OT: US Olympic Hockey Roster Announced
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…
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
they picked up TJ Oshie. Good size and good mobility, imo.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
are there any Michigan guys on the team?
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
Bobby Ryan, Keith Yandle, and Ben Bishop deserve to be there. Robbed.
Does anyone match up with the top 3 lines for Canada? Crosby, Stamkos(he's almost back from broken leg), Tavares, Toews, Giroux, Getzlaf, St. Louis, Benn & Perry. Canada may leave 2 40 goal scoters at home in James Neal and Chris Kunitz. Crazy to think.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
Because you can get an answer much faster from a quick Internet search as opposed to typing the question on a blog and refreshing the page every three minutes waiting for someone else to do the work for you.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 2:02 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^
Nah. All you need to do is type the players' names and it will tell you where they went to college, if at all.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^
Ben Bishop has struggled in international competitions see 2010 World Championships. Also has zero playoff or big game experience. These are things to consider when bringing a third goalie.
Keith Yandle is high reward high risk player, yes he probably should be on the team but the US team has very mobile group picked as is.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
Jack Johnson got sort of hosed given the size/speed combo that USA Hockey was apparently going for, but it will be forgiven as long as we beat the commies and the canucks.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:29 PM ^
completely, he was a major asset in 2010
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
focuses on Johnson a lot. It is an interesting read if you have a half hour to kill.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
Don't get me wrong, I love Jack, but he's just not that great of a Defenceman anymore
A few articles if you want to read
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
Recalling the previously posted article by Burnside on espn.com, he was the last cut on the defensemen selections and while he may not be having a world beating year, he is still quite a good player.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
Jimmy Howard made this team will remain a mystery
January 2nd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
year and before. How Bobby Ryan was left off is a mystery. Wow and Jack Johnson.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^
USA Hockey made slight fools of themsevles when contacting players (namely Ryan Kesler). Apparently he had changed his # and they texted a 67 yr old Canadian guy to tell him he made the team.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/usa-hockey-mistakenly-tell…
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
Ben Bishop got hosed!
21-5-3 this year for Tampa with a 1.89 GAA and .935 sv %
Jimmy Howard = 6-9-8 with a 2.72 GAA and .907 sv% (Howard can barely hold onto the starting job in Detroit).
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
Howard made it as well. He has not played well this year or has been injured. I think Miller will get most of the time in the net, but I agree with your sentiment on Howard.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^
If you read the ESPN article, they wanted more experience from their Goaltenders.
Jimmy Howard has had a .918 sv% with a 2.32 GAA since becoming the starter. He basically dragged the Red Wings to the playoffs last year, and led the league in shutouts last year.
One injury filled off year doesn't change the 4 previous years
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^
I am glad Patrick Kane is playing for the USA, but MAN do I hate that guy (as a player of course). I am a Red Wings fan and I absolutely despise the Blackhawks.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
Hate the game
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
YouTube is blocked at the office. What is it?
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
Besides his talent and playing for a rival, do you legit hate Kane? Or just because he's got a chance to be the first US born player to lead the NHL in points?
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
This is why. It's the same reason I hate Crosby. FWIW though, I'd love to see Kane in a Red Wings sweater.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
Definitely because he's a massive dickhead
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
When you hear "the kids" who play the game talk about having "sick hands"...that's what they're talking about.
It makes me wish he wouldn't drink so much.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^
It's tough to remember that Kane first won the cup as a 21 year old. He's now only 25, he started in the NHL as a 19 year old. I know that at 19 many of us were making terrible decisions with alcohol, whether it was at Skeeps or a frat party - we just weren't national figures yet.
What's really impressed me is he seems to be taking his stick skills to the next level, and adding a level of "Datsyuk" to his game. Watching him the last few years he's really gotten better at stealing the puck from opponents, and become a more 2-way winger. Datsyuk's ability to steal has always impressed me, good to see Kane looking to add that to his game.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^
Was surprised to see Keith Yandle and Bobby Ryan left off. From what I've read Brandon Saad is somehow perceived as the better pick up than Ryan if anyone is injured, as well. That's just crazy.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
Considering Yandle's game would benefit playing on the bigger ice surface, and they seem to have built their blueline with players fitting that style of play, it's very surprising he would be left off.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
I still have no goddamn clue why goddamn Brooks Orpik is on the team and not Keith Yandle - Orpik is a garbage player and he's going to get exposed big time on the big ice.
And no Bobby Ryan is kinda intriguing, but I'm also struggling to figure out who you drop off that roster to make room. Scoring isn't a terrible issue, and Ryan is kind of a one trick pony in that regard. I'd agree that Saad is the better pick-up in case of injury.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
Color me surprised that Howard made the team and Johnson didn't, but I guess you need to have a 3rd-string goalie.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
I saw Jack didn't make it yesterday. Bummer.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
Pretty damn interesting if you ask me. Explains why some guys made it and some got snubbed. Also of note, your aloud to replace injured players so that is why you take some just in case and if they aren't healthy, you can get a new guy as well. The safe play I suppose
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
As a Minnesotan it's great to see eight guys from the state make the team. Now if only we could get them all to come back to the Wild...
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
Since we are the "State of Hockey". It is nice to have two of the key players be from the Wild, though, after years of Wild players playing much more important roles for Sweden and Slovakia than for the US
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
I am glad to see some Red Wings guys on there.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
Was Trouba ever within consideration? Or has his game regressed since suiting up with the Jets?
God knows that happened often for players who suited up with the Thrashers.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^
He was considered, along with Seth Jones, and Danny DeKeyser, but his injury kept him out of these Olympics