WJC: 2015 — USA Roster Talk

[FLYguy3911]

Any chance for Vannelli?

 

[Joannie9]

So is it pretty much certain that McCarron will make the team ?

 

[Zip15]

Corey Pronman threw his hat in the ring and predicted the USA WJC roster:

USA Fs:

Eichel
Compher
Fasching
Erne
Motte
Milano
Matthews
Tuch
Louis
Hayden
Larkin
Schmaltz
Connor

USA DMen:

Butcher
McCoshen
Santini
Belpedio
Hanifin
Werenski
Downing
Collins for injury if no Santini.

Gs:

Demko
Nedeljkovic

https://twitter.com/coreypronman

Seems he caught the most flak from Sabres fans asking about Bailey, and Habs fans asking about McCarron.

 

[Juxtaposer]

So is it pretty much certain that McCarron will make the team ?

He's not even close to a lock.

 

[KyleMills*]

He's not even close to a lock.

He can't be that far

 

[Rabid Ranger]

So is it pretty much certain that McCarron will make the team ?

He's got a lot of competition up front. This is one of the most talented forward pools the U.S. has ever had to choose from.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

He can't be that far

Why is that? Have you seen his competition up front?

 

[ottawah]

DeAngelo had some issues that were detrimental to US teams in the past but I'd like to see him get another chance. If there are any red flags at the camp they could always just cut him and go with other options.

Josh Ho-Sang was left of the Canadian list for this exact reason. Arguably they have the talent to do this, but ultimately gelling as a team is important, and if they feel a player would be an impediment to that, he will not make it.

 

[Juxtaposer]

He can't be that far

He's one of many guys competing for a spot on the fourth line. I'd say 50/50 chance he makes the team.

 

[shodapuck]

FORWARDS

Jack Eichel
Sonny Milano
Alex Tuch
Kyle (the terminator) Connor
Nick Schmaltz
Austin Matthews
Adam Erne
Hudson Fasching
Justin Bailey
Conor Garland
J.T Compher
Dylan Larkin
Tyler Motte
Chase De Leo
John Hayden
Michael McCarron
Cole Cassels (just assuming here, have no clue who he picks)
if no Cassels I like Christian Dvorak

DEFENSE

Zach Werenski
Noah Hanifin
Steve Santini - assuming he will be ready
Ian McCoshen
Anthony DeAngelo
Michael Downing
Will Butcher
Ryan Collins
Brandon Carlo
Louie Belpedio
Jack Dougherty

GOALIES

Brandon Halverson
Thatcher Demko
Alex Nedeljkovic

...an absolutely great list of talented players. My prediction is that this may be a very special year for the U.S. team !!

 

[KyleMills*]

He's one of many guys competing for a spot on the fourth line. I'd say 50/50 chance he makes the team.

I see I see. Only time will tell if he makes it. How would you say Baileys chances are? Hes got the best shot in the OHL.

 

[BomaLightDevils]

What is santini's chances of making it back from injury

 

[MarkovtoSubban]

He's one of many guys competing for a spot on the fourth line. I'd say 50/50 chance he makes the team.

Half a dozen reasons why he makes it:

1-He's been playing top line minutes on a good OHL team and scoring.
2-Is the only one of those wingers in contention who can play center.
3-Is a penalty killer and defensively sound.
4-Schmaltz is hurt and Cassels suspended.
5-Has a USNTP background.
6-Is really, really big.

Everyone knows the team with the biggest player plays better.

 

[canucks10]

Questions for the American fans.

1. When does USA announce their list of invitees
2. Whats the goalie situation? Is it still Demko/Nedeljkovic or has someone else emerged as the leader?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Questions for the American fans.

1. When does USA announce their list of invitees
2. Whats the goalie situation? Is it still Demko/Nedeljkovic or has someone else emerged as the leader?

1. Tomorrow at 11:00 EST
2. Those are probably the two favorites in goal. Halverson and Cowley will also get a shot.

 

[William H Bonney]

Half a dozen reasons why he makes it:

1-He's been playing top line minutes on a good OHL team and scoring.

That helps but doesn't mean he'll make it.

2-Is the only one of those wingers in contention who can play center.

That depends on who the coaching staff sees as a center. Eichel/Compher/Larkin/Matthews are all highly likely for the Top 9, thus one is playing wing.

3-Is a penalty killer and defensively sound.

So is a lot of his competition.

4-Schmaltz is hurt and Cassels suspended.

Schmaltz is already back.

5-Has a USNTP background.

His NTDP background didn't stop him from getting sent home early at the summer camp.

6-Is really, really big.

