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WC: 2015 — Team USA

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Hellebuyck is a great prospect who led the league in minutes played by 300, due to the fact that Peter Budai was unable to win a single game for the Icecaps. Hellebuyck was operating on fumes by the end of the season. I would't expect a stellar tournament from him.
 
usahockey22flyers said:
Eligible Players:

Bennett
Sutter
----------
Ian Cole
Dumoulin
Lovejoy
Martin
Scuderi
Click to expand...

While Sutter is a dual, he's tied into Canada as he's played for them in IIHF tournaments so he's not an option.

Paul Martin is a UFA and given his injury history there is zero chance he even considers an offer.

I wouldn't bother offering any of the other players. Guys like Cole, Dumoulin and Lovejoy don't improve what is already the strength of the team and with 7 d-men already on board USAH would be crazy to target any of them when they're almost likely to have a chance at Seth Jones, Kevin Shattenkirk or Nick Leddy, at least 1 of which I would think would absolutely play. A guy like Scuderi would be a nice add in terms of a veteran presence so I wouldn't hate it (and they could still add another d-man due to the large IIHF roster sizes) but Scuderi's game isn't a fit for the IIHF so who knows.

Bennett has talent but he hasn't put it together at the NHL level, he's always injured, and he's an RFA anyway. I doubt he would play and I doubt he'd really help the team anyway. At best he's another talented, unproven player and there's already enough of those on the roster. With 11 forwards on the roster so far, they need to swing for the fences with their last 2-3 roster spots up front.
 
If Lovejoy was a better player and not a late bloomer, I think he'd be a captain in the NHL. He is plenty mobile and a hard worker. I would like to see him get a chance with the national team, but I'm guessing they are looking for younger players, as usual in WC tournaments.
 
Sidney Crosby just committed to play for Canada. Sad that Canada can get their best overall player to commit, but we can hardly get any offensive players of note (or in net) to make the trip.
 
World Cup and Olympic tournament participation should be tied to the World Championships. Until USA Hockey grows a pair and mandates this the U.S. Team will always be third rate at this tournament.
 
PaulieVegas said:
Sidney Crosby just committed to play for Canada. Sad that Canada can get their best overall player to commit, but we can hardly get any offensive players of note (or in net) to make the trip.
Click to expand...

I think there is a bit of a causal feedback loop. The US can't get their best players to go because their best players won't go. You don't want to be the loan guy on a bad team. I don't think that the players think they can win, so they don't want to go over and have a bad tournament and be called a bad team, etc. I think what's important for the team building is getting a couple of really good guys right at the start, then other good players want to be a part of it.

Either way, the USA is always my second favourite team in this tourney because they play a good underdog role.
 
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