Toggle sidebar

WJC: 2017 Team USA Roster Talk

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
To me the big question mark is how they disperse the wings. Top 3 centers are set: Keller, White, Brown. You have 7 wings who dont really fit a "4th line" role: Bellows, DeBrincat, Roslovic, Thompson, Bracco, Greenway, Boeser.

Obviously, there are only 6 slots for the top three lines. So I'd assume one of them gets tabbed as the 13th forward while guys like Laczynski, Anderson, or Foley fill the 4th line with Kunin.

Ironically, of those 7 wings, the guy I'd say is most suited for a 4th line role is probably Roslovic. But I think it would be a giant waste to put him in a checking role. Personally, I bet Bracco or Thomspon starts as the 13th forward, then they play it by ear.

However, if Keller stays injured, Roslovic becomes a top 3 center, leaving the remaining six to fill the wing spots on the top 3 lines.

Lots of moving pieces.
 
Greenway-Keller-Boeser
Bellows-White-Roslovic
Bracco-Brown-Debrincat
Laczynski-Kunin-Anderson
Thompson

Jones-McAvoy
Lindgren-Fox
Krys-Fitzgerald
Cecconi

-I like the idea of putting Bellows with two guys who will get him the puck and put him in position to get hot
-The first three lines are completely interchangeable to me; no first, second, or third line
-Wouldnt surprise me at all if Foley were there instead of Laczynski or Anderson
-Whichever Top 9 forward plays the worst on 12/26 gets replaced by Thompson. It stays that way all tourney...best 9 play.
-I think they'll keep Cecconi just to have some size. Adding Ahcan to Fitzgerald, Krys, and Fox seems repetitive.
 
Bellows has been given the chance in camp to show that he can contribute. Now it's up to him. With his slow start he will definitely have to impress, but I like the idea of putting him with a guy like Keller that can get him the puck, as he has shown a great ability to finish throughout his career. People can talk about the million facets of the game of hockey that exist, but ultimately it boils down to scoring more goals than the opponent, so you need to give solid consideration to those with natural goal scoring ability.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
Alex Tuch didn't make the team last year after a bad start.

Thats the risk you run by starting the season poorly.
Click to expand...
Maybe, but it's possible that Tuch didnt make the team because he had a bad camp also. I think it will depend if Bellows have a good or bad camp. It will be up to him.
 
xIsle said:
Maybe, but it's possible that Tuch didnt make the team because he had a bad camp also. I think it will depend if Bellows have a good or bad camp. It will be up to him.
Click to expand...

Tuch also had an underwhelming tournament the previous season after coming in with high expectations. Still rare to see returnees cut, though. I was more than a little surprised when it happened.
 
Statsy said:
Tuch also had an underwhelming tournament the previous season after coming in with high expectations. Still rare to see returnees cut, though. I was more than a little surprised when it happened.
Click to expand...

Similar situation with Adam Erne a few years back. There's precedent for it.
 
we also seen the reverse where the tournament turns a players year around. Jimmy Vesey really comes to mind as having a meh season and then bam! Didn't Kuraly have a sub par year and then played very well for the US?

lets see how he does at camp, his chemistry with some of these kids is evident and likely a legit reason for him being here.
 
AmericanDream said:
we also seen the reverse where the tournament turns a players year around. Jimmy Vesey really comes to mind as having a meh season and then bam! Didn't Kuraly have a sub par year and then played very well for the US?

lets see how he does at camp, his chemistry with some of these kids is evident and likely a legit reason for him being here.
Click to expand...

Even through one game, I was wondering why Vesey was on the team....I remember him looking lost in the first game he played.......then, all of the sudden, it clicked and we couldnt live without him.

