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WJC: 2024 Team USA Roster Talk

Pavel Buchnevich said:
Howard-Gauthier-Snuggerud
McGroarty-Hagens-Nazar
Perreault-Smith-Leonard
Moore-Nelson-Brindley
Finley-Terrance

Hutson-Rinzel
Buium-Chesley
Fortescue-Casey
Geary-Pohlkamp

Augustine
Fowler
Hillebrand
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Snuggerud that's a name you only find in Norway and the US. Definetly of norwegian heritage. Fun for him to face Norway in the first game, and nice to see a norwegian name in the US lineup.

Looks like a very good US lineup.
 
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Stramel has slid all the way down the Badgers depth chart and has been playing fourth line right wing in the team's last four games.

Guy has been playing 13 minutes a game for the past few weeks
makes perfect sense why he was left off
 
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Breakers said:
Stramel has slid all the way down the Badgers depth chart and has been playing fourth line right wing in the team's last four games.

Guy has been playing 13 minutes a game for the past few weeks
makes perfect sense why he was left off
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Yep, it's not surprising at all.
 
Wisconsin is awful for NHL prospects. Caufield is like the only one over the last 10 drafts that was very highly touted, went there, and his time there helped him become a very good NHL’er.

Stramel was stupid to not transfer after last year. Cant believe he bought into a coach that made his mark based off a team with 25 year old grinders selling him that he’d have a big role. And shame on the coach for giving up on the most highly touted player on his roster after a slow start to the season when he was playing through injuries.

Hensler is the next prime time recruit who is going there. Skahan recently de-committed, which is smart.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
Wisconsin is awful for NHL prospects. Caufield is like the only one over the last 10 drafts that was very highly touted, went there, and his time there helped him become a very good NHL’er.

Stramel was stupid to not transfer after last year. Cant believe he bought into a coach that made his mark based off a team with 25 year old grinders selling him that he’d have a big role. And shame on the coach for giving up on the most highly touted player on his roster after a slow start to the season when he was playing through injuries.

Hensler is the next prime time recruit who is going there. Skahan recently de-committed, which is smart.
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They made a coaching change but I see him going to UMN next season.
 
mphmiles said:
This forward group is so loaded I think no matter who they pick, even the 4th line guys will be able to provide some offense- however, I do think this idea that the 4th line needs to be some kind of sandpaper checking line (That we see a lot of years with US rosters) is dinosaur rhetoric.

This isn't the NHL where you can only fit so many skilled, talented offensive players under your cap. I remember in 2020 when Zegras was getting about 5 minutes of ice time per night and scored 9 points in the tournament. The people in charge do have a habit of overthinking things at times.

Do you need effective PK'ers? Absolutely. Do you need guys that compete in both ends? Absolutely. But we should be past the point the vast majority of years where we take guys that pretty much only provide that and not much else.
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Agreed which is why the players invited aren't sand paper plugs like some other years. The kids coming here for a 4th line role have skill and can score, my point was if we are relying on goals from the 4th line throw the freaking towel.

Pavel wants to get all worked up over this stuff so he can say if the US loses its because we didn't bring said players...he did this last year as well, only problem was some of the kids he didn't want were our best players in the tourney lol.

I believe we should focus on skill and let the rest sort itself out. Formulate a team that can skate fast and bond faster...leave plugs at home and ask some kids to change up their role a bit who are capable of being those 4th liners.

This team as is should win the damn gold. Without any names who didn't make the invite camp.
 
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Wisconsin went from UNRANKED to #1 in the Nation this season and we are criticizing a coach for that.
A team hasn't done that in 15 years


Hastings had to clean up a program that went 23-49 over the last two seasons
they are #1 defensive team in the nation

Nobody cares about Stramel's feelings about being put on the 4th line when they are 12-4
the best team in the Big10
they are 6-0 against Ohio State, Michigan, and Minnesota
 
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Breakers said:
Wisconsin went from UNRANKED to #1 in the Nation this season and we are criticizing a coach for that.
A team hasn't done that in 15 years


Hastings had to clean up a program that went 23-49 over the last two seasons
they are #1 defensive team in the nation

Nobody cares about Stramel's feelings about being put on the 4th line when they are 12-4
the best team in the Big10
they are 6-0 against Ohio State, Michigan, and Minnesota
Click to expand...

You beat me to the punch but was thinking the same thing. In one year Hastings has turned around a mess and we're supposed to rip him for that?

Sure the Mankato transfers have helped but the team's leading scorer is a 19-year-old and there are several first and second-year players making big impacts.

Stramel's got a smaller role not because of the coach but because the team has better players. Not sure how transferring to UMD (in a better league) is going to help the situation.

On the other hand, the success of the Mankato transfers might indicate that the CCHA and Big 10 are a lot closer than people think.
 
Breakers said:
Wisconsin went from UNRANKED to #1 in the Nation this season and we are criticizing a coach for that.
A team hasn't done that in 15 years


Hastings had to clean up a program that went 23-49 over the last two seasons
they are #1 defensive team in the nation

Nobody cares about Stramel's feelings about being put on the 4th line when they are 12-4
the best team in the Big10
they are 6-0 against Ohio State, Michigan, and Minnesota
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You are conflating issues.

I think people clearly do care about his place. The team that drafted him doesn’t want him on the fourth line. USAH fans don’t either.

If Wisconsin fans are happy with their team, congrats to them. This isn’t like a college hockey website though, so I think the majority of people here care more about Stramel’s spot than Wisconsin’s team.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
You are conflating issues.

I think people clearly do care about his place. The team that drafted him doesn’t want him on the fourth line. USAH fans don’t either.

