WJC: 2017 Team USA Roster Talk

[Crosbysux]

Terry showed very well in the games on TV. Seems like he can play a good 3/4 line role and fill in on any line if someone gets injured. I really was hoping Ducks would draft Kunin, but he wasn't overly impressive from the games I watched. I'm excited for world Jrs this year.

 

[Mehar]

The US team is looking stacked. With Laine/Pulju unlikely to play, I think the US will absolutely dominate this tourney.

I just hope a Jets prospect makes the team so i'll at least have someone to cheer for.

This USA team will be the favourites going in. I do not see any other team beating them, however anything can happen in a one game showdown.

 

[Crosbysux]

Here's my projected team at the conclusion of the NJEC camp only using players from camp or those out with injury:

Forwards (x13):

Matthew Tkachuk - Colin White - Jack Roslovic
Kieffer Bellows - Clayton Keller - Tage Thompson
Jordan Greenway - Logan Brown - Brock Boeser
Erik Foley - Luke Kunin - Christian Fischer
Kailer Yamamoto

Defense (x7):

Caleb Jones - Charlie McAvoy
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
Chad Krys - Casey Fitzgerald
Jack Ahcan

Goalies (x3):

Tyler Parsons
Luke Opilka
Jake Oettinger

Notes:

• What a logjam up front. There's a good 16 or so forwards that deserve to be on the team, but it's a deep group. I'm already annoyed by the illogical whining come December because [insert player] isn't there.
• Thompson and Greenway had the most successful camps in terms of making their cases for the team. I didn't think either guy had more than a decent shot at best heading into the camp, but both continue to make great strides in their games, especially their skating. They're starting to fill out and find that comfort level with their massive frames and it shows. Impressive displays of puck protection, board work, cycling, and net front presence from both of these guys all camp.
• I don't think DeBrincat or Bracco did enough (at this point) to make the team. Both have the ability to play on this team and do well come tournament time, but they're one-dimensional players and there's better choices right now when their one-dimension isn't taking over shifts/games.
• On defense, I think the staff will be really happy to know that they have three horses they can ride for a lot of minutes in McAvoy, Jones, and Lindgren. All three had really impressive camps, and McAvoy was a lot of fun to watch. It's still crazy to think McAvoy wasn't originally invited to the NTDP tryout camp. He only received his invite after Troy Henley dropped out because he was going to the OHL.
• On the other hand, I'd imagine the staff is nervous about the final four defense spots. I have Fox, Krys, Fitzgerald, and Ahcan in those spots right now, although I don't think they'll end up as the final four -- they just had the best moments of the remaining d-men at camp. I can't imagine USAH would take 7 d-men that are all 6 feet or smaller. I think they want to take a bigger, pure shutdown guy (hence the long looks for Boka and Cecconi) that can play the PK and serve as a reliable partner on the 3rd pair for a smaller puck mover, but I don't think they've found the fit there yet. I would imagine a guy like Andrew Peeke would be an obvious target come December to tryout for that type of role.
• Regardless of how the defense shakes out, unless Werenski is somehow available, the top 4 this year will likely player nearly all the minutes just like last year when the top four of Werenski, Belpedio, Carlo, and Borgen saw nearly all the ice time.
• It's too early for nearly anyone to be out of the running, but it's probably not a good sign for Trent Frederic, Luke Martin, Jack Sadek, and Nick Boka that they sat out two of the last three games. I'd say that's especially the case for the d-men as Motzko stated they kept around more d-men than they expected to see what they could offer.
• All in all, anything less than a medal should be a massive disappointment for this team. And if they can shore up another strong d-man option, they should be one of the gold medal favorites.

