WJC: 2019 Team USA Roster Talk

[SabresSharks]

I don't want to embarrass you or anything but I've just got say I always love reading your takes, I really learn a lot not just about what is happening in the U.S system but about hockey in general.

I mean it's a genuine pleasure to read and take in.

Agreed. All hail Bonney!

I'm just happy there are posters here devoting sufficient time to following prospects closely enough to provide context for the rest of us. I draw the line at that and advanced stats, to avoid the nuisance and expense of divorce proceedings.

 

[William H Bonney]

I don't want to embarrass you or anything but I've just got say I always love reading your takes, I really learn a lot not just about what is happening in the U.S system but about hockey in general.

I mean it's a genuine pleasure to read and take in.

That's very nice of you to say. We have a small but passionate group of folks on here that feverishly follow USAH and its prospects; it's honestly what keeps me here. Sometimes I wonder why I follow USAH so closely, as it's a source of constant frustration and disappointment, but I enjoy it nonetheless. This place is better come international tournament time. Hopefully Team Canada and Team USA meet at some point in the tournament!

 

[jj cale]

That's very nice of you to say. We have a small but passionate group of folks on here that feverishly follow USAH and its prospects; it's honestly what keeps me here. Sometimes I wonder why I follow USAH so closely, as it's a source of constant frustration and disappointment, but I enjoy it nonetheless. This place is better come international tournament time. Hopefully Team Canada and Team USA meet at some point in the tournament!

Yep, sure hope for a U.S-Canada meeting, both teams are so dialed in when they meet each other that you normally get the very best both teams have to give..........................and they are usually the best games of the tournament.


They are tough losses for me when Canada comes out on the losing end but even when that happens the game itself is usually always a classic, just top flight. I can live with that.

 

[ps241]

I don't want to embarrass you or anything but I've just got say I always love reading your takes, I really learn a lot not just about what is happening in the U.S system but about hockey in general.

I mean it's a genuine pleasure to read and take in.

Yea I agree I drop in to specifically read William H Bonney’s Game recaps. Very knowledgeable poster with detailed takes.

 

[SabresSharks]

Yep, sure hope for a U.S-Canada meeting, both teams are so dialed in when they meet each other that you normally get the very best both teams have to give..........................and they are usually the best games of the tournament.


They are tough losses for me when Canada comes out on the losing end but even when that happens the game itself is usually always a classic, just top flight. I can live with that.

USA-CAN in this tournament is like Habs-Leafs, Isles-Rangers, Oilers-Flames. Standings and talent don't seem to matter much. A hard fought, competitive game is almost guaranteed.

Really wish the WJC would gain some traction here in the States, but it doesn't even get much attention on HFB, where we're all supposedly hockey fanatics. It's a shame that they, and the wider sports community, are missing out on what we all know is a premier event.

 

[Oak]

So I've been wanting to watch Q Hughes play for a while since all the hype. USA -Sweden is the first game I have seen him.

I see the skill but this kid is not a defenseman. I've read the past two pages and I see that you guys are arguing that he is playing that way because he has to cover for the other players but that is just a plain IQ issue in my opinion. A smart skilled player can adapt. He looks like he is playing mite hockey, and getting beat because of it.

Call me a dinosaur but I just don't see the need for defensemen who play this way? Another Torey Krug? Why even have a defenseman like that if you can run 4 forwards, maybe even 5 on the power play like some NHL teams have been doing recently. Yea he can be good on the power play but a liability everywhere else?

Somebody explain to me what is the point of a player like that? He would be way better as a forward using his skills where they belong.

I initially felt this way about Rasmus Dahlin, but the kid can actually play defense. He has size and weight, battles for pucks in his zone and wins, and great offensive potential. I can see what a player like that brings to the table. Q Hughes? I dont see it.

 

[jj cale]

USA-CAN in this tournament is like Habs-Leafs, Isles-Rangers, Oilers-Flames. Standings and talent don't seem to matter much. A hard fought, competitive game is almost guaranteed.

Really wish the WJC would gain some traction here in the States, but it doesn't even get much attention on HFB, where we're all supposedly hockey fanatics. It's a shame that they, and the wider sports community, are missing out on what we all know is a premier event.

