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WC: 2019 US Roster Discussion

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In my opinion Hughes looked tired today. His skating looked much slower than usually. Maybe it is right choice if he skip this tournament.
 
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William H Bonney said:
I certainly wish we had say John Gibson, but it's not like Schneider is incapable of backstopping this team to a gold. He was a top flight goalie for awhile, he's not geriatric, and he's played for a bad NHL team for a couple of years. The sub-90% in 8 AHL games doesn't really mean anything. It would be the same as me pointing out that he finished the year really well for the Devils and acting as if that's the guaranteed goalie we'll get.

The reality is you don't need an NHL superstar in net to win. Certain players will rise to the occasion and others will not for a variety of reasons. The game isn't the same as the NHL and lots of things can happen over a small sample of games. Take last tournament as an example. An NHL backup (Anders Nilsson) backstopped Sweden to gold, Adam Larsson looked like a competent defenseman, and another NHL backup (Keith Kinkaid) beat a pretty strong Team Canada twice on his way to winning a bronze medal. Cam Talbot backstopped Canada to a gold a couple years ago as well. Things happen.

This is shaping up to be the most talented team they've ever assembled for the tournament and with that talent they should compete for gold. But like any other team, a lot of pieces will have to come together for that to happen, including in goal. But while I'd rather have one of our Vezina caliber goalies, a guy like Vasilevskiy could just as easily play like he did in the first round of the NHL playoffs as well and be outplayed by many goalies in the tournament, including Schneider.
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I don't agree that Schneider's strong finish is insignificant. You certainly wouldn't want a #1 goalie who has been in a slump. At the same time, a poor showing in 8 AHL starts isn't a "nothing" sample size. If he's struggling in slower-paced games that is a bad sign because there are teams like Latvia who focus on slowing everything down.

Nilsson had already dominated at the WC and in the KHL when selected in '18. In other words a pretty good NHL goalie but a marvelous GK on large ice. Vasilevskiy and Sorokin are bigly accomplished in Europe. You can't say the same for any of the Team USA goaltenders.

If the United States wins this tournament it will be because the team overcame a 2-deep deficiency in goal compared to other top contenders. No getting around that. Schneider could overachieve and look great, but the odds are against him.

And sure, Vasilevskiy could come out on May 10th and fail to stop all 4 or 5 of Norway's total shots on net. Russia would still cover the spread though.
 
SK94 said:
In my opinion Hughes looked tired today. His skating looked much slower than usually. Maybe it is right choice if he skip this tournament.
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Agree too much for him at this point. I get pushing the youth but for a kid his age its too much.
 
Nexon said:
So it’s quite clear with forwards, assuming Matthews joining, there will be 1 place for either Hughes or Stastny. Only possible 2nd round addition I can see would be Atkinson.

Defence is more complicated, hopefully Carlson arrives, but I’m rather sceptical about him, I think won’t be able to add 3 RHD, I’m guessing there will still be one more LHD defenceman at least. Possible addition along with Atkinson might be Seth Jones, he is right handed, that’s plus.
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What other RHD are available? There don't seem to be many out there that want to play.
 
SK94 said:
DeBrincat-Matthews-Kane
Gaudreau-Larkin-Keller
JvR-Eichel-Kreider
Vatrano-Ryan-White
Glendening
Hughes

If Stastny is coming then i think Larkin is going to play as a winger.

DeBrincat-Matthews-Kane
Gaudreau-Eichel-Keller
Larkin-Stastny-Kreider
JvR-Ryan-White
Vatrano
Glendening

Suter-Carlson
Hanifin-Niskanen
Shmidt-Martinez
Hughes-Skjei

I think Jensen is more realistic option but i really hope Carlson is coming and bring Niskanen with him.

Suter-Carlson
Hanifin-Martinez
Hughes-Jensen
Merrill-Skjei

Goalies are set but i think Bishop should be priority if Blues beat Dallas. Then you can add Bishop and leave Primeau home.
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Bishop will not play at this point in his career and age why?
 
AmericanDream said:
I get the lines and what you are trying to do, but if Matthews come he is getting top line minutes. I am sure he would make sure his role is that just like Kane got the C. I also think it is likely between Stastny and Matthews since Ryan was added to likely play 4th line center..a role he is great at. If Matthews comes, he is in the top 6 with Larkin dropping to third line..if Stastny comes then Paul likely plays 3C..just the way I think it would go down at this point.
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I doubt it, Larkin will likely wear an A and be the matchup forward regardless. He was a monster this year and routinely was the best player on ice each night and the Team USA coach was his coach with the front seat for it. I get that he would be your third line center, but I would be pretty surprised if Larkin is demoted by Blashill in a massive way. He is going to play him a ton at this tournament in my opinion as he has each year he was coach.

