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WJC: 2019 Team USA Roster Talk

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overall the team played as expected.

we got some guys going that we needed to. Wall-E and Farabee got on the board with Farabee IMO being the best player on the ice.

Madden played a strong game same with Barratt and Robinson again...that trio is going to provide a lot of the spark in the big games.

O'Brien looked good again from what I saw, and keep feeding Sasha more ice time baby!! kid is slick and has the skill to be a top line player here.

Quinn Hughes was as smooth as a baby's ass out there, kid was flying all around out there...

Ivany looked terrible and Anderson for me is just not good enough to be playing top 4 here...this is where we might struggle. The backend just doesn't look as dynamic out there as it should with some of the names left at home.. they are not bad by any stretch, but only Hughes and Samberg have been impressive, the rest have been okay to bad IMO...

now the real challenge begins tomorrow night - game on Sweden!!!
 
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Not much to read into a game like that where the opponent is just hanging on for dear life. Felt like an exhibition.

That said, two things of note for me:
  • Yeah, Primeau isn't taking over the #1. There wasn't anything he was going to do in this game to steal the spot, but he could give away his chance and he did that. First goal wasn't on him, but he was fighting the puck all night (on the rare times he saw it) and coughing up awful rebounds. The 2nd goal was a good summary of his night. If Keyser falters, I hope Knight gets a shot.
  • Disappointed Hastings didn't get more ice time for O'Brien (10:04), Drury (10:35), and St. Ivany (8:47). Yes, they're at the bottom of the roster, but this was an easy win that was never in doubt. You don't know when you might need one of these guys to step later in the tournament and this was an opportunity to prepare them for that and he didn't do a great job of it.
 
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I agree with @AmericanDream that the defense just doesn't seem to be all that good this year. Samberg is big time for this team, and Hughes is the main playmaker on the team, but there's not a whole lot else that we know can do well against Canada or the top players on Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic.

Anderson a bottom pairing guy at this level. I'm not saying he shouldn't have made the team, but he's probably not a player that you want to be playing a major role.

Miller and Samuelsson haven't been that good so far. I think Samuelsson's been the better of the two, but neither has been their best. This is also the highest level of hockey they've played, so there might be an adjustment period. We need them to pick up their games because I don't think we're getting top four production from the others besides them and the other two.
 
How has Kemp looked for you guys? I missed the game last night and most of the Slovakia game.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
I agree with @AmericanDream that the defense just doesn't seem to be all that good this year. Samberg is big time for this team, and Hughes is the main playmaker on the team, but there's not a whole lot else that we know can do well against Canada or the top players on Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic.

Anderson a bottom pairing guy at this level. I'm not saying he shouldn't have made the team, but he's probably not a player that you want to be playing a major role.

Miller and Samuelsson haven't been that good so far. I think Samuelsson's been the better of the two, but neither has been their best. This is also the highest level of hockey they've played, so there might be an adjustment period. We need them to pick up their games because I don't think we're getting top four production from the others besides them and the other two.
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I'm surprised at this because I thought the defense would be the strongest part of the team.
 
There's always a lot of hand wringing with the defense but IMO it's been fine. A few brain farts but overall solid in their own zone and good at getting the puck out and into transition. Hughes is the only dynamic presence though. It's really a workman-like group.
 
snipes said:
How has Kemp looked for you guys? I missed the game last night and most of the Slovakia game.
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Not the worst defenseman on the team. He's a defensive defensemen who brings size, physicality and positional defense, so his type of role won't be of much use in these first two games. We'll see how he holds up against the better teams where he'll be counted on in a PK and defensive situations role.
 
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jj cale said:
I'm surprised at this because I thought the defense would be the strongest part of the team.
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It's a solid group....defensively. most U.S. WJC have a number of offensively gifted defensemen but aside from Hughes this is more of a blue collar group.
 
Rabid Ranger said:
There's always a lot of hand wringing with the defense but IMO it's been fine. A few brain farts but overall solid in their own zone and good at getting the puck out and into transition. Hughes is the only dynamic presence though. It's really a workman-like group.
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Probably the most important part “the breakout”. No complaints from me. Like the size as well. They don’t and won’t get pushed around.
 
Rabid Ranger said:
Do wonders? According to who?
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Well i would think according to anyone, if both players are not having a great tournament so far then that affects how good your defense will be, they are important guys, they didn't make the team for nothing.

You don't think your team defense would be automatically better if Miller and Sammy were playing at their absolute best? really?

I mean, how could that do anything but help.
 
jj cale said:
Well i would think according to anyone, if both players are not having a great tournament so far then that affects how good your defense will be, they are important guys, they didn't make the team for nothing.

You don't think your team defense would be automatically better if Miller and Sammy were playing at their absolute best? really?

I mean, how could that do anything but help.
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So your comment is that if players played better it would be good for the team...
 
GTA said:
So your comment is that if players played better it would be good for the team...
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Well basically, it seems that fans here haven't been crazy about their defense and they have been pointing out that Miller and sams havent been playing very well. If just two important guys like that can play as well as we know they can then it alleviates a lot of concerns.

Did I do something wrong? it's just a comment after all. Is there some sort of scotty bowman type genius insights that only apply?
 
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