WJC: 2022 Team USA Roster Talk

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Maybe I'm biased as a Michigan fan, but I feel like it's worth maintaining a Truscott/Hughes partnership that has worked well at the NCAA level this year. I think I'd have it

Sanderson - Faber
Kleven - Kaiser
Truscott - Hughes

 

[William H Bonney]

Disappointing on Perreault but that's the risk he took by waiting too long to make his move. I guess it's possible he still gets his passport situation worked out in time and Anaheim will only release him for the actual tournament if it's sorted out in time - that's fairly common with the AHL guys.

 

[William H Bonney]

Some of the omissions that may draw attention are Eamon Powell, Tristan Broz, and Tyler Boucher.

Powell has struggled this year and Faber and Hughes were already locks on the right side, and Morrow should be a lock too. His poor season combined with Morrow's meteoric start sealed his fate.

Broz is a bit of a swiss army knife but the team has plenty of those already and he's just been okay in his freshman year.

Boucher has been underwhelming to start his freshman campaign. The whole BU team has been a nightmare this year, which doesn't help. I get his omission as while he could contribute on the 4th line, his game isn't tailor made for IIHF hockey.

I'm shocked we didn't take a look at Braden Holt. He's played for Team USA before and he's putting up great stats with Everett. Granted, it's a small sample size on a stacked team where both goalies have insane stats, but I still would have brought him in over Mbereko who's not good, still in the USHL, and having a mediocre year at best, or Pavicich who hasn't even played this year for UMass.

 

[Dominance]

Some of the omissions that may draw attention are Eamon Powell, Tristan Broz, and Tyler Boucher.

Powell has struggled this year and Faber and Hughes were already locks on the right side, and Morrow should be a lock too. His poor season combined with Morrow's meteoric start sealed his fate.

Broz is a bit of a swiss army knife but the team has plenty of those already and he's just been okay in his freshman year.

Boucher has been underwhelming to start his freshman campaign. The whole BU team has been a nightmare this year, which doesn't help. I get his omission as while he could contribute on the 4th line, his game isn't tailor made for IIHF hockey.

I'm shocked we didn't take a look at Braden Holt. He's played for Team USA before and he's putting up great stats with Everett. Granted, it's a small sample size on a stacked team where both goalies have insane stats, but I still would have brought him in over Mbereko who's not good, still in the USHL, and having a mediocre year at best, or Pavicich who hasn't even played this year for UMass.

What’s your projected lineup now, may I ask?

 

[Herb Brooksie]

Some of the omissions that may draw attention are Eamon Powell, Tristan Broz, and Tyler Boucher.

Powell has struggled this year and Faber and Hughes were already locks on the right side, and Morrow should be a lock too. His poor season combined with Morrow's meteoric start sealed his fate.

Broz is a bit of a swiss army knife but the team has plenty of those already and he's just been okay in his freshman year.

Boucher has been underwhelming to start his freshman campaign. The whole BU team has been a nightmare this year, which doesn't help. I get his omission as while he could contribute on the 4th line, his game isn't tailor made for IIHF hockey.

I'm shocked we didn't take a look at Braden Holt. He's played for Team USA before and he's putting up great stats with Everett. Granted, it's a small sample size on a stacked team where both goalies have insane stats, but I still would have brought him in over Mbereko who's not good, still in the USHL, and having a mediocre year at best, or Pavicich who hasn't even played this year for UMass.

Does Hughes prefer the right side now? I thought I remember him saying that he is stronger on his left, but is fine playing on the right...

 

[Bonin21]

Broz is a bit of a swiss army knife but the team has plenty of those already and he's just been okay in his freshman year.

Broz has really not been that good lately. He was healthy scratched in one game last weekend. This is not a surprise for me.

 

[Jaykay]

Where the hell is Josh Doan??

 

[Jaykay]

Coronato-Beniers-Samoskevich
Knies-Bordeleau-Lucius
Pastujov-Smilanic-Mazur
Berard-Slaggert-Peterson
Dickinson

Sanderson-Hughes
Kaiser-Faber
Kleven-Morrow
Behrens

Commesso
After that who cares??

