World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team USA

[Shockmaster]

Wow, that's a real master of shock stroke there to make that leap and faulty conclusion.

How you came to that based on what was said is truly a marvel.

Because the vast majority of the time phrase "He was selected because he's a team player!" is used to justify the selection of lesser players.

 

[JTD]

US does not lose to Sweden. USA grinder game will be too much on the NA rink.

Sweden will absolutely beat the US. Torts is bad at his job, Sweden will have a rested and healthy Henrik Lundqvist and a far superior defense. Even if Sweden's forwards aren't great, they generate so much offense from the back end that it makes up for it. US can't "grind" a team they can't catch. Hopefully Callahan/Dubinsky/Abdelkader won't be on the ice the same time as a player like Hagelin cause his speed will dust them. US will struggle to score and get bounced by a better Sweden team. Semifinals is as far as this team can hope to go

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Sweden will absolutely beat the US. Torts is bad at his job, Sweden will have a rested and healthy Henrik Lundqvist and a far superior defense. Even if Sweden's forwards aren't great, they generate so much offense from the back end that it makes up for it. US can't "grind" a team they can't catch. Hopefully Callahan/Dubinsky/Abdelkader won't be on the ice the same time as a player like Hagelin cause his speed will dust them. US will struggle to score and get bounced by a better Sweden team. Semifinals is as far as this team can hope to go

I appreciate the passion, but this is a bit alarmist IMO. The Swedish defense isn't "far superior." Also, do we really need to isolate players like Hagelin as a threat? He was a cast off until paired with Kessel and Bonino in Pittsburgh. Besides, it's not like the players you mentioned can't skate. They are all decent/good in that regard.

 

[snipes]

US does not lose to Sweden. USA grinder game will be too much on the NA rink.

I just think the D for Sweden will be too strong. Both are very talented teams though, should be a great game if they meet.

 

[JTD]

I appreciate the passion, but this is a bit alarmist IMO. The Swedish defense isn't "far superior." Also, do we really need to isolate players like Hagelin as a threat? He was a cast off until paired with Kessel and Bonino in Pittsburgh. Besides, it's not like the players you mentioned can't skate. They are all decent/good in that regard.

You sure their defense isn't far superior? What defenseman on this roster is in Erik Karlsson's league or Hedman's? OEL is very good, so is Ekholm. I really don't think it's close on defense. The US has Jack Johnson on this team. If there's an injury at all, Jack Johnson will see ice time and he's awful. I feel like you're trying to be optimistic instead of realistic. Canada, Sweden, NA are all better teams and Finland possibly is as well. They just got put into a weak group beyond Canada and that's the only reason they'll make the semifinals.

 

[Nordic*]

Sweden's forwards are incredibly bad compared to the top nations.

 

[snipes]

Sweden's forwards are incredibly bad compared to the top nations.

I don't think they are as bad as you are making them out to be.

Plus the D of the Swedes is incredible, probably the most depth they've ever had. Not saying any of those guys are Lidstrom. But Karlsson, Hedman, and OEL are among the very best in the NHL.

On the small ice and fast pace of the current game, having D men like Sweden has is incredibly important to team success.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

You sure their defense isn't far superior? What defenseman on this roster is in Erik Karlsson's league or Hedman's? OEL is very good, so is Ekholm. I really don't think it's close on defense. The US has Jack Johnson on this team. If there's an injury at all, Jack Johnson will see ice time and he's awful. I feel like you're trying to be optimistic instead of realistic. Canada, Sweden, NA are all better teams and Finland possibly is as well. They just got put into a weak group beyond Canada and that's the only reason they'll make the semifinals.

Come on now. A top four of Suter, McDonagh, Carlson, and Byfuglien is extremely solid and versatile. Erik Johnson and Matt Niskanen are solid adds as well. I'm perplexed by the Jack Johnson addition like everyone but he usually plays very well in a USA jersey and his play trended upwards after Torts took over. To me, the U.S. team compares very well depth-wise to every other team except Canada who is in a league of it's own.

 

[Bosse Berglund]

Just curious: Could the selection of J.J be some form of reward for him nearly always answering the call in the past? Surely US has better d-men than him...

 

[xxxx]

The thing is, we discuss what we see on paper. But things may look different on the ice. What seems like a disadvantage, or "slightly worse on paper", may look totally different on ice. You see Ekman-Larsson-Karlsson against Suter-Carlson, or Hedman-Stralman against Niskanen-E.Johnson and say, hm, this one is better. But the thing is, these players won't face each other, not directly. They will be facing the other team's forwards, not defensemen. Suter and Carlson will play Backstrom and F.Forsberg, for example. Hedman and Stralman will play Backes and Oshie for example. So, it doesn't really matter that much who's defense is better on paper, it's who's defense will be more effective on the ice. And on the ice, Ryan Suter might do a better job against Nicklas Backstrom or the Sedins, than Hedman against Kane and Pavelski, you never know what happens. Hockey is a game. It's not math. Anything can happen. Hit happens, turnover, and from an innocent situation you go 2 on 1, or 3 on 1, a couple of bounces in front of the net, etc, etc.

 

[Nordic*]

I don't think they are as bad as you are making them out to be.

Plus the D of the Swedes is incredible, probably the most depth they've ever had. Not saying any of those guys are Lidstrom. But Karlsson, Hedman, and OEL are among the very best in the NHL.

On the small ice and fast pace of the current game, having D men like Sweden has is incredibly important to team success.

Sedins, Zetterberg are the stars of the past but today well over the hill.

We probably only have one elite forward who is in his peak years, Bäckström. And he had a really underwhelming season.

Lundqvist had an up & down season too.

I have USA ahead of Sweden, looking at the rosters.

Top-3 teams are Canada, North America and USA.

Then the rest of the field battles for the last spot in the top-4.

 

[AmericanDream]

You sure their defense isn't far superior? What defenseman on this roster is in Erik Karlsson's league or Hedman's? OEL is very good, so is Ekholm. I really don't think it's close on defense. The US has Jack Johnson on this team. If there's an injury at all, Jack Johnson will see ice time and he's awful. I feel like you're trying to be optimistic instead of realistic. Canada, Sweden, NA are all better teams and Finland possibly is as well. They just got put into a weak group beyond Canada and that's the only reason they'll make the semifinals.

you obviously haven't seen Jack Johnson represent his country before.

I have no problems with him being our #7 as he actually has heart and wants to be here. His play has declined but can fill a serviceable role.

Personally, you really underscore the top 4 for the US - McDonagh, Suter, Carlson, and Byfuglien is easily on par to anything Sweden has to offer.

I would much rather have Faulk and Shatty on this team, but our 5-7 defensemen isn't going to lose this for us.

 

[Preisst*]

Because the vast majority of the time phrase "He was selected because he's a team player!" is used to justify the selection of lesser players.

That's fair and there is truth to it. At the same time the "lesser player" is often the correct decision to make.

Here is an interesting article about how and why the USA team was selected as it was :

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/...an-in-mind-for-his-world-cup-of-hockey-roster

 

[jj cale]

That's fair and there is truth to it. At the same time the "lesser player" is often the correct decision to make.

Here is an interesting article about how and why the USA team was selected as it was :

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/...an-in-mind-for-his-world-cup-of-hockey-roster

Good article and you can see their reasoning whether it is ultimately right or wrong.

I can say this about the team assembled, it has good skill, it will be tough to play against and it has as good as goaltending as anyone.


It will be a competitive team whether it wins it all or not.


I am probably one of the few that even likes the Jack Johnson pick.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Sweden will absolutely beat the US. Torts is bad at his job, Sweden will have a rested and healthy Henrik Lundqvist and a far superior defense. Even if Sweden's forwards aren't great, they generate so much offense from the back end that it makes up for it. US can't "grind" a team they can't catch. Hopefully Callahan/Dubinsky/Abdelkader won't be on the ice the same time as a player like Hagelin cause his speed will dust them. US will struggle to score and get bounced by a better Sweden team. Semifinals is as far as this team can hope to go

Disagree that Torts is bad at his job. He did a great job of turning around a very mediocre Blue Jackets team this past year. I also don't agree that the US will have problems scoring with that the top-6 forwards they have. I think team USA will score quite a bit actually.