I would like to entertain kind of like the World Cup of Hockey North American team loading a line. Put Johnny Hockey -Eichel - Matthews on a line, good luck stopping those guys. You could keep Stastny down the middle in that event.

Larkin does work very well with Kreider though if you want a fast grinding checking line.
 
The Zetterberg Era said:
I doubt it, Larkin will likely wear an A and be the matchup forward regardless. He was a monster this year and routinely was the best player on ice each night and the Team USA coach was his coach with the front seat for it. I get that he would be your third line center, but I would be pretty surprised if Larkin is demoted by Blashill in a massive way. He is going to play him a ton at this tournament in my opinion as he has each year he was coach.

I would like to entertain kind of like the World Cup of Hockey North American team loading a line. Put Johnny Hockey -Eichel - Matthews on a line, good luck stopping those guys. You could keep Stastny down the middle in that event.

Larkin does work very well with Kreider though if you want a fast grinding checking line.
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if you have the centers as Matthews, Eichel and Larkin, Larkin isn't getting demoted, it is the reality...he would be the third best center here. yes, I get that he does a lot away from the puck that Matthews lacks and even Eichel, but Larkin would be our 3C here and rightfully so. he would play that role better than anyone else as is, and his wing-mates could be Kreider and Vatrano/JVR which would fun as hell to watch. not a slight at all to Larkin, he likely wears an A here and I love the guy.
 
AmericanDream said:
if you have the centers as Matthews, Eichel and Larkin, Larkin isn't getting demoted, it is the reality...he would be the third best center here. yes, I get that he does a lot away from the puck that Matthews lacks and even Eichel, but Larkin would be our 3C here and rightfully so. he would play that role better than anyone else as is, and his wing-mates could be Kreider and Vatrano/JVR which would fun as hell to watch. not a slight at all to Larkin, he likely wears an A here and I love the guy.
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I think he doesn't really play a #3 role because of being the matchup center. Blashill loves using him on the other team's best offensive player which cranks his minutes up. You can call him a third liner, but if he plays 20 minutes was he really? We will see, I don't really see him bouncing out to the wing, though he is quite close with Eichel, perhaps he could ask Blash to be his Winger in the tournament.

I am just so pumped we are starting to see this kind of momentum for USA Hockey at this event. I applaud this generation, I really love that they are starting to prioritize going to this tournament when they can.
 
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Planet Hockey said:
I don't agree that Schneider's strong finish is insignificant. You certainly wouldn't want a #1 goalie who has been in a slump. At the same time, a poor showing in 8 AHL starts isn't a "nothing" sample size. If he's struggling in slower-paced games that is a bad sign because there are teams like Latvia who focus on slowing everything down.

Nilsson had already dominated at the WC and in the KHL when selected in '18. In other words a pretty good NHL goalie but a marvelous GK on large ice. Vasilevskiy and Sorokin are bigly accomplished in Europe. You can't say the same for any of the Team USA goaltenders.

If the United States wins this tournament it will be because the team overcame a 2-deep deficiency in goal compared to other top contenders. No getting around that. Schneider could overachieve and look great, but the odds are against him.

And sure, Vasilevskiy could come out on May 10th and fail to stop all 4 or 5 of Norway's total shots on net. Russia would still cover the spread though.
Click to expand...
I just am not sure what you are saying here.

Schneider struggled horribly for much of this season, but his last 17 games to end the year he gave up 41 goals total..that is right at 2.5 gaa...that is a solid stretch of hockey and exactly why he is here.

Outside of Vasilevsky, none of those goalies can hold a candle to what Schneider has accomplished in this game. A lot of that was 2-6 years ago, but he is a goalie that if hot can ride a wave to the medal round. this team will not need him to stand on his head, just make the saves he needs to make. If the US wins this tournament it is because they are just the most skilled team from top to bottom which they are looking like they can be once the final names are announced.
 
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The Zetterberg Era said:
I think he doesn't really play a #3 role because of being the matchup center. Blashill loves using him on the other team's best offensive player which cranks his minutes up. You can call him a third liner, but if he plays 20 minutes was he really? We will see, I don't really see him bouncing out to the wing, though he is quite close with Eichel, perhaps he could ask Blash to be his Winger in the tournament.

