if they screwed up by not adding him...it doesn't sound like he had any big advocates.
 
Paul Martin and Brooks Orpik over Keith Yandle and Dustin Byfuglien? That's like, Eric Brewer bad in terms of nepotism. Behind Suter those two might be America's best two defencemen. Oh well, as a Canadian I'm thrilled.
 
I haven't had time to go through it all, but this is a very in-depth look at how the team was picked:

http://espn.go.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/10195703/how-us-hockey-team-bound-sochi-olympics-was-named

Hopefully we get something similar with the Canadian selection process.
 
Bobby Ryan being left off is a joke. Keith Yandle being left off is insanity.

That being said, the team is still stacked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

About Us

This website is NOT associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the NHL.


It is operated by Rick Couchman and Jeff Lewis.
Back
Top