World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team USA

[Limekiller]

Who do you guys think is going to be the captain of the team? Does anyone think it is NOT going to be Pavelski?

 

[Devils090]

Who do you guys think is going to be the captain of the team? Does anyone think it is NOT going to be Pavelski?

Probably give it to Jack Johnson or Dubinksy

This team is garbage and so are the idiots in charge of USA hockey

 

[xxxx]

It's funny how the first 16-man roster was pretty much ok with everybody, and now just a few players supposedly "ruined" the team. That's laughable. The only 4 players you can really argue FOR are Kessel, Johnson, and Faulk and one of Shattenkirk or Yandle or Fowler, but the rest? Backes would be in anyway, Eric Johnson was definitely having a good season, and Dubinski and JVR make sense too. The only real surprises are Callahan and J.Johnson, maybe Niskanen. Those three are gonna ruin the team?? The team that is already having Parise, Pacioretty, Kane, Suter, Carlson, Byfuglien, McDonagh, Stepan, Quick, Wheeler, or Bishop? Yeah.

 

[tade]

Absolutely disgusting final selections. I feel bad for USA fans who were looking forward to this roster.

Tortorella really needed to have his players from Columbus there... J. Johnson, Dubinsky. They have no businss being on the best-on-best roster for Team USA in 2016 (okay nearly best-on-best).

Jack. Johnson. Ryan. Callahan. Mind blowing decisions.

 

[Theokritos]

As someone opposed to the whole tournament concept, I applaude the roster choices. Solid job trolling the NHL and countering the claim that this is a best-on-best tournament like the Olympics.

 

[xxxx]

As someone opposed to the whole tournament concept, I applaude the roster choices. Solid job trolling the NHL and countering the claim that this is a best-on-best tournament like the Olympics.

My personal view is that, knowing that if they want to win the tournament they're probably gonna have to beat Canada in the finals, they built the team for those games against Canada. I'm not joking I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who finds that possible. Just look at the physicality on the roster. Byfuglien. Suter. McDonagh. Callahan. Backes. Kesler. Parise. Abdelkader. Dubinski. E.Johnson. You think that doesn't and won't matter in an actual hockey game? A game that is played on NHL ice on top of that?

For the other poster, saying that Crosby would rather face Callahan than Tyler Johnson is like saying he would rather face McDonagh than Karlsson. It's like saying that Tavares would rather play against Backes than against Kessel. It's nonsense from a hockey point of view. Otherwise Marleau-Toews-Carter wouldn't be the checking line for Canada in Sochi, it would've been Tavares-Crosby-Stamkos by that logic.

 

[tade]

As someone opposed to the whole tournament concept, I applaude the roster choices. Solid job trolling the NHL and countering the claim that this is a best-on-best tournament like the Olympics.

Well, on the other side, this is very satisfying explanation!

 

[Sky04]

If I was Sidney Crosby I would much rather play against Ryan Callahan cause he's much worse at hockey than Tyler Johnson

This, Callahan gets in your face a bit so what? You know he isn't going to score, shrug him off and he's useless.

Johnson has gamebreaking ability and speed, he's done it countless times.

 

[bossram]

Probably give it to Jack Johnson or Dubinksy

This team is garbage and so are the idiots in charge of USA hockey

Good god that would be amazing.

USA brass just made some astoundingly bad picks. Like so bad. In a tournament where you can pick anyone you want, why would you not want to run four 1st lines? Simply amazing.

 

[bossram]

My personal view is that, knowing that if they want to win the tournament they're probably gonna have to beat Canada in the finals, they built the team for those games against Canada. I'm not joking I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who finds that possible. Just look at the physicality on the roster. Byfuglien. Suter. McDonagh. Callahan. Backes. Kesler. Parise. Abdelkader. Dubinski. E.Johnson. You think that doesn't and won't matter in an actual hockey game? A game that is played on NHL ice on top of that?

For the other poster, saying that Crosby would rather face Callahan than Tyler Johnson is like saying he would rather face McDonagh than Karlsson. It's like saying that Tavares would rather play against Backes than against Kessel. It's nonsense from a hockey point of view. Otherwise Marleau-Toews-Carter wouldn't be the checking line for Canada in Sochi, it would've been Tavares-Crosby-Stamkos by that logic.

You do have to score goals to win hockey games.

It's very unlikely that a "checking line" of Abdelkader - Dubinsky - Callahan will be able to shut down let alone outscore any line Canada could throw at them. The "checking" line of Marleau - Toews - Carter you proposed is vastly different for what should be obvious reasons. Being that they are all actually top tier players. They are talented two-way players who also happen to have exceptional offensive abilities. The former three...are not.

The talent USA brass left at home is frankly inexcusable. And taking Jack Johnson and leaving behind Faulk/Shattenkirk is just...wow. Amazing.

 

[bossram]

Absolutely disgusting final selections. I feel bad for USA fans who were looking forward to this roster.

Tortorella really needed to have his players from Columbus there... J. Johnson, Dubinsky. They have no businss being on the best-on-best roster for Team USA in 2016 (okay nearly best-on-best).

Jack. Johnson. Ryan. Callahan. Mind blowing decisions.

You'd think after the playoff Kessel is having he'd finally be able to dispel some of these ludicrous notions...

Nope. USA brass is too dumb for their own good. Truly baffling selections.

 

[Staccato]

My personal view is that, knowing that if they want to win the tournament they're probably gonna have to beat Canada in the finals, they built the team for those games against Canada.

Yes, I think that is a fair statement. The only way to even remotely have a chance to beat Canada is to play as a closely knitted team and try to outsmarten their tactics. I would still have included Kessel though.

 

[6zag]

Leaving Tyler Johnson out of the team is a complete and utter joke. In my opinion the best center US has, especially since he flames up during playoffs.

 

[TT1]

yikes, my condolences

 

[Pandaman11]

Yesterday I came home late, plus the time difference and everything, so let me check again:

Tyler Johnson, Kessel, Okposo, Faulk and Shattenkirk aren't on the team, but Dubinsky, Callahan, Jack & Eric Johnson and Niskanen are?

Yeesh, I feel really sorry for the US fans, now they have to live with the decision that Tortorella was named head coach. You can clearly see whose roster this is. Their group seems pretty weak though, so I think they'll be good enough to make the semis, but there I see a good possibility that they bomb out against the winner of group B.

Anyway, I think the lineup could be smth. like this:

Parise - Pavelski - Kane
Pacioretty - Kesler - Wheeler
JVR - Backes - Oshie
Dubinsky - Stepan - Callahan
Abdelkader

Suter - Carlson
McDonagh - Byfuglien
Johnson - Johnson
Niskanen

Quick
Schneider
Bishop


Most likely it won't be like this, but believe me, you want Pavelski & Kane on the same line

 

[JTD]

My personal view is that, knowing that if they want to win the tournament they're probably gonna have to beat Canada in the finals, they built the team for those games against Canada. I'm not joking I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who finds that possible. Just look at the physicality on the roster. Byfuglien. Suter. McDonagh. Callahan. Backes. Kesler. Parise. Abdelkader. Dubinski. E.Johnson. You think that doesn't and won't matter in an actual hockey game? A game that is played on NHL ice on top of that?

For the other poster, saying that Crosby would rather face Callahan than Tyler Johnson is like saying he would rather face McDonagh than Karlsson. It's like saying that Tavares would rather play against Backes than against Kessel. It's nonsense from a hockey point of view. Otherwise Marleau-Toews-Carter wouldn't be the checking line for Canada in Sochi, it would've been Tavares-Crosby-Stamkos by that logic.

"physicality" is so completely overblown. It means nothing if you don't have the skill to go with it. You have to score goals. Their problem in Sochi was a lack of scoring and now they have even less scoring in this tournament. A Marleau-Toews-Carter "checking line" is a lot better than throwing out a Abdelkader/Dubinsky-Backes-Callahan line cause they can defend and drive play. They weren't stuck in their own end like this line will be. The US will be rolling 2 scoring lines and really only possess one center who should be in their top 6. 2 lines of "grit" without a whole lot of skill just doesn't work in these tournaments and it's been proven over and over. When Canada puts its shutdown pairing on the Pavelski line, no other line will pick up the slack and they'll be suffocated. The whole point of teams like this is to roll 4 scoring lines so you have depth in case your top lines get shutdown. They had the players available to do this and they completely screwed it up so they could push the tired "grit" nonsense. They'll look like morons when they don't score a goal against Canada and Sweden

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Im trying hard not to overreact. Its stupid for me to say I wont watch cuz I know I will. And I'll care......a lot.

But Im very disheartened by the exclusions of Johnson and Faulk. I can live with Phil getting snubbed but not those two. I just dont see it.

 

[Don Corleone]

At the end of the day how can anyone be surprised?

The management team consist of:
Dean Lombardi, Paul Holmgren and Brian Burke and the coach is Torts.

All of those guys absolutely adore grinders. They pride themselves that their teams are hardworking, physical, block a ton of shots and play "tough", even at the expense of skill and better players. To me this kind of logic is such a 90s way of thinking and it just goes to show that the people in charge have not adopted to the times. It does not mean that success cant be had but its just braindead to go into a tournament without picking the best possible team.

To me the most surprising thing is how big of a role Torts has in these selections. I would have loved to hear the explanations behind some of these picks. I bet you would just hear the same cliche stuff like he plays the right way, he is hard to play against, he is a warrior or he is a team player

 

[xxxx]

"physicality" is so completely overblown. It means nothing if you don't have the skill to go with it. You have to score goals. Their problem in Sochi was a lack of scoring and now they have even less scoring in this tournament. A Marleau-Toews-Carter "checking line" is a lot better than throwing out a Abdelkader/Dubinsky-Backes-Callahan line cause they can defend and drive play. They weren't stuck in their own end like this line will be. The US will be rolling 2 scoring lines and really only possess one center who should be in their top 6. 2 lines of "grit" without a whole lot of skill just doesn't work in these tournaments and it's been proven over and over. When Canada puts its shutdown pairing on the Pavelski line, no other line will pick up the slack and they'll be suffocated. The whole point of teams like this is to roll 4 scoring lines so you have depth in case your top lines get shutdown. They had the players available to do this and they completely screwed it up so they could push the tired "grit" nonsense. They'll look like morons when they don't score a goal against Canada and Sweden

Maybe you are right, and it will truly and visibly be a mistake, we will see.

I guess it depends on what hockey they'll be playing, and how the games in round robin, and in semi-final, will look like.


Btw, I think that - with or without Kessel and the others - making the finals should be viewed as a success, but that's just my opinion. Of course you want to win, but not making the semis, or losing the semis would be what I would call a disappointment probably. Again, it depends on what hockey they'll be playing. Sometimes you lose in a great hockey game and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[Scotty B]

Well if you Canadians were disappointed in the all USA playoffs this year, prepare to have your national pride restored by playing this USA team.

I love how the USA braintrust preaches that they don't want to build an all-star team because all-star teams don't work, yet they then build a team ideal for playing an 82 game season. Treating an international tournament like game 47 of the regular season is just as foolish as treating it like an all-star game. Timely scoring is so important in single-elimination rounds and the USA could actually have iced a roster with three very threatening lines plus some skillful d-men.

Oh well. I guess the lesson they learned from losing 1 - 0 to Canada in Sochi was "We gave up a goal? Unacceptable! We need to fix this defense!"

I'm sure many, neigh MOST, USAHockey fans are crestfallen by the tremendous first line talent inexplicably left on the shelf for team red white n blue...But don't think for one second Canucks are gloating...I believe most are likewise disappointed on your behalf...disappointed that your team isn't anywhere near what it could and should have been...

I don't know if NA Young Gunz will wind up playing Team ( * cough, cough * ) USA, but if they do? I look forward to Team Young Gunz blowing their %$#!!! Doors Off...Seriously...

 

[magic school bus]

Who do you guys think is going to be the captain of the team? Does anyone think it is NOT going to be Pavelski?

I hope he's not. Pavelski is a winner.

 

[magic school bus]

My personal view is that, knowing that if they want to win the tournament they're probably gonna have to beat Canada in the finals, they built the team for those games against Canada. I'm not joking I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who finds that possible. Just look at the physicality on the roster. Byfuglien. Suter. McDonagh. Callahan. Backes. Kesler. Parise. Abdelkader. Dubinski. E.Johnson. You think that doesn't and won't matter in an actual hockey game? A game that is played on NHL ice on top of that?

For the other poster, saying that Crosby would rather face Callahan than Tyler Johnson is like saying he would rather face McDonagh than Karlsson. It's like saying that Tavares would rather play against Backes than against Kessel. It's nonsense from a hockey point of view. Otherwise Marleau-Toews-Carter wouldn't be the checking line for Canada in Sochi, it would've been Tavares-Crosby-Stamkos by that logic.

Picking those players to play against Canada is even dumber than picking them in general. Canada is an all-star skilled team. All Abdelkader, Dubinsky, Callahan and Backes will do is take penalties and watch as they blow by them with speed.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Looking at proposed rosters, the Kessel snub isn't THAT surprising.
Kane, Oshie, Wheeler.
Phil had to beat one of those out to make it.
They were always gonna go with a checking 4th line RW.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

It's funny how the first 16-man roster was pretty much ok with everybody, and now just a few players supposedly "ruined" the team. That's laughable. The only 4 players you can really argue FOR are Kessel, Johnson, and Faulk and one of Shattenkirk or Yandle or Fowler, but the rest? Backes would be in anyway, Eric Johnson was definitely having a good season, and Dubinski and JVR make sense too. The only real surprises are Callahan and J.Johnson, maybe Niskanen. Those three are gonna ruin the team?? The team that is already having Parise, Pacioretty, Kane, Suter, Carlson, Byfuglien, McDonagh, Stepan, Quick, Wheeler, or Bishop? Yeah.

If you take the emotion out of it this is a reasonable take. To be honest, the only real "shocker" to me is the exclusion of Tyler Johnson and Justin Faulk. I can rationalize the rest, even Jack Johnson. I guess they are confident with Pavelski, Stepan, Kesler, and Backes down the middle. Will need to get some playmaking from the wing, but we have those types of players (Kane, Wheeler, etc.).

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Feel for USA fans, you had a chance to view a team of the future, with all the youth on the rise.

A preview of 2018 would have been in store.

But now, you watch a bunch of old timers.

O'well tournament is meaningless.

Can't wait to see the Real USA in 2018

The forwards are INSANE..
.
Johnny Gaudreau - Jack Eichel - Patrick Kane
Max Pacioretty - Austin Matthews - Phil Kessel
Zach Parise - Dylan Larkin - Joe Pavelski
Brandon Saad - Tyler Johnson - Blake Wheeler
Derek Stepan

And not on the horrible small ice, with room to absolutely FLY!