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WJC: 2021 Team USA Roster Talk

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57special said:
If Brisson is left alone even briefly, and is fed the puck, he should score a couple of goals. He has a quick release and nice shot. Sort of a Caufield light.
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The few games I saw him play at UM I thought he was very aggressive offensively speaking - plenty of shots on net. I liked his game but it was only two games I saw.
 
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Zegras-Turcotte-Kaliyev
Boldy-Beniers-Caufield
Brisson-Farinacci-Brink
Berard-Slaggert-Moynihan
Extra : Colangelo

York-Thrun
Sanderson-Helleson
Kleven- Lacombe/Johnson
Extra :
Skinner + Faber

PP1
Boldy-Zegras-Caufield
York-Kaliyev

PP2
Beniers-Turcotte-Brink
Brisson-Sanderson

Think PP1 eats up most of the ice time with all of that firepower. All nifty players who can sling the puck around and have experience putting the puck in the back of the net. Plus 4 out of 5 being returners is scary for anyone on the opposing end. Not to mention (Boldy>Kaliyev) who wasn't even on the squad last year. Looks intimidating for sure.

PP2
More robust of a lineup, however, Beniers and Turcotte are more than just work hounds but are crafty players who have proven to contribute offensively while Brink is known for his playmaking abilities paired with Brisson who is capable of finding the seem or wiring the puck home. Sanderson should be a calming presence on the back end that acts as a distributor as well.

Let me know what you guys think.
 
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I have a few disagreements with your lines and PP units. Put Zegras and Caufield together. It's always been a good pair. I don't know why we are messing with it. I think the top six needs to be reworked to create an offense and defense line. We should have one line we can trust to play more matchups, although I'm not saying you are necessarily wrong on what we will see to start. I think we'll see Caufield with Beniers and Zegras/Turcotte. Also, my only other gripe with your lines is the defensive pairs. Johnson arguably should be on the second pair. If he's not, he's a lock on that third pair. No way am I giving Kleven a regular spot.

Turcotte should absolutely be on your first PP. That unit you've created doesn't have anyone to play net front, as well. We can't just throw the puck on net with no pressure on the goalie. And if we are saying Zegras can't play center and a draft-eligible guy needs to be a top six center instead, you are saying you can't trust him to do the extra duties of a center, which includes face-offs. We can't have a first PP unit without a reliably good face-off guy. Thats a good way to have a bad PP. Thats part of why I'd actually be very surprised if Turcotte is not on the first PP. He's probably the best FO guy on the team, and he always took face-offs on PP1 for the NTDP, even when Hughes was nominally the 1C. I think we see Turcotte/Beniers as the centers and net front guys on the PP, so probably you'll see those two on different units.

And Thrun is a better PP guy than Sanderson, so I'd also have that switch for the second unit.
 
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Thrun wasn't even on the PP the last time this age group played together. Ryan Johnson has been on Minnesota's top PP to start this year but I think they probably have better options. Lacombe is one of the most skilled defensemen on the squad but has gotten off to a slow start this year and wasn't too productive on the PP last year. No guarantee he's even a regular. Sanderson seems like the chalky pick. At least he gives you the threat of a shot if nothing else and Leaman didn't hold back with his praise of him.

Having Fensore would have been nice.
 
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FLYguy3911 said:
Thrun wasn't even on the PP the last time this age group played together. Ryan Johnson has been on Minnesota's top PP to start this year but I think they probably have better options. Lacombe is one of the most skilled defensemen on the squad but has gotten off to a slow start this year and wasn't too productive on the PP last year. No guarantee he's even a regular. Sanderson seems like the chalky pick. At least he gives you the threat of a shot if nothing else and Leaman didn't hold back with his praise of him.

Having Fensore would have been nice.
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Thats not true. I suspect you are referencing the 2019 WJC18. The second PP was Thrun, Fensore, Gildon, Brink, and Boldy. The second unit scored 3 goals at that tournament, and the same five players were on the ice. Look through the boxscores here, if you want. 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships - Wikipedia

Thrun had 21 points in his freshman season. Let's not underrate his offensive ability.
 