McAvoy was really good and definitely controlled the pace of the game. I like what I saw from Fitzgerald as well. From the forwards, I wasn't impressed with Kunin. I was really hoping Ducks had a chance to draft him, but didn't really do anything to catch my attention. Greenway and Thompson were really good throughout the showcase. Bellows shot is really impressive and had a great game for Canada. I'm hoping Terry can make it on as the extra forward. He looks like he can play C/W and fill in on just about any line if there's an injury. Like what I saw from him. US looks stacked though, so not holding my breath on that one.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think people are looking way too much into this summer camp. Its a joke some of the players I am seeing listed as having a chance to make the team. Pick the best players. Last year's strategy didn't work, and its because we didn't have enough talent, there were too many grinders.

Tkachuk-White-Boeser
Bellows-Keller-Roslovic
Yamamoto-Brown-Mittlestadt
Jones-Kunin-Fischer
Debrincat/Bracco/Thompson

Werenski-McAvoy
Jones-Fox
Dineen-Fitzgerald
Lindgren

If we don't get Werenski, move everyone on the left side up a pair, and add someone like Peeke. Hopefully we can get Foote. If he chooses to play for the USA, Fitzgerald or Lindgren have their spots taken.

Parsons
Oettinger
Woll

 

[William H Bonney]

I think people are looking way too much into this summer camp. Its a joke some of the players I am seeing listed as having a chance to make the team. Pick the best players. Last year's strategy didn't work, and its because we didn't have enough talent, there were too many grinders.

Tkachuk-White-Boeser
Bellows-Keller-Roslovic
Yamamoto-Brown-Mittlestadt
Jones-Kunin-Fischer
Debrincat/Bracco/Thompson

Werenski-McAvoy
Jones-Fox
Dineen-Fitzgerald
Lindgren

If we don't get Werenski, move everyone on the left side up a pair, and add someone like Peeke. Hopefully we can get Foote. If he chooses to play for the USA, Fitzgerald or Lindgren have their spots taken.

Parsons
Oettinger
Woll

It's a bit silly to start off by criticizing some of the predictions being made and then throw out your own roster with Max Jones or Cam Dineen on it. Not that a guy like Jones isn't a good player or prospect, but he's done nothing to be considered a non-joke roster choice compared against some of the other players that have been mentioned that you didn't consider like Greenway or Foley or Novak or Laczynski. There haven't been any off-the-wall, egregious suggestions for the roster at this point.

Also, you can say "[l]ast year's strategy didn't work, and its because we didn't have enough talent, there were too many grinders" but that's not a new strategy. That same strategy helped win gold in 2010 and 2013. I wish USA Hockey was less rigid in their thought process (i.e. infuse some flexibility and creativity), but it's shortsighted to say the strategy is entirely misguided. It's fine to have grinders if they perform. The problem with last year's team was too many guys didn't perform. Other than Bjork, the "grinders" (Eansor, Hitchcock, MacInnis, Donato) were all duds, but Boeser and DeBrincat were supposed to bring talent and scoring and they were duds too.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Here's my projected team at the conclusion of the NJEC camp only using players from camp or those out with injury:

Forwards (x13):

Matthew Tkachuk - Colin White - Jack Roslovic
Kieffer Bellows - Clayton Keller - Tage Thompson
Jordan Greenway - Logan Brown - Brock Boeser
Erik Foley - Luke Kunin - Christian Fischer
Kailer Yamamoto

Defense (x7):

Caleb Jones - Charlie McAvoy
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
Chad Krys - Casey Fitzgerald
Jack Ahcan

Goalies (x3):

Tyler Parsons
Luke Opilka
Jake Oettinger

I like your lineup... USA should have a great team

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It's a bit silly to start off by criticizing some of the predictions being made and then throw out your own roster with Max Jones or Cam Dineen on it. Not that a guy like Jones isn't a good player or prospect, but he's done nothing to be considered a non-joke roster choice compared against some of the other players that have been mentioned that you didn't consider like Greenway or Foley or Novak or Laczynski. There haven't been any off-the-wall, egregious suggestions for the roster at this point.

