WJC: 2022 Team USA Roster Talk

[Pavel Buchnevich]

There's no way that is the best U20 goalie in America lol

There’s probably 2-3 better, but the top two guys weren’t able to play in this tournament and then they aren’t going to pick a goalie goalie who hasn’t yet started his U18 season.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

As I said I thought he would be in that sweet spot for this tournament.

He will be 20 in a couple months, so he has a few years on the competition, he played a season of NCAA against stronger older players and he has the size/frame/play style to take advantage of the smaller younger players this tournament usually sees

There's actually quite a bit of players who have experience playing against older/bigger competition in NCAA, SHL, Liiga, etc. There's even players who have gotten a handful of games in the NHL.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I thought that was a very good game for us, but we wilted late and I don’t trust our goaltending sitting back with a late lead. Can’t play like that again in the later rounds and expect to win.

Bordeleau has been our best player so far, and what’s scary is I don’t think he’s been at his best either. Can still get better. I feel like Samoskevich is so close to like a 4 point game, but is getting unlucky. Second line has been slightly underwhelming, but still doing enough. Need more from Hughes. He’s been good, but can still do more.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I would throw Hughes into that mix, but I think the Mazur/Bordeleau combo has been their best upfront, hard to pick just one of them though. Bordeleau is the small skill guy and Mazur is a pitbull out there, they compliment each other perfectly

Hey - let's not forget my boy Slaggert. While he doesn't have the offensive chops of his linemates, his game complements them making them a heckuva well rounded line.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I thought last night was Cooley's best game. The previous games it looked to me like was was pressing a bit - a cutesy pass here and a one-on-five there. Not that he played poorly by any stretch but last night he seemed more within the team play.

I think the biggest adjustment for Cooley will be learning that at the pro levels, you actually have great wingers, and you should use them. In the development leagues, he was almost always the best guy out there.

Reminds me a bit of Barzal in that regard. The best NHL distributors make their lines better.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Lol. I didn’t say GAA, I said he has the second best Save percentage. You know the difference, right?

A brief (hopefully) brain failure on my part.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

He isn't, but this is who was available to play. Very good team overall, but I'm not sure we can overcome a glaring weakness in goal against a Canada or Finland.

Strong defensive zone play - shot suppression, denying the slot, handling rebounds efficiently, keeping their forwards away from the crease, clean breakouts, etc. will be key. It's the type of game you have to play to win with suspect goaltending.

I think USA has the defense and team that can produce that game, but it's a huge challenge against the best opponents when you lack confidence in the guy in net.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Luke Hughes

USA has a strong team overall, but nobody else has been nearly as impressive as Hughes. He'd be right there with Drysdale, Power, Sanderson, Guhle, Nemec, etc. if they were playing in this tournament.

Edit: just looking at that list of names, and being reminded yet again what a slew of talent is missing.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

He isn't, but this is who was available to play. Very good team overall, but I'm not sure we can overcome a glaring weakness in goal against a Canada or Finland.

I was kind of wondering why the USA chose to play three junior goalies rather than any college guys.

But in looking at NCAA rosters most of the American starters were too old and a lot of the goalies in college hockey are now either European or Canadian.

In fact the two candidates to start for Nate Leaman's Providence team this season are a Swede and a Canadian.

I'd guess some of this had to do with the extra year of eligibility due to Covid and may eventually work its way out.

But the lack of USA goalie prospects is certainly a concern.

 

[ORRFForever]

But the lack of USA goalie prospects is certainly a concern.

LOL! I'd switch the U.S.'s goalie "concern" for the Canadian goalie "concern" in a second. You have plenty.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I was kind of wondering why the USA chose to play three junior goalies rather than any college guys.

But in looking at NCAA rosters most of the American starters were too old and a lot of the goalies in college hockey are now either European or Canadian.

In fact the two candidates to start for Nate Leaman's Providence team this season are a Swede and a Canadian.

I'd guess some of this had to do with the extra year of eligibility due to Covid and may eventually work its way out.

But the lack of USA goalie prospects is certainly a concern.

Commesso not playing really through a monkey wrench into things for this particular tournament. Not sure if there is a need for long-term concern or not.

 

[NewHampshire]

Should I be disappointed that Muszelik, who is heading to New Hampshire, didn't get a chance in this tournament (at least he's big and steady) OR disappointed that Muszelik, who didn't even get a chance in this tournament, is heading to New Hampshire...?