Everyone knows the team with the biggest player plays better.

This team won't be hurting for size with guys like Eichel, Erne, Matthews, Tuch, Hayden, McCarron, etc in contention. One guy won't make it just because of his size.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Half a dozen reasons why he makes it:

1-He's been playing top line minutes on a good OHL team and scoring.
2-Is the only one of those wingers in contention who can play center.
3-Is a penalty killer and defensively sound.
4-Schmaltz is hurt and Cassels suspended.
5-Has a USNTP background.
6-Is really, really big.

Everyone knows the team with the biggest player plays better.

A lot of players are scoring and have a history of scoring longer than 30 games. The US has plenty of centers, and plenty of sound defensive players who can PK. Schmaltz is healthy, and Cassels is meh anyway. Almost the entire team has an NTDP background. And size might be the least important factor in a short U20 tournament.

McCarron has been good this year and person he's on my 4th line with Bailey. But if he doesn't make it I won't be upset about it. McCarron is one of a half dozen tweeners and he does not stand head and shoulders above any of them unless you only care about height.

 

[GTA]

A lot of players are scoring and have a history of scoring longer than 30 games. The US has plenty of centers, and plenty of sound defensive players who can PK. Schmaltz is healthy, and Cassels is meh anyway. Almost the entire team has an NTDP background. And size might be the least important factor in a short U20 tournament.

McCarron has been good this year and person he's on my 4th line with Bailey. But if he doesn't make it I won't be upset about it. McCarron is one of a half dozen tweeners and he does not stand head and shoulders above any of them unless you only care about height.

Completely agree. I almost think the above post was sarcasm given the last sentence. He'll be in tough to make this roster - just too much talent for someone whonisnt a blue chipper.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Seems to me that Team USA has a rare opportunity to be a bigger and stronger team than Team Canada. I wonder if we'll see that happen, roster-wise, with Bailey and McCarron and so on.

 

[CBJx614]

I'm so excited to see what Milano can do with Eichel. That's a future CBJ line right there

 

[Rekus]

Yep there is so much skill at every position this year, but it's all down to USAH to get over some of their biases and preconceptions. Bring the youngsters, bring 4 scoring lines.

I'm glad they're so in love with Matthews but he's the only one of the underagers besides Eichel that I feel certain will be on the team. Hanifin, Werenski, Connor, Carlo could all potentially be left off.

If they bring grinders over skilled guys for the fourth line, I'll scream. Obviously we can't match up with the elite offensive talent that the Canadian team has, so we have to be extremely efficient in the margins.

Santini (whose recovery seems to be on track and will hopefully get a few games in before the WJC), Butcher (whom I thought was excellent last year), and McCoshen is a very solid vet presence on the blueline. Now fill in the holes with young skill.

I hope out next to no hope that DeAngelo will be invited, which is a damn shame. USAH could turn a position of relative weakness (compared to the forwards and goaltending) into a strength just by letting go of their grudges and stubbornness and honest to goodness taking the best team they can. I have so much hope for this age group, but it's all going to come down to how ballsy USAH is willing to be.

The thing about bringing 4 scoring lines is that the scorers do not like to play too much defense and so they are out-matched. You need top 6-9 high skill and then you definately need some defensive forwards that can defend against the other teams best. Cannot be all offense all the time, does not work in any sport. Just like a team can't have/dress 6 pure offensive defensemen. Makes no sense. IMO.

Look at Canada's olympic gold medal team. They did not score a ton, but they hardly gave up any goals.

 

[Jabba11]

Man, that's a crazy roster right there. Matthews and Eichel together.

 

[Juxtaposer]

The thing about bringing 4 scoring lines is that the scorers do not like to play too much defense and so they are out-matched. You need top 6-9 high skill and then you definately need some defensive forwards that can defend against the other teams best. Cannot be all offense all the time, does not work in any sport. Just like a team can't have/dress 6 pure offensive defensemen. Makes no sense. IMO.

Look at Canada's olympic gold medal team. They did not score a ton, but they hardly gave up any goals.

Are you suggesting that scoring and playing defense are mutually exclusive?

 

[fmrdh]

What are De Leo's chances like of making the team? Looks like he's having a pretty good season in the dub so far.

 

[Rekus]

Are you suggesting that scoring and playing defense are mutually exclusive?

If you are going to role 4 forward lines that are exclusively of purely offensive types , than yes, those guys do not play defence well. You'll have more scored against than for. Defence is not just for defencemen. Ofcourse, you are entitled to think differently. Thay why the Capitals never won a Cup with all the scoring they had. They couldn't keep the puck out of their net.