You're bang on here.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

So I've been wanting to watch Q Hughes play for a while since all the hype. USA -Sweden is the first game I have seen him.

I see the skill but this kid is not a defenseman. I've read the past two pages and I see that you guys are arguing that he is playing that way because he has to cover for the other players but that is just a plain IQ issue in my opinion. A smart skilled player can adapt. He looks like he is playing mite hockey, and getting beat because of it.

Call me a dinosaur but I just don't see the need for defensemen who play this way? Another Torey Krug? Why even have a defenseman like that if you can run 4 forwards, maybe even 5 on the power play like some NHL teams have been doing recently. Yea he can be good on the power play but a liability everywhere else?

Somebody explain to me what is the point of a player like that? He would be way better as a forward using his skills where they belong.

I initially felt this way about Rasmus Dahlin, but the kid can actually play defense. He has size and weight, battles for pucks in his zone and wins, and great offensive potential. I can see what a player like that brings to the table. Q Hughes? I dont see it.

Don't use this tournament to gauge his long term effectiveness as a defenseman. He looked very good last year at the senior tournament. This comes down to coaching and deployment.

 

[VanJack]

Last year Elias Pettersson was 'good' for Sweden, but 'not great' at the WJC. So far in the NHL surrounded by better players, he's been just 'fine'. So I place little or no importance on how Quinn Hughes performs in this tournament. In fact individual performances at this over-hyped and over-wrought tournament are rarely ever matched when players move up anyway.

Hughes needs to get through this tournament; hopefully wrap up his Michigan career on a winning note; and then get to the NHL where his talent and skill can really be showcased.

 

[Smitty93]

Most of what I've been thinking has already been said here, but I have two thoughts.

1. There isn't enough talent in the '99 age group. As we all know, this is a tournament driven by 19 year-olds. I don't think there's enough top level talent from that age group for the U.S.. Good players, but most of them seem to be more complementary in nature. As great as it is to see young American players succeed in the NHL, it's a shame Tkachuk isn't here.

2. It feels like they are more of a collection of talent than a team. There's a lack of chemistry and the system, if there even is one, isn't helping them to play better. I don't think the team is incapable of coming together, but they need to improve quickly if they want to medal.

 

[avsfan09]

So I've been wanting to watch Q Hughes play for a while since all the hype. USA -Sweden is the first game I have seen him.

I see the skill but this kid is not a defenseman. I've read the past two pages and I see that you guys are arguing that he is playing that way because he has to cover for the other players but that is just a plain IQ issue in my opinion. A smart skilled player can adapt. He looks like he is playing mite hockey, and getting beat because of it.

Call me a dinosaur but I just don't see the need for defensemen who play this way? Another Torey Krug? Why even have a defenseman like that if you can run 4 forwards, maybe even 5 on the power play like some NHL teams have been doing recently. Yea he can be good on the power play but a liability everywhere else?

Somebody explain to me what is the point of a player like that? He would be way better as a forward using his skills where they belong.

I initially felt this way about Rasmus Dahlin, but the kid can actually play defense. He has size and weight, battles for pucks in his zone and wins, and great offensive potential. I can see what a player like that brings to the table. Q Hughes? I dont see it.

Puck retrieval, quick breakouts, Pp Qb can skate the puck. He may be offensive minded but he can positively influence a game that way and has proven that in the past.

 

[William H Bonney]

So I've been wanting to watch Q Hughes play for a while since all the hype. USA -Sweden is the first game I have seen him.

I see the skill but this kid is not a defenseman. I've read the past two pages and I see that you guys are arguing that he is playing that way because he has to cover for the other players but that is just a plain IQ issue in my opinion. A smart skilled player can adapt. He looks like he is playing mite hockey, and getting beat because of it.

Call me a dinosaur but I just don't see the need for defensemen who play this way? Another Torey Krug? Why even have a defenseman like that if you can run 4 forwards, maybe even 5 on the power play like some NHL teams have been doing recently. Yea he can be good on the power play but a liability everywhere else?

Somebody explain to me what is the point of a player like that? He would be way better as a forward using his skills where they belong.

I initially felt this way about Rasmus Dahlin, but the kid can actually play defense. He has size and weight, battles for pucks in his zone and wins, and great offensive potential. I can see what a player like that brings to the table. Q Hughes? I dont see it.