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

This roster isn't too bad. There's always a few names left off that shouldn't be. Boucher and Broz were bubble guys, and weak starts to the season always takes a few guys out of contention. Powell wouldn't have been on the bubble for me, but that BU team is causing us a lot of trouble this year. Boucher, Powell, Tuch, and Gallagher were all completely left off, and Commesso has also struggled. Peterson isn't having too bad of a year, but he's probably a bubble guy to make the final roster. It's understandable that playing for a team having a very disappointing season could have consequences for players in the selection of this team.

Perreault isn't a guy that I'm going to make too big of a deal about. He's been playing for Canada in the past. Not a guy we can count on. If he can be added later on, great. If not, we focus on the guys we expected to play for us. Doan is the one I really don't understand. He's had a great start to the season. I can't figure out that one.

With all due respect to Pavicich, I think the goalies picks itself. I can't see how a guy with one game above the NAHL level makes the team. The real battle seems to be for the back up spot. I didn't think Silverstein would even be picked, although I thought he should've, but we might see him play a game or two as the back up heading into next year. But maybe Mbereko will take the back up spot. We didn't get to see that battle between them for the starting spot on the U18's last season because Silverstein had a season ending injury before players were promoted.

I would say the defense locks are Sanderson, Kleven, Faber, Hughes, Morrow, and Kaiser. I think it's Behrens, Moore, and Truscott for the 7D spot. You could go with any of the options. They all bring something different. Behrens would probably be the best PP threat on the team. If you pick him, it's to QB one of the PP's. If the staff likes their options already for that, he shouldn't be picked. Moore adds another defensive defenseman. Right-shot. He's probably not going to hurt the team, if he has to play a regular shift, but I don't see him being any type of impact guy. Truscott a versatile player that can do some of everything. I think it's a tough choice. I'd probably go Behrens because I'm worried about our PP options, but I'm also concerned how he'd do if he needed to take a regular shift. Truscott would probably be the best alternative.

For me, the big winners among the forwards from this selection are Savage and Cooley. Savage can play on the fourth line or fill the 13F spot for this team. Gives us another option at center, good defensively, good on draws, kills penalties, and it'll give us another player that can be there next year. This is a predominantly 19 year old team, and there won't be many 18 or 17 year olds. Cooley has been very good, and given some of the names left off, I think he should be in the top 9. He's another that can return next year. I would think the last spot is probably between Dickinson, Mazur, and Peterson, unless Perreault is added later. If he is, there's no spot for them.

New team I've recalibrated since.

Samoskevich-Beniers-Coronato
Knies-Bordeleau-Smilanic
Pastujov-Cooley-Lucius
Berard-Slaggert-Savage
Dickinson

Sanderson-Hughes
Kleven-Faber
Kaiser-Morrow
Behrens

Commesso
Silverstein
Mbereko

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Does Michigan play any games during the WJC? Because if they do they’re going to be SHORTHANDED

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Does Hughes prefer the right side now? I thought I remember him saying that he is stronger on his left, but is fine playing on the right...

He's pretty good on both sides imo, but he's played a lot of the right side for Michigan this year. I fully expect him to play off the right given the make up of this blueline.

 

[Digital Dog]

Tucker Tynan is a very good goalie to be 5th choice and therefore not invited!

 

[William H Bonney]

Doan is interesting. I'm never all that impressed when I see him play but he always seems to be all over the box score. Stylistically though he's very much in the mold of players USAH often gravitates to for this tournament, so an interesting omission for sure.

 

[William H Bonney]

What’s your projected lineup now, may I ask?

With the caveat that I haven't been able to watch as much hockey this year as normal I'd probably go with something like this:

Forwards (x13):

Sasha Pastujov - Matty Beniers - Matt Coronato
Matthew Knies - Thomas Bordeleau - Mackie Samoskevich
Brett Berard - Tanner Dickinson - Ty Smilanic
Landon Slaggert - Logan Cooley - Red Savage
Chaz Lucius

Defense (x7):

Jake Sanderson - Brock Faber
Tyler Kleven - Scott Morrow
Wyatt Kaiser - Luke Hughes
Jacob Truscott

Goalies (x3):

Drew Commesso
Dylan Silverstein
Kaidan Mbereko​

 

[SK94]

Especially since Perreault and Tverberg weren't eligible, it is hard to understand the fact that Josh Doan isn't even at the camp. Only Beniers from this age group scored more points during the first half of the season in the NCAA. Also, the goalie decisions were absolutely amazing and NTDP bias is strong once again.