Also, you can say "[l]ast year's strategy didn't work, and its because we didn't have enough talent, there were too many grinders" but that's not a new strategy. That same strategy helped win gold in 2010 and 2013. I wish USA Hockey was less rigid in their thought process (i.e. infuse some flexibility and creativity), but it's shortsighted to say the strategy is entirely misguided. It's fine to have grinders if they perform. The problem with last year's team was too many guys didn't perform. Other than Bjork, the "grinders" (Eansor, Hitchcock, MacInnis, Donato) were all duds, but Boeser and DeBrincat were supposed to bring talent and scoring and they were duds too.

Max Jones was a first round pick who had a good season for the best team in the CHL. Dineen was OHL rookie of the year, a finalist for defenseman of the year and 2nd in the OHL for defenseman scoring. Thats a very good season. I don't know how that doesn't even get you an invite to this WJC camp when they are inviting some pretty average prospects. I watch plenty of junior hockey, so I don't really care if USA Hockey thinks all these questionable prospects are deserving of an invite. I think I know enough to disagree with their decisions.

You can win with grinders, but you can also win with all skill players. Its a short tournament, so anyone can play well and anyone can play poorly, any strategy can work, but I think when picking the team, I would aim to take the best players. If they are grinders, take them. Someone like Christian Fischer could be categorized as a grinder compared to the more skilled players, I'd still take him, but I just think there are so many players being mentioned by some here that don't belong anywhere close to a discussion for this team. I realize they are being discussed because USA Hockey invited them to this camp, and probably thinks they are players that help in some way, but is that really such a great strategy or should we be picking the best 22 hockey players?

 

[William H Bonney]

Max Jones was a first round pick who had a good season for the best team in the CHL.

Draft position doesn't matter all that much when you're talking about assembling the best U20 team. NHL teams are not drafting the best junior player, they're drafting who they think will be the best NHLer years down the line.

However, he's an odd player to have on your roster when your general critic was that we should pick more talent and less grinders. Even more so interesting that you then choose to leave one of Bracco/DeBrincat off as both are more talented than Jones. In the recent projected rosters, there hasn't been a forward chosen that Jones is more talented than by any significant margin. Jones would probably do fine in the tournament (assuming he stayed out of the box), but he wouldn't be more than a grinder this year, which is why he's an odd person to name to your team when you state we need less grinders.

Dineen was OHL rookie of the year, a finalist for defenseman of the year and 2nd in the OHL for defenseman scoring. Thats a very good season. I don't know how that doesn't even get you an invite to this WJC camp when they are inviting some pretty average prospects.

He wasn't rookie of the year. But none of those awards really matter. DeBrincat had a much more impressive rookie year last season in 2014-15 than Dineen did last year, and DeBrincat was a total bust at the WJC. You can spin those awards any way you want. Dineen should have been invited to camp, but it's not like he's some obvious choice to make the team or even play well if he were to get the chance.

I watch plenty of junior hockey, so I don't really care if USA Hockey thinks all these questionable prospects are deserving of an invite. I think I know enough to disagree with their decisions.

No one is contesting that there were some odd camp invitees. That happens every year and it's not exclusive to USA Hockey. But that's not what you originally posted about, so I'm not sure how the above is relevant at all to your original statement:

I think people are looking way too much into this summer camp. Its a joke some of the players I am seeing listed as having a chance to make the team. Pick the best players. Last year's strategy didn't work, and its because we didn't have enough talent, there were too many grinders.

Why do you think "people are looking way too much into this summer camp?" The camp matters a lot. It's not the be-all-end-all, but it's a big step towards making the team. Posters are right to utilize the camp to form their projected rosters. The vast majority of the actual WJC team every year comes from camp participants.

If they are grinders, take them. Someone like Christian Fischer could be categorized as a grinder compared to the more skilled players, I'd still take him, but I just think there are so many players being mentioned by some here that don't belong anywhere close to a discussion for this team.

What players have you seen picked by some posters that justify the following statement?

I think people are looking way too much into this summer camp. Its a joke some of the players I am seeing listed as having a chance to make the team.

I realize they are being discussed because USA Hockey invited them to this camp, and probably thinks they are players that help in some way, but is that really such a great strategy or should we be picking the best 22 hockey players?

If you understand why posters are considering players that were at the camp and performed well as options for the team, why would you criticize them in their attempts to project a hypothetical team that's completely reasonable?

We should pick the 22 players that make the best team. That doesn't mean they'll get it right, or that any of us would either, but the 22 players that make the best team does not necessarily mean the 22 most talented players. It's like in 2013 when so many posters were up in arms over Henrik Samuelsson not making the team. He may have been bigger, more talented, and a higher draft pick, but he wasn't a better hockey player or fit for the team than Cole Bardreau.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

We'll be missing Matthews, Hanifin, Werenski, and (maybe) Tkachuk. Is that right?

Who will Canada be missing?

Thx in advance.

 

[Dabest]

We'll be missing Matthews, Hanifin, Werenski, and (maybe) Tkachuk. Is that right?

Who will Canada be missing?

Thx in advance.

McDavid

 

[Joe Zanussi]

McDavid

Anyone else? Maybe Marner, Strome. There must be obvious people I'm missing.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

USA might not be missing Werenski. I doubt Tkachuk will be missing.

Canada could be missing Marner and Strome. Outside chance for Barzal, Konecny and Dubois.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Anyone else? Maybe Marner, Strome. There must be obvious people I'm missing.

There's always a possibility that some of Crouse, Konecny, and Dubois are unavailable.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

In terms of 13 forwards, I'm thinking there are eight virtual "locks". While nothing is certain, Im counting on:

White
Tkachuk
Boeser
Bellows
Kunin
Brown
Keller
Roslovic

Does that seem reasonable?

 

[Rhambo6]

In terms of 13 forwards, I'm thinking there are eight virtual "locks". While nothing is certain, Im counting on:

White
Tkachuk
Boeser
Bellows
Kunin
Brown
Keller
Roslovic

Does that seem reasonable?

yes, I would agree with that at this point. The other 5 IMO could be:

Thompson
Greenway
Fischer
Terry
Debrinkat

 

[AmericanDream]

after what I saw from the Hlinka, wouldn't mind Pastujov getting a shot at the December camp if he continues to play like that.

 

[Xokkeu]

We'll be missing Matthews, Hanifin, Werenski, and (maybe) Tkachuk. Is that right?

Who will Canada be missing?

Thx in advance.

My bet. Just Hanifin and Mathews. Just a hunch

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Tkachuk lookng like he might hang on in Calgary. Thats bad.

Tage Thompson had a zillion points this weekend. Thats good.

 

[wings5]

With the players we will likely have unavailable to us, I like your forward group more than ours.

 

[tfantasy]

That third line of Greenway Brown and Boesr will give headaches to teams.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

With the players we will likely have unavailable to us, I like your forward group more than ours.

Even without Tkachuk (and I still think he might end up playing) I like our forwards a lot. Hoping that Thompson, Greenway, and Debrincat have solid starts.

 

[Xokkeu]

Tkachuk lookng like he might hang on in Calgary. Thats bad.

Tage Thompson had a zillion points this weekend. Thats good.

Tkachuk and Werenski have to be listed as doubtful at this point.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Tkachuk and Werenski have to be listed as doubtful at this point.

I think Werenski is long gone....he's playing great. As for Tkachuk, he may be a 9-game guy.

 

[tfantasy]

With the players we will likely have unavailable to us, I like your forward group more than ours.

They beat us in August at the World Junior Showcase Tournament without any big name superstars. (Tkachuk, Matthews, Werenski) They look way better than Canada did in August . I wouldn't say way better but definitely better.

 

[Xokkeu]

I think Werenski is long gone....he's playing great. As for Tkachuk, he may be a 9-game guy.

Yeah maybe Tkachuk is questionable. Werenski doubtful.