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WJC: 2017 Team USA Roster Talk

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Gump Hasek said:
Jack Roslovic will likely be considered Team USA's best forward by the end of this tournament. He is putting up nearly a point-per-game in the AHL at age-19 (in what is essentially a 20+ league) and has looked fantastic this year.
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If this first game is any indication, he will likely be considered Team USA's worst player by the end of this tournament. He's been brutal today.

It's only one game, but yea, no way he's one of the best players on Team USA if this game is any indication.
 
Not a very exciting or inspiring game by any means, but a win is a win and facing some slight adversity to start isn't a bad thing. A few thoughts:

  • First line was by far the best line. Keller, Thompson, and White were all very good.
  • Thompson's development curve has been something else. He joined the NTDP U18 squad (along with Troy Terry) after Luke Kirwan and Dennis Yan left for the CHL after their U17 seasons, and he was a lanky 4th liner that didn't get a ton of ice time on a stacked team. Now he's 3-4 inches taller, and a premier prospect.
  • The other forwards showed sparks, but I didn't see a ton of chemistry with the other lines to start. I'd like to see the combinations mixed up a bit here next game. Maybe something line Bellows - Kunin - Bracco, Greenway - Roslovic - Terry, and the rest.
  • A lot of overpassing early on in situations where they could have had solid shots on goal. Granted, they did hit 3-4 posts, at least 2 of which were on wide open nets, so they generated plenty of chances nonetheless.
  • Roslovic needs to be a lot better. He was awful, and he's being counted on to be one of our top forwards.
  • Latvia's not a real test, but the defense was good today sans Fitzgerald. Barring the self-inflicted breakaway (bad pass to the point, plus Fitzgerald losing his man), Latvia only had 1-2 real good chances the rest of the way.
 
William H Bonney said:
The other forwards showed sparks, but I didn't see a ton of chemistry with the other lines to start. I'd like to see the combinations mixed up a bit here next game. Maybe something line Bellows - Kunin - Bracco, Greenway - Roslovic - Terry, and the rest.
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I thought the Greenway-Kunin-Terry line looked good together. 9 shots on goal for those 3 players combined. Was only impressed by that line and the Thompson-Keller-White line.
 
ClayAikenFan77 said:
I thought the Greenway-Kunin-Terry line looked good together. 9 shots on goal for those 3 players combined. Was only impressed by that line and the Thompson-Keller-White line.
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They were definitely the next best group. I didn't give my proposed lines a ton of thought, but I'd like to see a pure sniper (Bellows) with Bracco, and a center like Kunin is a better fit for those two as he's a fantastic two-way centerman whereas Roslovic is more offensive-minded.
 
I think Kunin/Greenway were great along with the Keller/Thompson/White line. Was also impressed with Ahcan's game.

I thought Bellows was poor again outside of a few flashes in the 3rd.

I'd keep your top two lines together for the next game and make adjustments in the game if needed.
 
William H Bonney said:
Not a very exciting or inspiring game by any means, but a win is a win and facing some slight adversity to start isn't a bad thing. A few thoughts:

  • First line was by far the best line. Keller, Thompson, and White were all very good.
  • Thompson's development curve has been something else. He joined the NTDP U18 squad (along with Troy Terry) after Luke Kirwan and Dennis Yan left for the CHL after their U17 seasons, and he was a lanky 4th liner that didn't get a ton of ice time on a stacked team. Now he's 3-4 inches taller, and a premier prospect.
  • The other forwards showed sparks, but I didn't see a ton of chemistry with the other lines to start. I'd like to see the combinations mixed up a bit here next game. Maybe something line Bellows - Kunin - Bracco, Greenway - Roslovic - Terry, and the rest.
  • A lot of overpassing early on in situations where they could have had solid shots on goal. Granted, they did hit 3-4 posts, at least 2 of which were on wide open nets, so they generated plenty of chances nonetheless.
  • Roslovic needs to be a lot better. He was awful, and he's being counted on to be one of our top forwards.
  • Latvia's not a real test, but the defense was good today sans Fitzgerald. Barring the self-inflicted breakaway (bad pass to the point, plus Fitzgerald losing his man), Latvia only had 1-2 real good chances the rest of the way.
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I thought Fitzgerald played reasonably well. Once the coach told all the the defenceman to stop pinching and giving up odd man rushes - the defence played well. A bigger test will be the russians and canadians. The Latvian were and are not a good skating team.
 
YourAverageFan said:
If this first game is any indication, he will likely be considered Team USA's worst player by the end of this tournament. He's been brutal today.

It's only one game, but yea, no way he's one of the best players on Team USA if this game is any indication.
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You cannot be serious? Roslovic was all over the ice and stood out all game. Guy was flying out there. Thought he was one of their best players in this game.
 
Anthony5967 said:
You cannot be serious? Roslovic was all over the ice and stood out all game. Guy was flying out there. Thought he was one of their best players in this game.
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Uhh... what? Ask anyone who watched the game what they thought of Roslovic. He was terrible today. I think he'll definitely bounce back and be the player Team USA needs him to be but he had a very poor showing today.
 
every year USA hockey has a pet player that's on the roster that does not deserve to be there based on merits and this year it's Bellows. hope it doesn't hurt the team.
 
YourAverageFan said:
Uhh... what? Ask anyone who watched the game what they thought of Roslovic. He was terrible today. I think he'll definitely bounce back and be the player Team USA needs him to be but he had a very poor showing today.
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You can count me in on the group of people that thought Roslovic was terrible. Now terrible is probably too strong of a word, but in a game where most offensive players were either consistently good or showed flashes, Roslovic didn't stand out at all, in my books.

However worst player of the game for the US goes to Fitzgerald. I took him in the pool so I watched him closely. He got caught on multiple occasions, giving up a goal and a penalty that probably should have been a penalty shot. Hope he is better next game or he'll find himself benched in a hurry.
 
YourAverageFan said:
Uhh... what? Ask anyone who watched the game what they thought of Roslovic. He was terrible today. I think he'll definitely bounce back and be the player Team USA needs him to be but he had a very poor showing today.
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I watched and dont understand how you think he was awful? I thought Roslovic had a solid 200 ft game.
 
Jesus Brodin said:


Yuck.

Maybe their thinking Thompson will make Bellows/Roslovic better considering they were awful yesterday.
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I didn't think bellows was that bad yesterday. Hit the post twice. The kid had 2 shifts in the first period. Its hard to make an impression with that little playing time.

Thompson was very impressive though.
 
I'd rather Motzko tinker with lines now instead of a typical USAH coach that waits until they're down in the last 10 minutes of an elimination game.
 
Thompson looked huge. Greenway reminded me of a younger Byfuglien. The U.S look big. Harper just shot the puck when the goalie wasn't expecting a shot on that first goal. Wasnt anything special but there were moments where Harper looked good. Jones looks like he's going to be easy to frustrate but maybe not.
 
Jesus Brodin said:
Agreed for the most part.

But I thought the Keller/Thompson/White line was too good to toy with.
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Yeah, I would have toyed with combinations involving the other 10 forwards first, but I understand Motzko's rational here. One line won't win them the tournament, and if you have to break up your best line to possibly jumpstart two other lines then it's worth it.
 
The part I like most about Greenway is he is just a bully out there. Hes impossible to move in front of the net and uses his size very well
 
I just bet my friend that USA would go further than Canada for ***** and giggles, I just noticed Sweden is in our bracket....what is he chances of me winning this bet? 20%? lol
 
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