 

[DInTheB]

Does Michigan play any games during the WJC? Because if they do they’re going to be SHORTHANDED

Yep. They have a few games. Brisson might end up logging 30 minutes a night during those games

 

[Stewie Griffin]

With those invites announced, here's my final prediction before the actual roster is finalized:

Pastujov-Beniers-Coronato
Smilanic-Bordeleau-Samoskevich
Knies-Lucius-Berard
Dickinson-Cooley-Peterson/Mazur

Sanderson-Faber
Kleven-Hughes
Kaiser-Morrow
Behrens

Commesso
Pavicich

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Does anyone know anything about Pavicich? I think that’s the strangest selection for one of these camps I’ve ever seen from USAH. It doesn’t even appear that he’s played a hockey game this year. He also completely skipped over the USHL. Surely he can’t be better than some of the CHL goalies. Maybe he’s a hidden star that no one knows about. It just seems like such an odd selection though, especially considering they only picked four for a team that will have three. It’s not like he’s an E-BUG. If someone gets injured, he’s on the roster.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Does anyone know anything about Pavicich? I think that’s the strangest selection for one of these camps I’ve ever seen from USAH. It doesn’t even appear that he’s played a hockey game this year. He also completely skipped over the USHL. Surely he can’t be better than some of the CHL goalies. Maybe he’s a hidden star that no one knows about. It just seems like such an odd selection though, especially considering they only picked four for a team that will have three. It’s not like he’s an E-BUG. If someone gets injured, he’s on the roster.

USA Hockey galaxy brain thinking at its finest. What I find odd is with Vanbiesbrouck in charge you would think the CHL would get a little more consideration since that is where he matriculated from.

 

[Dominance]

USA Hockey galaxy brain thinking at its finest. What I find odd is with Vanbiesbrouck in charge you would think the CHL would get a little more consideration since that is where he matriculated from.

If not choosing Doan is “galaxy brain thinking,” how do you classify choices like Jack Finley and Justin Sourdif over Matt and Carter Savoie or Ronan Seeley over Brandt Clarke?

 

[Breakers]

Morrow has played the left side all year as a righty

 

[Rabid Ranger]

If not choosing Doan is “galaxy brain thinking,” how do you classify choices like Jack Finley and Justin Sourdif over Matt and Carter Savoie or Ronan Seeley over Brandt Clarke?

Hockey federations are prone to overthinking roster building from time time.

 

[montreal]

How does Dominic James make it over his linemate Blake Biondi ? I've seen most of UMD's games this year and Biondi has easily been the better player. He's got as many goals as James has points, leads UMD in goals and points. Not that it's a big deal as I wouldn't expect either of James or Biondi to make it but just seemed an odd choice.

 

[William H Bonney]

How does Dominic James make it over his linemate Blake Biondi ? I've seen most of UMD's games this year and Biondi has easily been the better player. He's got as many goals as James has points, leads UMD in goals and points. Not that it's a big deal as I wouldn't expect either of James or Biondi to make it but just seemed an odd choice.

I imagine it's because they don't see Biondi in a scoring role whereas they see James as a more versatile option to assess.

 

[montreal]

I imagine it's because they don't see Biondi in a scoring role whereas they see James as a more versatile option to assess.

that makes sense as Biondi doesn't play the PK. But still just picking James at all seems odd to me although they do form what has to be one of the best 3rd lines in the NCAA with Olson (boston), James and Biondi (Habs) but it's not like James has really stood out that much. Just surprised they couldn't find someone better, minor of course since I doubt he makes it.

I have brought up his name on the Habs board as he's doing what I had hoped that Jack Smith (Habs) would have done since he was supposed to be at UMD this year but it was pushed back to next year due to injuries and just terrible production. It's the last year of eligibility for James though at this point I wouldn't have thought he would get picked in the '22 draft.