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WJC: 2015 — USA Roster Talk

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My final prediction before tomorrow's announcement:

Forwards (x17):

Justin Bailey
Anders Bjork
J.T. Compher
Kyle Connor
Chase De Leo
Jack Eichel
Adam Erne
Hudson Fasching
Conor Garland
John Hayden
Dylan Larkin
Auston Matthews
Michael McCarron
Sonny Milano
Tyler Motte
Nick Schmaltz
Alex Tuch

Defense (x11):

Louie Belpedio
Will Butcher
Brandon Carlo
Ryan Collins
Anthony DeAngelo
Michael Downing
Anthony Florentino
Noah Hanifin
Ian McCoshen
Steve Santini
Zach Werenski

Goalies (x3):

Evan Cowley
Thatcher Demko
Alex Nedeljkovic


Notes:
  • Differences from my roster guess from early November: Santini in for Dougherty and Garland in for Cassels.
  • Bubble players: Jack Dougherty, Anthony Louis, Christian Dvorak, Brandon Halverson, Ryan MacInnis, Jeremy Bracco.
  • I won't be surprised either way on what they do with DeAngelo but he deserves a look here. If he doesn't mesh with the team send him home.
  • I chose Florentino over Dougherty but I wouldn't be surprised to see it the other way around.
  • I think Garland has earned a look with his dynamic play in the Q. I had him on my August Camp roster prediction and he's taken his game to a whole new level apparently. I don't expect him to be here as the small, dynamic forward though as I think they'll bring Louis if they choose anyone in that role at all since he's a '95, has NTDP experience and was at the entirety of the summer camp. I just don't see how Louis makes the team so I'd rather they look at another dynamic player with a bit better size to see if he wows his way into stealing a spot.
  • I go back and forth on Bjork being there. I see the appeal - he's perfect in a 4th line role as he's a great skater, strong defensively, a pest and would be a fantastic option for the PK. But the forward group is so strong you're tempted to get a look at a Dvorak, Garland or Louis, etc. But USAH almost always targets a few guys as role players of the mold I described. The question is who do they see in that role? You could easily play Compher and Motte in that type of role but based (beyond the obvious) on the summer camp that's not what they envision for those two, which leaves Hayden, De Leo and Bjork as the competitors for that type of role in my opinion.

What are your thoughts? I'm sure there will be unsubstantiated claims of bias, grudges, etc. after the announcement but it's just a really tough group to predict this go around.
 
Last edited:
Rekus said:
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.
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Good thing I didn't suggest bringing 4 scoring lines that are exclusively offensive types then.
 
William H Bonney said:
What are your thoughts? I'm sure there will be unsubstantiated claims of bias, grudges, etc. after the announcement but it's just a really tough group to predict this go around.
Click to expand...

The possible inclusion of Bjork is interesting. He's a great utility player and with the recent talk about skill versus role I can't help but think of the Pietilla-Bardreau-Hartman line from the 2013 team. Bjork is very much that type of player and I would be more than happen if they could bring a fourth line along that does what that line did.

I maintain my position from over the years that it's hard to justify expecting a whole lot from U18 players at this tournament. I'm pretty sold on Matthews based on his showing from the summer but I won't get bent out of shape if they don't take all of the younger players like it seems some others might. The calls for youth may be more justified than they've been in previous years though with the strength of the '97s so I'll wait to see how it pans out if they go young.

I'd sure some college/NTDP players could end up the source of consternation if they make it over some of the CHL favorites, as that's the norm from year to year. McCarron in particular could precipitate a legion of Habs fans coming in to criticize if he doesn't make it.
 
I predict 17forwards, 10 D and 3 goalies :
Forwards in no order
Eichel
Milano
Tuch
Larkin
Connor
Matthews
Louis
Compher
Motte
Fasching
McCarron
Hayden
Erne
Bailey
Deleo
Smaltz

D ;
Butcher
Santini
Mcoshen
Downing
Carlo
Collins
Dougherty
Deangelo
Werenski
Hanafin

G;
Demko
Nedelkovic
Cowley
 
William H Bonney said:
My final prediction before tomorrow's announcement:

Forwards (x17):

Justin Bailey
Anders Bjork
J.T. Compher
Kyle Connor
Chase De Leo
Jack Eichel
Adam Erne
Hudson Fasching
Conor Garland
John Hayden
Dylan Larkin
Auston Matthews
Michael McCarron
Sonny Milano
Tyler Motte
Nick Schmaltz
Alex Tuch

Defense (x11):

Louie Belpedio
Will Butcher
Brandon Carlo
Ryan Collins
Anthony DeAngelo
Michael Downing
Anthony Florentino
Noah Hanifin
Ian McCoshen
Steve Santini
Zach Werenski

Goalies (x3):

Evan Cowley
Thatcher Demko
Alex Nedeljkovic


Notes:
  • Differences from my roster guess from early November: Santini in for Dougherty and Garland in for Cassels.
  • Bubble players: Jack Dougherty, Anthony Louis, Christian Dvorak, Brandon Halverson, Ryan MacInnis, Jeremy Bracco.
  • I won't be surprised either way on what they do with DeAngelo but he deserves a look here. If he doesn't mesh with the team send him home.
  • I chose Florentino over Dougherty but I wouldn't be surprised to see it the other way around.
  • I think Garland has earned a look with his dynamic play in the Q. I had him on my August Camp roster prediction and he's taken his game to a whole new level apparently. I don't expect him to be here as the small, dynamic forward though as I think they'll bring Louis if they choose anyone in that role at all since he's a '95, has NTDP experience and was at the entirety of the summer camp. I just don't see how Louis makes the team so I'd rather they look at another dynamic player with a bit better size to see if he wows his way into stealing a spot.
  • I go back and forth on Bjork being there. I see the appeal - he's perfect in a 4th line role as he's a great skater, strong defensively, a pest and would be a fantastic option for the PK. But the forward group is so strong you're tempted to get a look at a Dvorak, Garland or Louis, etc. But USAH almost always targets a few guys as role players of the mold I described. The question is who do they see in that role? You could easily play Compher and Motte in that type of role but based (beyond the obvious) on the summer camp that's not what they envision for those two, which leaves Hayden, De Leo and Bjork as the competitors for that type of role in my opinion.

What are your thoughts? I'm sure there will be unsubstantiated claims of bias, grudges, etc. after the announcement but it's just a really tough group to predict this go around.
Click to expand...

Some key battles shaping up for the fourth line:

McCarron v Hayden
Schmaltz v Bailey
Bjork v Motte

and for three spots on the D:

Hanifin v Werenski
DeAngelo v Florentino
Dougherty v Collins
 
TheJuxtaposer said:
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.
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Who did McCarron play with on the top line at the U18 two years ago?
 
TinordiandSubban said:
Some key battles shaping up for the fourth line:

McCarron v Hayden
Schmaltz v Bailey
Bjork v Motte

and for three spots on the D:

Hanifin v Werenski
DeAngelo v Florentino
Dougherty v Collins
Click to expand...

If Schmaltz makes it I expect he'll be somewhere in the top 9 with possible pp responsibility. I don't think he'd be competing directly with Bailey.

TinordiandSubban said:
Who did McCarron play with on the top line at the U18 two years ago?
Click to expand...

McCarron wasn't on the top line at the U18s. He skated with Evan Allen and Tyler Kelleher.
 
Chris Peters ‏@chrismpeters 4m4 minutes ago
USA Hockey's World Junior camp roster announcement comes in about 20 minutes. Already a few player leaks out there, but official word soon.
 
Not thrilled to see cassels when he just played for team OHL. much rather see kyle connor on the team. interesting to see miles wood on the list. at the beginning of the year i had read he was ready for college hockey but the jump from prep to wjc will be huge and should be interesting to see if he makes the squad. cant complain about D or G but selfishly wish florentino was there as a PC guy
 
bigbadbruins7 said:
Not thrilled to see cassels when he just played for team OHL. much rather see kyle connor on the team. interesting to see miles wood on the list. at the beginning of the year i had read he was ready for college hockey but the jump from prep to wjc will be huge and should be interesting to see if he makes the squad. cant complain about D or G but selfishly wish florentino was there as a PC guy
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That should be no reason to not send him an invite.

USA like all other countries should take the best available players, not picking someone because they repped another country in a different tournament that America doesn't even compete in is no way to choose a team
 
Dont see a footnote for the ^ symbol after haydens name, is that a prior invitee that didnt make it?
 
Glad Santini made it! USA would be severely hurt without him.

Surprised Wood made it. He has a tremendous amount of hype but has only played New England Prep League games.
 
No Justin Bailey is a very odd decision, otherwise a big fan of the roster, this team should compete for gold this season, and especially next with the 2015 and 2016 NHL Draft talent in the states.
 
No Bailey/Connor are mild surprises, but overall I think the U.S. brass got all of the right names in the mix.
 
Bailey, Connor, and Belpedio are snubs in my mind, but otherwise the roster looks solid. Very glad to see DeAngelo.
 
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