You made all these bolded assessments based on the first time you've seen the player? Yeesh. It's even worse when you said you read the posts from folks that have actually watched Quinn play for years and all were saying he's not playing anywhere close to his standards and yet...

I initially felt this way about Rasmus Dahlin

Maybe it should have been a lesson to lay off the snap judgments when watching teenage hockey prospects play for the first time?

 

[SabresSharks]

Most of what I've been thinking has already been said here, but I have two thoughts.

1. There isn't enough talent in the '99 age group. As we all know, this is a tournament driven by 19 year-olds. I don't think there's enough top level talent from that age group for the U.S.. Good players, but most of them seem to be more complementary in nature. As great as it is to see young American players succeed in the NHL, it's a shame Tkachuk isn't here.

2. It feels like they are more of a collection of talent than a team. There's a lack of chemistry and the system, if there even is one, isn't helping them to play better. I don't think the team is incapable of coming together, but they need to improve quickly if they want to medal.

I think your first point applies to every team. Nobody has a wealth of talent this year.

Brady would be a fantastic addition with his strength and touch, but with Dahlin, Heiskanen, etc. unavailable, the USA has no particular cause for complaint. The fact that the top teams lose eligible players to the NHL almost every year tells me how much the rest of the hockey world has closed the gap with Canada. This is good.

Agree wholeheartedly with your second point. The big difference in the Sweden-USA game, prior to the last 10 minutes, was the structured, simple, patient team play exhibited by Sweden. That has to improve. 10 minutes of desperation hockey per game won't take us far.

 

[NTDP]

If I’m USA I’m throwing a lot of pucks on net vs Finland. Thought they tried to many forced cross ice passes and tried to cut through the center to have Sweden’s active sticks break it up

 

[Oak]

You made all these bolded assessments based on the first time you've seen the player? Yeesh. It's even worse when you said you read the posts from folks that have actually watched Quinn play for years and all were saying he's not playing anywhere close to his standards and yet...

I guess you must be a big fan of his to get offended by my commentary. This is a world where people look at things from different eyes and mind sets so I don't feel like my opinion of watching the kid play was in the wrong.

Not being able to adapt period to period when the same thing you keep trying isn't working is an IQ issue. How can it not be? And yes, he did look like a mite playing defense for the first time.

Maybe it should have been a lesson to lay off the snap judgments when watching teenage hockey prospects play for the first time?

Problem is in a 60 minute game, for the kid to get beat off the puck in his own zone every time it is hard to say yea this kid can play D. If it was only a few times and he made a good second effort I wouldn't be thinking as critically. He is not an under ager playing in this tournament. These are his peers. To look that bad defensively is surprising.

Hence why I asked the question why put a player like this to play defense? Obviously he wants none of actually playing d, just wants to carry the puck up ice and make cute plays. You don't need a defenseman to do that all the time. Yes he is dynamic with the puck and good on the PP, but like I said you can run 4 forwards, even 5 on the PP. Calgary uses Johnny Gaudreau for zone entry and up high on the PP. I see more NHL teams doing that.

First time I actually watched Dahlin play, not just watched highlights, I realized yea this kid can play D. This was my first time watching Q Hughes, before this I've only seen highlights and heard the hype. He should play forward instead, or gain some weight and toughen up and actually play defense as well.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I guess you must be a big fan of his to get offended by my commentary. This is a world where people look at things from different eyes and mind sets so I don't feel like my opinion of watching the kid play was in the wrong.

Not being able to adapt period to period when the same thing you keep trying isn't working is an IQ issue. How can it not be? And yes, he did look like a mite playing defense for the first time.



Problem is in a 60 minute game, for the kid to get beat off the puck in his own zone every time it is hard to say yea this kid can play D. If it was only a few times and he made a good second effort I wouldn't be thinking as critically. He is not an under ager playing in this tournament. These are his peers. To look that bad defensively is surprising.

Hence why I asked the question why put a player like this to play defense? Obviously he wants none of actually playing d, just wants to carry the puck up ice and make cute plays. You don't need a defenseman to do that all the time. Yes he is dynamic with the puck and good on the PP, but like I said you can run 4 forwards, even 5 on the PP. Calgary uses Johnny Gaudreau for zone entry and up high on the PP. I see more NHL teams doing that.

