OT: US Olympic Hockey Roster Announced

Submitted by nmumike on

After some searching on the board, I could not find this so I thought it would be a good conversation. What are your thoughts on the final 25 picked for the US hockey team. I think it shows that we have made some real strides as a country in hockey, with improved depth, and think that we are definitely a medal contender. Here is the roster:

Forwards

David Backes*
Dustin Brown*
Ryan Callahan*
Patrick Kane*
Ryan Kesler*
Phil Kessel*
T.J. Oshie
Max Pacioretty
Zach Parise*
Joe Pavelski*
Paul Stastny*
Derek Stepan
James van Riemsdyk
Blake Wheeler

Defensemen

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

Goaltenders

Jimmy Howard
Ryan Miller*
Jonathan Quick*

(* denotes member of 2010 Olympic team)

Edit: Two pretty good articles on the team and process(thanks to users 1329 S. University and skiptomylou for the link):

http://espn.go.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/10195703/how-us-hockey-te…

http://nhl.si.com/2014/01/01/cuts-show-depth-potential-of-team-usas-soc…

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Sac Fly

January 2nd, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^

Trouba will be in the Calder race at the end of the year; he's playing outstanding hockey in Winnipeg. He's 1st unit PK and power play, 20+ minutes a game, he plays end of the game situations. He's the real deal

He's not on the Olympic radar because he got hurt earlier in the year. Without those games to scout him it was way too big of a risk to consider him.

Joined: 04/03/2010

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Wolverine In Exile

January 2nd, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^

Was probably the best piece of sports writing I have read in 20+ years. The candor the author was able to capture was remarkable. My sense in reading this is that if any injury happens to a defenseman, jmfj is first one up.

Joined: 11/08/2008

MGoPoints: 10790

MichiganStudent

January 2nd, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^

Bishop, Yandle and Johnson should be on this team. I understand the reasoning behind Bobby Ryan, but I don't buy the Yandle/Johnson omissions.

Joined: 08/27/2008

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MichiganStudent

January 2nd, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^

I also wanted to say that Sweden and Canada are going to have incredible teams. Russia will be loaded offensively, but always struggles on defense in recent Olympics.

USA has a gritty team but I just don't see them pulling off what they did in Vancouver.

Joined: 08/27/2008

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MichiganStudent

January 2nd, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^

I completely disagree with the deepest ever USA team. They had some really good teams in the 90s and early 2000s. This team is young and fast but I don't see them coming close to the Gold. I'd love to be wrong but it'd be a major upset for USA to beat out Canada and Sweden.

Joined: 08/27/2008

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MichiganStudent

January 2nd, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^

I'm on my phone and can't edit the last post but 2002s team had names such as: Hull, Guerin, Drury, Deadmarsh, Richter, Weight, Tkachuk, Chelios, Amonte, Housley, Rolston, Suter, Roenick, Modano, Leetch, LeClair.

The 2002 team finished 2nd to Canada's all star HOF team, but if argue that roster had more talent. This years team is young and has potential but I just don't see them being as deep as that squad.

Joined: 08/27/2008

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Sac Fly

January 2nd, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^

I feel embarrassed for USA hockey hearing these quotes from Brian Burke about Bobby Ryan.

It's one thing to leave the guy off the team, but to attack a player's work ethic and his character is wrong. That didn't need to happen.

Joined: 04/03/2010

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