Short tournaments create opportunities.
 
this forward group doesn't look as dominating as it once did. with Tkachuk gone and Bellows not producing, this group looks a bit shakier than before. Especially with no Yamamoto out on injury and some insane reason why Fischer isn't here.

this group is good but Roslovic and Boeser need to step up immensely now and fill those top roles. a guy like Tage Thompson might end up being a top 6 threat as he has looked great this year.
 
also interesting of note, zero first time eligible draft picks for the forwards and defense..none of the USNDP kids has stepped up to earn an invite...not looking like a great draft for USA Hockey this year.
 
AmericanDream said:
also interesting of note, zero first time eligible draft picks for the forwards and defense..none of the USNDP kids has stepped up to earn an invite...not looking like a great draft for USA Hockey this year.
Click to expand...
I feel like the draft in general has been pretty great the last two years. We were due for a down year, and this one appears to be pretty down.
 
Statsy said:
I feel like the draft in general has been pretty great the last two years. We were due for a down year, and this one appears to be pretty down.
Click to expand...

That's exactly it. Still a down year for USA Hockey as far as top prospects but we were a bit spoiled with the past two drafts overall. Yes AD this is the first year in a few where a current NTDP player hasn't earned an invite, and deservedly so. I've watched most of their games and guys like Quinn Hughes, Farrance, Reedy, and St. Cyr have had their moments and Hughes is pretty consistent. But not World Junior good as of right now. It will be interesting after this years tournament to see the first few roster predictions for next year because it could be all over the place with a mix of kids coming from everywhere. I expect the 2018 WJC Camp to have 1 or 2 players from this years U17 team (they will then be the U18 team) a guy like Bode Wilde comes to mind. He's been very consistent on the back end for a team that has had a lot of hype and struggled to find it's way.
 
Could be a good team, defense is a little thin but I think they could be quite strong offensively. Really like what they have in net as well.

My lineup:

Greenaway-Keller-Boeser
Bellows-White-DeBrincat
Harper-Brown-Thompson
Foley-Kunin-Anderson
Laczynski/Terry

Lindgren-McAvoy
Jones-Fox
Krys-Fitzgerald
Ahcan

Parsons
Oettinger
 
Is Keller now cleared of his injury and good to go? To me he is the key to the beat you down with offense this U.S team will rely on to win this thing.
 
It will be interesting to see who wins the starting job in net. I think Oettinger is the best goalie in the group but it's rare to see a draft-eligible goalie get big minutes in this tournament. I think Jack Campbell was the last one to do so for the USA and even he only played three games.
 
Boeser missed this weekends games for UND.


I think he has till wednesday or thursday to tell the team if he can go.

He has missed the past 3 weeks.
 
Breakers said:
Boeser missed this weekends games for UND.


I think he has till wednesday or thursday to tell the team if he can go.

He has missed the past 3 weeks.
Click to expand...

Yep, he has missed the past three weeks, but has realistically been hurt for about 2 months. It was obvious in the games that he tried to play that it was a wrist or arm issue. He can still skate and pass fine, but he really struggled to shoot, which is far and away his best attribute.
 
EON said:
Could be a good team, defense is a little thin but I think they could be quite strong offensively. Really like what they have in net as well.

My lineup:

Greenaway-Keller-Boeser
Bellows-White-DeBrincat
Harper-Brown-Thompson
Foley-Kunin-Anderson
Laczynski/Terry

Lindgren-McAvoy
Jones-Fox
Krys-Fitzgerald
Ahcan

Parsons
Oettinger
Click to expand...

You think Roslovic gets cut? Pretty hot take..
 
LainePeg said:
You think Roslovic gets cut? Pretty hot take..
Click to expand...

No, my guess is that he won't be on the team because of how well he's playing in the AHL, but he is on the camp roster so maybe Winnipeg is gonna loan him.

If Roslovic plays it bumps all the RWs down one spots, unless Boeser is injured.
 
EON said:
No, my guess is that he won't be on the team because of how well he's playing in the AHL, but he is on the camp roster so maybe Winnipeg is gonna loan him.

If Roslovic plays it bumps all the RWs down one spots, unless Boeser is injured.
Click to expand...

He's being released. (basically official)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom