WC: 2016 Team USA
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GoJetsGo55
Registered User
Byfuglien definitely won't accept an invite, don't think Trouba has said anything definitive yet but should know his plans in next day or 2 and Hellebuyck's season won't be over until Saturday, so won't know anything until probably next Sunday or Monday regarding him
SanDogBrewin
Righteous bucks!
I don't think it had to do with not wanting Gardiner because he has participated in the last few World Championships and played well. It mighty be that USA Hockey wants some other players to get some international exposure and experience.
PaulieVegas
Registered User
Haha, he's too busy taking typing courses or whatever. Then he'll whine when he doesn't make the final roster for the World Cup. Screw him.
Getting very frustrated with these "I'm too tired after a long season to play in the Worlds" excuses for USA players. There are good excuses for not playing in the Worlds. Legitimately injured? Fine. Pending free agent? Okay. Have a baby due during the tournament? Cool. But saying you're too tired, as many American players have done in the past (and as guys like Eichel and Patch are doing this year) is not acceptable.
"Too tired after a long season" = "I'm not that interested in representing my country unless it's best-on-best."
And yes, I'm aware that a lot of guys who play the "I'm too tired to go to the Worlds" card have actually played in the Worlds in the past (like the aforementioned Eichel and Patch). But...you wouldn't go to your NHL team and say, "Sorry, I'm too tired to play in the playoffs after a long regular season," would you?
Either you're interested in representing your country, or you're only interested in playing in best-on-best tournaments. But hey, when the USA brass rewards a guy like Byfuglien---who has shown repeatedly that he could care less about representing the USA unless it's best-on-best---with a spot on the preliminary World Cup roster, it sends a clear message:
"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY IN THE WORLDS, THERE WILL BE NO CONSEQUENCES. ENJOY YOUR SUMMER."
Under those circumstances, do you blame guys turning down invites when they're healthy, under contract, and not having babies or getting married in the offseason?
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PaulieVegas
Registered User
Translation: "I'm too good for the World Championships" and/or "I'm not interested in representing my country unless it's best-on-best."
And yes, I know Patch has played in the Worlds before. But that was when he wasn't yet an automatic selection in best-on-best's. Now that he is, representing his country in the Worlds means nothing.
The US has enormous depth so they could easily punish the players who decline an invitation without a valid reason by not including them in a best-on-best tournament without it really hurting their chances. It would show the players that none of them is bigger than US Hockey.
Clearly some guys here doesnt understand how much players have to be away from their families when season is on. So if they want be with their wives and kids more than leave play more hockey in Europe i totally understand that. Okay maybe younger guys its little bit different and you like to see them want represent their country in WC always when its possible.
Fine but then, they should be okay with them not being on the final rosters for Olympics or World Cup.
I wish that US Hockey had balls for it.
Agreed, 100%.
Really? Why? I think US hockey dont have any reason why players should choose them over their families in this case. Also WC is not that big tournament so why they should harm their chances in bigger tournaments?
Just my point of view. US Hockey has clearly different approach, and they don't mind if their top players refuse to participate.
They are professional hockey players after all, they should be proud about the possibility of representing their country on the World Hockey Championships. I just don't like it. But it's nothing new, obviously. We are already used to see weak US rosters, although from time to time, they are able to achieve a good result.
I don't mean that they have to accept an invite every time but some of the US players just clearly don't give a **** about it. Which is kinda sad.
Extremely doubtful they get invited. Only college skaters who will definitely be on this team are Connor, Vesey, Compher.
Boeser was awful at World Jrs. and was way over his head, how could you even make a statement like that ?
Schmaltz has improved in D zone but USA will take a player like Compher over him ( just off the top of my head ) if they decide to take ncaa players.
Copp, Mccarron, Galchenyuk, and the list goes on ahead of ncaa guys
Because so many top player has said they won't coming this year. McCarron and Copp maybe but Galchenyuk also already say he won't play in WC this year. And many times Team USA give NCAA palyers chance if many NHLers turn down. Motte also was in speculation somewhere but Blackhawks maybe want him help Rockford in AHL playoffs. Also Vesey is now free agent so maybe he want avoid all risks too.
PaulieVegas
Registered User
Question: would any NHL player ever tell their NHL team, "Hey, sorry, can't play in the playoffs this year because I've been away from my family and after a long 82-game season, I need to spend time with them."
Or would any NHL player ever tell their NHL team, "Hey, sorry, can't play in the playoffs this year because I'm getting married this summer."
The way I see things, with some exceptions (like pending free agents), if it's something that wouldn't keep you from playing in the NHL playoffs, it shouldn't be something that keeps you from playing in the World Championships.
EVERYONE is tired after a long, grueling 82-game season. Yet most European players find it in them to represent their country in the Worlds. Meanwhile, far too often USA players say, "Nah, thanks anyway, I'd rather play XBox."
I'm not saying the USA should go the route of other countries and actually punish players for not playing in the Worlds (if I remember correctly, didn't the Czech Republic bench Ondrej Pavelec for the first game of the Sochi Olympics as punishment for not playing in the Worlds?). But at least they can take into consideration past participation in the Worlds as a determining factor in who plays in World Cups or Olympic tournaments.
Which is where I think the USA went astray in selecting Dustin Byfuglien so quickly for the World Cup roster. Every time this guy has been asked to play in the Worlds, he's given his country the finger. Yet he gets picked as one of our first four over a guy like Justin Faulk, who is just as good and regularly plays in the Worlds. It sends a message that the USA Hockey brass don't care if you play in the Worlds. And that message absolutely sucks.
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This is exactly the point I was trying to make... that for whatever reason American players are always too tired or don't want to go. But these same players all want to play in the Olympics when "they" can get a chance at a prestigious medal for themselves. And yes I understand the injury or expiring contract part but it has always just seemed to me at least that USA high end players are only interested in wearing the countries sweater when its the Olympics or the if they don't have to go anywhere like the World Cup.
Are you serious? You can't compare these two situations. People cant say their boss that i dont come work tomorrow because im tired. NHL players are not exception.
And Americans are normally people who want to represent their country so maybe it tell something what they think about this tournament...
World Championships is always been pretty big tournament in Europe some reason. Specially in Finland its always huge event. Thats the main reason why European players usually want to play in WC. In North America and even more in USA its just minor tournament. When Finland won WC 2011 they celebrate long time and organized many celebrations around Finland and that was pretty ridiculous.
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This isn't just an American issue. Happens with Canada as well. It's just north America not valuing the world championships.
William H Bonney
Registered User
Frank Booth
Registered User
I've been posting this here for years saying the USA hockey needs to grow a pair and not let players who decline to play in the WC play in the Olympics or World Cup. But every year I get shouted down by bleeding hearts. It's good to see that there are a few people with some common sense. These prima donna babies get paid handsomely and get plenty of time in the summer for "family time". Do I need to remind everyone of the summer Kane passed on the WC because he was "injured", yet he spent his time passed out on bar tables? To me, I don't care if he won the Art Ross and wins the Hart, he would NEVER play for the US if I was in charge. The only way this changes is to give USA hockey the enema that it so desperately needs.
Zero Pucks Given
American Hero
Wheeler played once but I wouldn't expect him to play again. He just has no interest in playing in the WC and would rather just be home with his family. As far as Erik Johnson goes, nothing really has been said about his participation.