First time I actually watched Dahlin play, not just watched highlights, I realized yea this kid can play D. This was my first time watching Q Hughes, before this I've only seen highlights and heard the hype. He should play forward instead, or gain some weight and toughen up and actually play defense as well.

.....all this based on one game.

 

[NewHampshire]

Why do so many people get so agitated by offensive defenseman who aren't elite at defending - and instead are elite at getting the puck and moving it up ice? It's not just Hughes, it's Gildon, it's Walsh and SO many others...

Personally, I love the guys who collect and move pucks so well they EXTREMELY LIMIT the amount of time a team even has to worry about defending...

When the time comes to defend these guys are all fine - if not elite - and there are four other players and a goalie on the ice. Their so-so to solid defense (based on the eyes of the interpreter) pales in comparison to their ability to tilt the ice and force so much play in the other end...

Give me that over a guy like Kemp, who's really good at chasing pucks in his own end all game long - all day every day...

 

[William H Bonney]

I guess you must be a big fan of his to get offended by my commentary. This is a world where people look at things from different eyes and mind sets so I don't feel like my opinion of watching the kid play was in the wrong.

Not being able to adapt period to period when the same thing you keep trying isn't working is an IQ issue. How can it not be? And yes, he did look like a mite playing defense for the first time.



Problem is in a 60 minute game, for the kid to get beat off the puck in his own zone every time it is hard to say yea this kid can play D. If it was only a few times and he made a good second effort I wouldn't be thinking as critically. He is not an under ager playing in this tournament. These are his peers. To look that bad defensively is surprising.

Hence why I asked the question why put a player like this to play defense? Obviously he wants none of actually playing d, just wants to carry the puck up ice and make cute plays. You don't need a defenseman to do that all the time. Yes he is dynamic with the puck and good on the PP, but like I said you can run 4 forwards, even 5 on the PP. Calgary uses Johnny Gaudreau for zone entry and up high on the PP. I see more NHL teams doing that.

First time I actually watched Dahlin play, not just watched highlights, I realized yea this kid can play D. This was my first time watching Q Hughes, before this I've only seen highlights and heard the hype. He should play forward instead, or gain some weight and toughen up and actually play defense as well.

One game. You watched one game and you're an expert. Hilarious.

 

[NTDP]

I think Quinn has under rated defensive skill sets. Of course we see his flare on offense but when players are that quick on their feet and have those edges it elevates their ability to be good shutdown guys 1 on 1, hard to beat wide, and get to pucks behind the net. He’s shown examples of that in the few Michigan games I’ve caught this year.

 

[William H Bonney]

Sounds like Jack Hughes is a full participant in this morning's skate. Hopefully he's ready to go tonight as it's a really important game. Need to beat Finland to avoid Canada/Russia in the QF.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Sounds like Jack Hughes is a full participant in this morning's skate. Hopefully he's ready to go tonight as it's a really important game. Need to beat Finland to avoid Canada/Russia in the QF.

Great news. Thank you

 

[William H Bonney]

So, Keyser hasn't locked up the starter's role.

Not a fan of Primeau getting another look before Knight, but with Hastings I'm not surprised. He coaches one of the oldest teams in the NCAA and hasn't coached a 17 year old in at least a decade.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

So, Keyser hasn't locked up the starter's role.

Not a fan of Primeau getting another look before Knight, but with Hastings I'm not surprised. He coaches one of the oldest teams in the NCAA and hasn't coached a 17 year old in at least a decade.

I think Knight being the #3 made it pretty obvious he wasn't getting a look in this tournament. Pretty rare to try and run through 3 goalies in a short tournament like this.

 

[William H Bonney]

I think Knight being the #3 made it pretty obvious he wasn't getting a look in this tournament. Pretty rare to try and run through 3 goalies in a short tournament like this.

Yeah, I didn't expect it to happen. Hopefully Primeau bounces back as he was extremely shaky against Kazakhstan.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

I like Primeau. I think he’ll play well. Certainly shaky in his first game, but I think (hopefully?....naively?) he’ll show up.