 

[USHLObserver]

I don’t agree with the assessment of many people on Mbereko. As the name suggests, I see a lot of USHL - I probably only missed two or three (mainly on TV) of his starts last year - at the most. He got stronger throughout the year and posted a 12-4-1 record to end the season before a strange playoff format saw the team play 5 games in 6 nights - and fall late in the third/OT in the deciding game. In some of those games, he was the reason for the win. In others, the numbers were average. But he won. As he is now. 3-0-0 at the WJC in what’s been a surprisingly competitive field top to bottom this year. Growing up in the days of the Oilers, I remember people saying - Grant Fuhr was a winner - he made all the big saves when he needs to. I see that out of Mberevo over the last year (and the year before with the NTDP - I saw him less there but still several times).

The .898 USHL save percentage might not look impressive until you realize only two starting goalies (more than half the games played) in the USHL were over .900 last year. It’s a far more skilled league all around than many people realize.

I think Mbereko has a lot of potential. If anything, I’d sometimes would like to see him drop into the butterfly a bit quicker on some shots…but then you’re vulnerable high - the fact is, most butterfly goalies are going to get beat more often five hole or top shelf - one or the other.

I’m totally confident in Mbereko going into the playoffs - a lot of goalies (Switzerland, Slovakia, Latvia, etc.) in this tournament played in the USHL. I’m happy to have Mbereko on our side - great personality too - upbeat and he has the right approach. A bit of criticism won’t get him down - I’m comfortable with him and the entire team TBH heading into the playoffs. The first round match is awful tough for a first place team, but get past that (which I think they will), and I’ll take our chances against anyone left. USA vs Canada looks like the final to me - those two teams are at the highest level so far, with Sweden a bit behind. And I’m not going to be shocked if Latvia wins - or comes very close - in their quarterfinal game. Another team I know well with a lot of USHLers - I figured they’d advance to the medal round, they’re big, physical, can disrupt - they’re a team nobody wants to play.

 

[ndmd99]

Hey - let's not forget my boy Slaggert. While he doesn't have the offensive chops of his linemates, his game complements them making them a heckuva well rounded line.

+1 for Slaggs.

He's right in the middle of the scoring leader logjam, but he isn't getting any PP time.

Best 200 ft forward on the team. Leads forwards with +6. When he is on the ice, good things happen.

But he'll always be underappreciated because his game doesn't have the highlight reel snipes and dangles.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Should I be disappointed that Muszelik, who is heading to New Hampshire, didn't get a chance in this tournament (at least he's big and steady) OR disappointed that Muszelik, who didn't even get a chance in this tournament, is heading to New Hampshire...?

Somewhere in between. There's a reason he was the back up in his age group to Silverstein, and then they promoted a 2005, Trey Augustine, to the 18's when Silverstein got injured with Augustine assuming the starting role over Muszelik. Muszelik is not terrible, but I wouldn't expect any more than he makes it in his 19 year old year as a back up, and I don't think thats a guarantee either.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

+1 for Slaggs.

He's right in the middle of the scoring leader logjam, but he isn't getting any PP time.

Best 200 ft forward on the team. Leads forwards with +6. When he is on the ice, good things happen.

But he'll always be underappreciated because his game doesn't have the highlight reel snipes and dangles.

He's been good, but for some reason the coach seems to hide him from the top players on the other team. I was thinking he would be on a match up line but that's not how he's been deployed. Maybe in later rounds we will see more of that.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

He's been good, but for some reason the coach seems to hide him from the top players on the other team. I was thinking he would be on a match up line but that's not how he's been deployed. Maybe in later rounds we will see more of that.

From an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" perspective. But yeah, when I saw Slaggert made the team I thought he would be used on a checking line rather than in the top-6. When I saw James made the team and Nazur didn't I thought there might be too many "checkers" and not enough skill ... but the mix the coaches put together is doing very well - so what do I know?

 

[rocketdan9]

As a leaf fan really looking forward to watching matt Knies

looks like you folks may have got a steal here

has some nice tools/size/physicality to be a power winger

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

If Mbereko can work on his rebound control, I say the USA has their goaltending all set.

Although they will probably make their way up to the Finals, at least.

 

[UnkleKraker]

There’s probably 2-3 better, but the top two guys weren’t able to play in this tournament and then they aren’t going to pick a goalie goalie who hasn’t yet started his U18 season.

Haven't followed roster selection at all. Who were the top 2-3 and why were they unable to play?

TIA

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Haven't followed roster selection at all. Who were the top 2-3 and why were they unable to play?

TIA

Drew Commesso and Dylan Silverstein are two of them I would presume. Both were on the teams roster in December and Commesso was the clear starter.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Drew Commesso and Dylan Silverstein are two of them I would presume. Both were on the teams roster in December and Commesso was the clear starter.

Correct.

I also think Trey Augustine is probably better, but they weren't going to pick a 2005 born goalie for this tournament.

 

[AmericanDream]

I hate these late ass games. There should be no doubt here but Czechs can be sneaky tough.

Let's go boys!

 

[bsu]

Lets go

 

[AmericanDream]

They are in white...love those sweaters!!!