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Lacombe has been very good offensively for Minnesota in his few games with them this year, but just hasn't racked up the points. Ryan Johnson has been MN's top PP Dman? I've watched every game of theirs...nope. He gets some PP TOI, but by no means runs it. I would Lacombe over him any day to run, or at least be on, the PP.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
Thats not true. I suspect you are referencing the 2019 WJC18. The second PP was Thrun, Fensore, Gildon, Brink, and Boldy. The second unit scored 3 goals at that tournament, and the same five players were on the ice. Look through the boxscores here, if you want. 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships - Wikipedia
Thrun had 21 points in his freshman season. Let's not underrate his offensive ability.
Click to expand...
My mistake. He was the BUMPER on a 2nd unit that was flanked by Boldy and Brink with Fensore running the show up top. He wasn’t operating as a defenseman. I think they have enough forwards qualified to fill a netfront/bumper role. He's a decent prospect who had a good freshman year no doubt, but played on one of the highest scoring teams in the country who feasted on the ECAC. He was third among his own position group in scoring last year. And 13 secondary assists in 31 games is a massive number that likely can't be replicated. If he's their #2 option, I like this team's chances a lot less.

Sanderson comes with pedigree. The last time he played internationally he led the tournament in scoring. He has 3 points in his first 3 college games with a couple of them being loud ones. Let's not underrate his offensive ability.

57special said:
Lacombe has been very good offensively for Minnesota in his few games with them this year, but just hasn't racked up the points. Ryan Johnson has been MN's top PP Dman? I've watched every game of theirs...nope. He gets some PP TOI, but by no means runs it. I would Lacombe over him any day to run, or at least be on, the PP.
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I agree LaCombe is more talented that is why I was surprised when Johnson was on the "top" PP in the series against Michigan St which was the most recent game for the u20 guys. LaCombe was on a unit with Robbie Stucker. Is Stucker really a top unit guy for them? Koster seems more qualified for that. I never said Johnson ran the PP but he was on a 3F + 2D unit with Koster playing alongside Meyers who always seems like the best player for them any time I've watched so I assumed he was a top unit guy. Is he not? Minnesota is even deeper than I thought if he's not. :laugh:

Unless they are doing what Michigan is doing and rolling with two even units and riding the hot hand. The point distribution suggests that. LaCombe has 3 career PP points in 43 college games which doesn't match up to the eye test. If Sanderson isn't on one of the top 2 PPs, LaCombe would be my choice.
 
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Just wanted to say how nice it is to read through this Thread and see civil disagreements and acknowledgements when one is incorrect. The passion is still here but doesn’t get nasty.

As I say good night to you all:
3B896D16-5A60-4B53-9037-C67724EDF930.gif
 
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Lacombe is arguably the most talented of the MN Dmen, AND also the one who makes me the most nervous. There is a little bit of Brent Burns in him.

I don't know Thrun's game, but it seems to me that York should be the main PP Dman, augmented by a bunch of forwards. Sanderson can also be the mix, with Lacombe getting a sniff.
 
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Sens of Anarchy said:
Surprised there is still no leak on the lines they are thinking.
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There’s no official leak, but the speculation has been Zegras-Turcotte-Kaliyev as one line, Boldy-Beniers-Caufield as another, and most likely Brisson-Farinacci-Brink as the third line. Pairings are speculated to be York-Thrun as one pairing, Sanderson-Helleson as another, and then a bunch of mixing and matching after that. The speculation is Knight will start in goal and Wolf will back him up.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
There’s no official leak, but the speculation has been Zegras-Turcotte-Kaliyev as one line, Boldy-Beniers-Caufield as another, and most likely Brisson-Farinacci-Brink as the third line. Pairings are speculated to be York-Thrun as one pairing, Sanderson-Helleson as another, and then a bunch of mixing and matching after that. The speculation is Knight will start in goal and Wolf will back him up.
Click to expand...
US should be a tough out for any team. Top 2 lines , Strong deep D corps , and Spencer Knight
 
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