Team speed is negated a lot more on NA ice and in short tournaments. Sweden's forwards are going to get torn up in the corners. The US defensman core are also very good, I don't see the Swedish forwards dominating them. And the US have outstanding goaltending from top to bottom.

Saying the US is going to get dusted is very premature. That was said of the WHC US squad this year and they got themselves to the Bronze Medal round.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Personally, you really underscore the top 4 for the US - McDonagh, Suter, Carlson, and Byfuglien is easily on par to anything Sweden has to offer.

I would much rather have Faulk and Shatty on this team, but our 5-7 defensemen isn't going to lose this for us.

Very good defensive core!

 

[MardyBum]

That's fair and there is truth to it. At the same time the "lesser player" is often the correct decision to make.

Here is an interesting article about how and why the USA team was selected as it was :

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/...an-in-mind-for-his-world-cup-of-hockey-roster

So they're doing the same thing the US did at the WJC this year.

 

[The Undertaker]

Awful, stupid, and embarrassing selections for team USA. Leaving home Faulk for solid bottom pairing Dman Jack Johnson is a disgrace. He's probably the best US dman. Taking all of Oshie, Dubinsky, Callahan, and Abdelkader might be just as bad. And I thought Brooks Orpik making the Olympic team was horrible.....

I honestly expect Gaudreau to be left off the next olympic team.

"Too small.....no grit.....we already have Kane....why would we need Gaudreau?"
-Experts minds apart of the team building process

 

[ulvvf]

Would JG have made Torts team USA? He didnt want Kessel or TJ, so I would guess not.

 

[ulvvf]

Awful, stupid, and embarrassing selections for team USA. Leaving home Faulk for solid bottom pairing Dman Jack Johnson is a disgrace. He's probably the best US dman. Taking all of Oshie, Dubinsky, Callahan, and Abdelkader might be just as bad. And I thought Brooks Orpik making the Olympic team was horrible.....

I honestly expect Gaudreau to be left off the next olympic team.

"Too small.....no grit.....we already have Kane....why would we need Gaudreau?"
-Experts minds apart of the team building process

I do not make any big difference between a 4th line and 1th line in how they shall play the game. It is just a matter how many minuts they shall play. A random shift who do you rather put in, Kane or Abdelkader? So if you can always put in a Kane in 5v5, why not do it? When in 5v5 would it be good to put in Abdelkader instead of Kane?

Different typs off players can be good, but why do so many coaches tend to belivie that different has to mean that you have to bring someone that kind of sucks. Players like Kesler can play in PK

 

[xxxx]

Would JG have made Torts team USA? He didnt want Kessel or TJ, so I would guess not.

I could imagine something like this, that would still be realistic with Lombardi's vision of this team:

Parise - Pavelski - Kane
Saad/JVR - Backes - Kesler
Gaudreau - Stepan - Wheeler
Pacioretty - Dubinski - Eichel
Callahan/Abdelkader

but who knows.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Awful, stupid, and embarrassing selections for team USA. Leaving home Faulk for solid bottom pairing Dman Jack Johnson is a disgrace. He's probably the best US dman.

Faulk is not the best US dman. [MOD]

 

[The Undertaker]

Faulk is not the best US dman. [MOD]

He still should make this team 10/10 times. And the only dmen who I think you could argue are better are McD and Suter. Both are LDs who he wasn't competing with for a spot.

 

[hockeykicker]

He still should make this team 10/10 times. And the only dmen who I think you could argue are better are McD and Suter. Both are LDs who he wasn't competing with for a spot.

john carlson?

 

[SanDogBrewin]

He still should make this team 10/10 times. And the only dmen who I think you could argue are better are McD and Suter. Both are LDs who he wasn't competing with for a spot.

Absolutely right Faulk should be on the US team. I also think Carlson is better though.