I am just so pumped we are starting to see this kind of momentum for USA Hockey at this event. I applaud this generation, I really love that they are starting to prioritize going to this tournament when they can.
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absolutely agree, for once we will have many options here..Blashill has to be dreaming right now thinking of combos lol..

as to why these guys are coming, I think it comes down to two names- Kane and Larkin. when you have "big" name players that give a shit and show up, it leads by example and the rest will follow. who doesn't want to play with Kane?? who would love that chance to play with Kane and Larkin and represent their country??

if Kane wasn't here, would Gaudreau have come again?? would Atkinson have shown up last year as well?? I don't know, but as long as our best player shows up we will draw others. Brock Nelson and Larkin were the top two names coming for a while, now others are stepping up and giving a shit once again..

return players from last year so far..

Kane
Larkin
Martinez
Hughes
Kreider
Gaudreau
White
Ryan
DeBrincat

that is what I want to see more of, not random players year to year but a solid base of guys that are showing up repeatedly, that is how we build success here. so f***ing pumped as well!
 
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AmericanDream said:
absolutely agree, for once we will have many options here..Blashill has to be dreaming right now thinking of combos lol..

as to why these guys are coming, I think it comes down to two names- Kane and Larkin. when you have "big" name players that give a **** and show up, it leads by example and the rest will follow. who doesn't want to play with Kane?? who would love that chance to play with Kane and Larkin and represent their country??

if Kane wasn't here, would Gaudreau have come again?? would Atkinson have shown up last year as well?? I don't know, but as long as our best player shows up we will draw others. Brock Nelson and Larkin were the top two names coming for a while, now others are stepping up and giving a **** once again..

return players from last year so far..

Kane
Larkin
Martinez
Hughes
Kreider
Gaudreau
White
Ryan
DeBrincat

that is what I want to see more of, not random players year to year but a solid base of guys that are showing up repeatedly, that is how we build success here. so ****ing pumped as well!
Click to expand...

I hope at some point Larkin cannot go because the Wings are busy. But I do love how much he likes playing for Team USA and the way he put together the charity game for JJ's family last year. He is a pretty easy future Captain to root for.

I agree Kane coming has changed the complexion and good on him for his involvement. Love seeing Suter come this year also, that one was really the most surprising for me.
 
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AmericanDream said:
I just am not sure what you are saying here.

Schneider struggled horribly for much of this season, but his last 17 games to end the year he gave up 41 goals total..that is right at 2.5 gaa...that is a solid stretch of hockey and exactly why he is here.

Outside of Vasilevsky, none of those goalies can hold a candle to what Schneider has accomplished in this game. A lot of that was 2-6 years ago, but he is a goalie that if hot can ride a wave to the medal round. this team will not need him to stand on his head, just make the saves he needs to make. If the US wins this tournament it is because they are just the most skilled team from top to bottom which they are looking like they can be once the final names are announced.
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I'll try to type slower so that I'm more understandable.

"This game" is not the NHL. It is the World Championship, still played on Olympic-style ice for the time being. Schneider has accomplished diddly-squat in "this game." He is a totally unknown commodity on big ice. As far as his NHL credentials go, he was sent to the minor leagues in 2018-19. You can yell, spit, curse, and wipe his game log with Windex and that fact still stands. His backups are Team USA specials - greenhorns sent to "have a growth experience" and audition for an Olympic appearance that will probably never happen. Translated out of USA Hockey PR tripe they're just 2 goalies for whom NHL GMs decided they were OK with an injury risk. The United States is going into the WC with 1 "bubble" NHL goalie and a couple of rookie/NCAA types.

Canada has an elite goaltender headed into his prime. Russia has an elite NHL goaltender and an elite KHL backup. Sweden has a veteran NHL starter who has been otherworldly at the WC, and a 29 y/o backup who is a #1 in the NHL and has dozens of games worth of WC experience.

All of those countries are stronger at the GK position than the United States. More talent, more youth, more international experience by a factor of 100-0. Goaltending is quite important in hockey, therefore this must factor in to any analysis of the teams. Sorry if I'm still going over your head with anything.

Russia has legendary players fighting for 3rd and 4th line slots in '19. I'm not going to hold my breath to see what kind of Yankee roster is "more skilled" than that. Team USA definitely has a chance to beat Russia if their one serviceable goalie plays exceptionally well - but it'll be with a grinding athletic effort not superior skill.
 
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