If Kaliyev and Robertson aren't locks... I dont know what to think; and /or I'd like to see who is the better options.Way too early, but it's nice to see a bunch of non-locks for the team with really strong starts:
Kaliyev and Robertson aren't locks, but with their performances at the WJSS and to start the season, it'd be tough to imagine them not there.
- Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton) - 24 points in 11 games
- Nic Robertson (Peterborough) - 20 points in 11 games
- Alec Regula (London) - 10 points in 6 games
- Zac Jones (UMASS) - 5 points in 3 games
- Parker Ford (Providence) - 5 points in 3 games
- Bobby Brink (Denver) - 4 points in 5 games
- Jordan Harris (Northeastern) - 3 points in 3 games
- Robert Mastrosimone (BU) - 3 points in 2 games
- Shane Pinto (North Dakota) - 3 points in 3 games
- Ryan Johnson (Minnesota) looks really strong for Minnesota already
Also really important that Regula's had a strong start after missing the WJSS with injury. With Wilde's poor WJSS, and current injury, it's critical that an RHD steps up to likely join Emberson on the team and Regula is the best candidate for that.
Two guys not really in contention that will be if they keep it up:
- Patrick Moynihan (Providence) - 4 points in 3 games
- Owen Lindmark (Wisconsin) - 5 points in 3 games
If Kaliyev and Robertson aren't locks... I dont know what to think; and /or I'd like to see who is the better options.
Watched them both in the Pete's home opener. Kalieyev just finds ways to score goals, in a NHL way (I will say that the play needs to flow through his style, in order for him to succeed - that's what I gathered in uber minimal viewing)
and Robertson is like a pitbull on puck pursuit.
Pretty cool to see Cole Bardreau get his first NHL goal on a penalty shot. His line (Pietila - Bardreau - Hartman) was elite for the 2013 WJC gold medal winning team. USAH almost always forces a grind line, and it doesn't always work, but if it does, you hope they perform like Bardreau's line did. He's battled a ton of injuries, including a broken neck not long after the WJC, but not surprised to see him eventually grind his way to the NHL.
Way too early, but it's nice to see a bunch of non-locks for the team with really strong starts:
Kaliyev and Robertson aren't locks, but with their performances at the WJSS and to start the season, it'd be tough to imagine them not there.
- Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton) - 24 points in 11 games
- Nic Robertson (Peterborough) - 20 points in 11 games
- Alec Regula (London) - 10 points in 6 games
- Zac Jones (UMASS) - 5 points in 3 games
- Parker Ford (Providence) - 5 points in 3 games
- Bobby Brink (Denver) - 4 points in 5 games
- Jordan Harris (Northeastern) - 3 points in 3 games
- Robert Mastrosimone (BU) - 3 points in 2 games
- Shane Pinto (North Dakota) - 3 points in 3 games
- Ryan Johnson (Minnesota) looks really strong for Minnesota already
Also really important that Regula's had a strong start after missing the WJSS with injury. With Wilde's poor WJSS, and current injury, it's critical that an RHD steps up to likely join Emberson on the team and Regula is the best candidate for that.
Two guys not really in contention that will be if they keep it up:
- Patrick Moynihan (Providence) - 4 points in 3 games
- Owen Lindmark (Wisconsin) - 5 points in 3 games
Wahlstrom has been returned to Bridgeport.
To me easily the favourites going into the tournament this year.
Nice as a Ducks fan to see Janicke on there. What do you believe his upside is?Enough of the season has passed to reassess the team.
Forwards: Turcotte, Zegras, Caufield, Wahlstrom, Kaliyev, Robertson, Beecher, Drury and Janicke are all safely on the team.
I think the way the season is going will make Brink very likely. Pivonka is a bubble player, but holding his stock well enough to probably make the team. Farabee will be there, if he’s sent down. Boldy might be entering Wahlstrom territory from last year with cutting it close from previously being pretty close to a lock, but I think he’ll make the team.
McLaughlin and Wise have played themselves off the team for now, in my opinion. If we need two extra players, Ford and Hall are the next two up.
Defense: Samuelsson, Miller, Emberson, Jones, York and Johnson are all safely on the team.
I think the defense is much easier to pick. If Wilde gets fit in time and is playing well, he’s on the team. If not, Regula makes it. Some might suggest Harris as an alternative, but I don’t see him as better than Regula, and we need more than one right shot. I think if a 9th defender should have a chance to make the team, Skinner is a better option.
Goalies: Knight and Wolf are safely on the team.
Third goalie won’t play. Saville should be third. I wouldn’t be surprised if DeRidder makes it instead, but it doesn’t matter much.
With Farabee
Farabee-Turcotte-Caufield
Robertson-Zegras-Wahlstrom
Kaliyev-Drury-Boldy
Beecher-Pivonka-Janicke
Brink
Without Farabee
Boldy-Turcotte-Caufield
Robertson-Zegras-Wahlstrom
Kaliyev-Drury-Brink
Beecher-Pivonka-Janicke
Ford
Defense
Samuelsson-Emberson
Miller-Jones
York-Wilde/Regula
Johnson
Goalies
Knight
Wolf
Saville/DeRidder
Do you not think you are? If you think I am wrong then tell me why don't just jump to generalizations. I think the American's have the best roster on paper. You have a problem with this...for some reason, whatever deal with it.It is funny how Canadians always try to make us favourites.
Nice as a Ducks fan to see Janicke on there. What do you believe his upside is?
Do you not think you are? If you think I am wrong then tell me why don't just jump to generalizations. I think the American's have the best roster on paper. You have a problem with this...for some reason, whatever deal with it.
Sure if you ignore the actual talent I guess. You don't have to be afraid of being the favourite lol I wasn't trying to insult you by saying it....We are just challengers like always. I would love to say we are biggest favourites but its not true. Canada is like always.
I agree, US has a lot of talent on paper but nearly the entire Forward crop are underagers (aside from Wahlstrom and Drury - assuming Farabee unavailable) and in a tournament setting obviously anything can happen. The core of this generational team of NTDPers couldn't even lock up gold at the U18s last year.Canada doesnt have too many 19s and with the generational crop of USNDP hitting the tourney this year I think it makes sense to have them as favorites.
I mostly agree. The two things I disagree about are Farabee and Wilde.
I’m not saying Farabee definitely will be available, but I wouldn’t rule it out so quickly. He’s playing the 9th most among Flyer forwards and they still have Patrick to come back from injury. I don’t know how the Flyers can justify letting a 19 year old play 4th line minutes in the NHL over AHL and playing a big WJC role.
I know Wilde isn’t a big favorite of USAH, but if he gets fit, I can’t see how he doesn’t make the team. We need RHD, we need PP types, and I disagree that he’s not a difference maker. I don’t think we are so talented on the backend that we can leave off top flight offensive talent. While I think our defense isn’t bad, I don’t know if we’ll have a top five defensemen at this tournament.
A first line like that could score a lot of goals, my goodnessI definitely root for Bode to make it. He would be much needed righty. Hopefully good couple weeks in AHL for him and then ready for WJC camp.
Robertson-Turcotte-Caufield
Kaliyev-Zegras-Wahlstrom
Gruden-Ford-Hall
Boldy-Pivonka-Janicke
Lindmark
Miller-York
Samuelsson-Wilde
Regula-Harris
Jones/Johnson/Emberson (RH)
Spencer Knight
Isaiah Saville
Dustin Wolf