WJC: 2021 Team USA Roster Talk

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think people are starting to get a little too praiseworthy of our team. I see people with all these grandiose proclamations about how we'll now do the rest of the tournament or how good some of our players are.

We gotta keep in mind that Austria sucks, and we always destroy the Czech's. We still lost the only game we played against a real medal contender. If we lose against Sweden we could finish third in the group, which likely means facing Finland/Canada.

I thought that a lot of people didn't show us proper respect coming into the tournament, and they were praising other teams way too much, but this is still a hard tournament to predict. It's junior hockey. Players are inconsistent, results can be surprising. I still think we need to show some improvements. This team still can play better, and I don't think we should believe that we are so much better than everyone else. If we play our game, we should believe we can win the Gold, but we absolutely could still have a disappointing tournament. I wouldn't start the grandiose proclamations based off two games against relatively poor competition.

 

[SK94]

I think it is better that there is some positivity for once. Recent years it has been pretty frustrating and there has been a lot of negativity (Specially me including). Pointless to say that we always destroy Czech's. They played well against Russia and also in the first period today. Our guys just broke them. There was many reasons to be positive. Obviously Sweden game is really important and it shows where we really stand before medal round. Russia game was not that bad considering that most of our guys started their season in that game. It is good to see that they start to get going.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

I think people are starting to get a little too praiseworthy of our team. I see people with all these grandiose proclamations about how we'll now do the rest of the tournament or how good some of our players are.

We gotta keep in mind that Austria sucks, and we always destroy the Czech's. We still lost the only game we played against a real medal contender. If we lose against Sweden we could finish third in the group, which likely means facing Finland/Canada.

I thought that a lot of people didn't show us proper respect coming into the tournament, and they were praising other teams way too much, but this is still a hard tournament to predict. It's junior hockey. Players are inconsistent, results can be surprising. I still think we need to show some improvements. This team still can play better, and I don't think we should believe that we are so much better than everyone else. If we play our game, we should believe we can win the Gold, but we absolutely could still have a disappointing tournament. I wouldn't start the grandiose proclamations based off two games against relatively poor competition.

the first game also could've been them having to knock off the rust, they picked up their play from the 3rd period onward

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Is Faber now the 3rd best Dman on the team? He certainly would have to be top 4 , no?

Boldy continues to be consistent and good, in his slightly awkward, unflashy way. That goal that he had was out of character. I am coming around to seeing that he is very good in his board play, even though he looks like he still has to fill out. He will be interesting if he ever gets up to around 220 lbs. in a couple of years from now.

I love Beniers, and am very worried that those Black Hawk bastards are going to draft him.

There is a clear defined top 4 goup of D
Sanderson/York/Thrun/Faber with Ryan Johnson as the wild card

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

18 goals and zero conceded in two games. Not bad. I am also really happy that guys have stayed out of the penalty box. Caufield and Kaliyev also got their goals so many reasons to be excited.

I also need to mention that Matt Boldy is so underrated. Deserves more attention.

During the game I was thinking I hope Kaliyev picks up on the nuance of the game from players like Brink, Beniers, Boldy and some of the others.

It was clear he's reached this point due to his shot, size (relative to junior players) and his willingness to compete in hard spaces.

I think it was Brink's second goal where either Boldy or Beniers basically shot the puck at Brink's stick for a redirection.

In the third period Boldy presented himself in front in the same manner. Kaliyev, too his credit, scored but it doesn't seem like he was aware of the complete picture.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

It's funny, because I watch all the Gophers game and he was always under the radar for me. Not bad, but not noteworthy. That's why it's so hard to project how a player is going to do when he steps up in class.

Johnson hasn't been terrible, but not very good, either. I don't feel confident when he has the puck is under a heavy forecheck. Faber just seems to calmly make the right decision, even when chipping in on offense.

Not to stir the pot, ok maybe to stir it a little, but where would UM-D's Wyatt Kaiser fit in comparison to the four Gophers?

Is he likely to earn a spot on next year's team?

 

[Bonin21]

Not to stir the pot, ok maybe to stir it a little, but where would UM-D's Wyatt Kaiser fit in comparison to the four Gophers?

Is he likely to earn a spot on next year's team?

To answer your second question, yes.

To answer your first one, well, he could end up better than all four Gophers.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

the first game also could've been them having to knock off the rust, they picked up their play from the 3rd period onward

I liked the way the US team responded against Russia. Fought back well after crappy early play.

 

[ORRFForever]

Well... It's yours for the taking.

 

[ORRFForever]

Rooting for you. Hope you win in regulation.

 

[William H Bonney]

Hopefully the team comes out amped tomorrow night with 1st place up for grabs and Sweden on a back-to-back.

 

[Bonin21]

3 points = win group = play Slovakia
2 points = 2nd in group = play Germany
Anything else = 3rd in group = play loser of CAN/FIN

Unless I'm doing something wrong. And I think the benefit of winning the group is to likely avoid Canada until the championship game, right?

 

[ORRFForever]

3 points = win group = play Slovakia
2 points = 2nd in group = play Germany
Anything else = 3rd in group = play loser of CAN/FIN

Unless I'm doing something wrong. And I think the benefit of winning the group is to likely avoid Canada until the championship game, right?

Correct.

If you beat Sweden in regulation, and Canada beats Finland, you would not see Canada until the GMG.

If Canada loses to Finland, you could see Canada before the GMG.

 

[cleveland408]

I think people are starting to get a little too praiseworthy of our team. I see people with all these grandiose proclamations about how we'll now do the rest of the tournament or how good some of our players are.

We gotta keep in mind that Austria sucks, and we always destroy the Czech's. We still lost the only game we played against a real medal contender. If we lose against Sweden we could finish third in the group, which likely means facing Finland/Canada.

I thought that a lot of people didn't show us proper respect coming into the tournament, and they were praising other teams way too much, but this is still a hard tournament to predict. It's junior hockey. Players are inconsistent, results can be surprising. I still think we need to show some improvements. This team still can play better, and I don't think we should believe that we are so much better than everyone else. If we play our game, we should believe we can win the Gold, but we absolutely could still have a disappointing tournament. I wouldn't start the grandiose proclamations based off two games against relatively poor competition.

I feel like a lot of people treat the NCAA and it's players as some trash junior league not capable of preparing quality players. You're starting to see this change with more European and Canadian players choosing college but it still happens enough.

 

[William H Bonney]

 

[Rubi]

So I suppose Knight will be in net for the rest of the games unless he shits the bed against Sweden?

 

[Rubi]

I feel like a lot of people treat the NCAA and it's players as some trash junior league not capable of preparing quality players. You're starting to see this change with more European and Canadian players choosing college but it still happens enough.

Umm.. In the last NHL draft, in the first round 19 out 31 players were drafted out of the three Canadian Major Junior hockey leagues. Three out of 31 are US college players. Its not close.
The NCAA is great if you're not a top tier hockey player and you need more time to grow and develop.

 

[NewHampshire]

Umm.. In the last NHL draft, in the first round 19 out 31 players were drafted out of the three Canadian Major Junior hockey leagues. Three out of 31 are US college players. Its not close.
The NCAA is great if you're not a top tier hockey player and you need more time to grow and develop.

And the year before it was 10 headed to college and 13 CHL, its close...

The difference comes from cultural influence on development paths - most of the top US kids go to college, while many of the top Canadians play MJ...

 

[Rubi]

And the year before it was 10 headed to college and 13 CHL, its close...

The difference comes from cultural influence on development paths - most of the top US kids go to college, while many of the top Canadians play MJ...

Nine actually.. I believe you are counting Jack Hughes who played in the USHL but never played NCAA hockey.

 

[NewHampshire]

Nine actually.. I believe you are counting Jack Hughes who played in the USHL but never played NCAA hockey.

The NCAA was his planned path...

You are correct, age is a factor in the NCAA losing out on some top talent and in the CHL's gain - but that doesn't make the NCAA a worse development league OR a place that lacks elite talent.

The NCAA is full of kids (including a high number of Canadians who choose the college route) who could have easily played and excelled at the MJ level. Every year a handful of kids who can't get ice time in college, return to the CHL and produce at a significant level...

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Umm.. In the last NHL draft, in the first round 19 out 31 players were drafted out of the three Canadian Major Junior hockey leagues. Three out of 31 are US college players. Its not close.
The NCAA is great if you're not a top tier hockey player and you need more time to grow and develop.

Talk about cherry picking.

 

[Rubi]

Talk about cherry picking.

I didn't cherry pick. I just went to the last draft and counted the number of players. I figured the last draft was the most relevant. I had no idea how many players were drafted in previous years although I was pretty sure more came out of the CHL than went the NCAA route.

 

[SK94]

I didn't cherry pick. I just went to the last draft and counted the number of players. I figured the last draft was the most relevant. I had no idea how many players were drafted in previous years although I was pretty sure more came out of the CHL than went the NCAA route.

Pointless to compare. You should compare CHL and USHL. NCAA careers usually are coming after draft years...

 

[duckpuck]

Umm.. In the last NHL draft, in the first round 19 out 31 players were drafted out of the three Canadian Major Junior hockey leagues. Three out of 31 are US college players. Its not close.
The NCAA is great if you're not a top tier hockey player and you need more time to grow and develop.

Is Zegras not a top tier hockey player? What about Jake Sanderson, Spencer Knight, Cam York, and Matt Boldy?

Seems to me your painting with too broad a brush. Many of not most of the recent top tier US players have gone to college.

 

[MuckOG]

Is Zegras not a top tier hockey player? What about Jake Sanderson, Spencer Knight, Cam York, and Matt Boldy?

Seems to me your painting with too broad a brush. Many of not most of the recent top tier US players have gone to college.

Or Jack Eichel, Zach Werenski, Kyle Connor, Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar? They must be on that second tier then?