If Wisconsin fans are happy with their team, congrats to them. This isn’t like a college hockey website though, so I think the majority of people here care more about Stramel’s spot than Wisconsin’s team.
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The problem is you’re looking at this situation with the assumption that Stramel is owed ice time because of his draft/prospect pedigree. Mike Hastings is one of the best coaches in the country. If he’s playing Stramel on the 4th line it’s because Stramel’s play hasn’t warranted anything more. I’d be a lot of money that if you were to ask a Wisconsin fan if they were upset with Stramel’s usage they’d probably say no
 
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MTU34 said:
The problem is you’re looking at this situation with the assumption that Stramel is owed ice time because of his draft/prospect pedigree. Mike Hastings is one of the best coaches in the country. If he’s playing Stramel on the 4th line it’s because Stramel’s play hasn’t warranted anything more. I’d be a lot of money that if you were to ask a Wisconsin fan if they were upset with Stramel’s usage they’d probably say no
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Pavel is just trying to make excuses for why his favorite players from recent drafts (Turcotte and Stramel) have failed to meet his unrealistic expectations.

As a reminder, he had Turcotte over Jack Hughes in 2019, and had Stramel on the same tier as Fantilli.
 
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MTU34 said:
The problem is you’re looking at this situation with the assumption that Stramel is owed ice time because of his draft/prospect pedigree. Mike Hastings is one of the best coaches in the country. If he’s playing Stramel on the 4th line it’s because Stramel’s play hasn’t warranted anything more. I’d be a lot of money that if you were to ask a Wisconsin fan if they were upset with Stramel’s usage they’d probably say no
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I have a hard time believing that looking at that roster that he’s not good enough to play higher in the lineup. I also think demoting a player to a lower line after you’ve kept them in the lineup battling an injury to little effectiveness takes someone who has little shame.

He’s good at coaching 25 year old super seniors. Credit to him for that. If Wisconsin fans are happy with their team, who am I to argue? I’m not a Wisconsin fan, and I am making no commentary on if their team is good. As a USAH fan, I don’t care if they are good, not good, doing well, not doing well. I’d rather see an American first round pick not playing fourth line when some future ECHL’ers are playing higher up. Not a lot to ask. Thats my only ask. Don’t completely tank someone’s chance to be successful that could play for our WJC team and be an NHL’er. I don’t care whether the team ends up 15-8 or 8-15.
 
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Oke not wanting to be on the World Junior team weirdly bothers me.

I’m faulting him for something that probably doesn’t help his progression, but there are a lot of players at this tournament who won’t play or will barely play that are there to buy into a team concept and to win for their country. Their own individual stats or progression aren’t the key. It’s also a few weeks and not sacrificing his season.

It’s no real loss to the team and probably a waste of time to discuss, but I don’t like it.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
I have a hard time believing that looking at that roster that he’s not good enough to play higher in the lineup. I also think demoting a player to a lower line after you’ve kept them in the lineup battling an injury to little effectiveness takes someone who has little shame.

He’s good at coaching 25 year old super seniors. Credit to him for that. If Wisconsin fans are happy with their team, who am I to argue? I’m not a Wisconsin fan, and I am making no commentary on if their team is good. As a USAH fan, I don’t care if they are good, not good, doing well, not doing well. I’d rather see an American first round pick not playing fourth line when some future ECHL’ers are playing higher up. Not a lot to ask. Thats my only ask. Don’t completely tank someone’s chance to be successful that could play for our WJC team and be an NHL’er. I don’t care whether the team ends up 15-8 or 8-15.
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it’s probably fair to say that injuries haven’t helped this year, but force feeding Stramel minutes because he was a 1st round pick A. Isn’t Hastings job B. Doesn’t actually help Stramel. He needs to play well. Full stop. 20 minutes of shitty hockey doesn’t help him develop any better than 13 minutes of shitty hockey does. And for all of your Hastings criticisms regarding how he’s only successful with “25 year old players” you have completely ignored the fact that the likes of Finley, Whitelaw, and Lucius have all found a ton of success for him this year. If Stramel was half as good as you think he is he’d be playing more. It’s really that simple
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
Oke not wanting to be on the World Junior team weirdly bothers me.

I’m faulting him for something that probably doesn’t help his progression, but there are a lot of players at this tournament who won’t play or will barely play that are there to buy into a team concept and to win for their country. Their own individual stats or progression aren’t the key. It’s also a few weeks and not sacrificing his season.

It’s no real loss to the team and probably a waste of time to discuss, but I don’t like it.
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Could be personal issues. Anxiety? Family? You have to remember they're just kids.
 
MTU34 said:
it’s probably fair to say that injuries haven’t helped this year, but force feeding Stramel minutes because he was a 1st round pick A. Isn’t Hastings job B. Doesn’t actually help Stramel. He needs to play well. Full stop. 20 minutes of shitty hockey doesn’t help him develop any better than 13 minutes of shitty hockey does. And for all of your Hastings criticisms regarding how he’s only successful with “25 year old players” you have completely ignored the fact that the likes of Finley, Whitelaw, and Lucius have all found a ton of success for him this year. If Stramel was half as good as you think he is he’d be playing more. It’s really that simple
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So then Minnesota has the worst scouting staff ever that they picked a player who can’t play top 9 for Wisconsin? Why weren’t those players picked higher? NHL GM’s dumb?

This is the same type of argument you’re making that if it was as you said the results of the draft would align as you suggest.

It’s not as simple as that. Decisions often aren’t the right one. We don’t have to bow down to the coach or a GM. We can form our own opinions.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
Oke not wanting to be on the World Junior team weirdly bothers me.

I’m faulting him for something that probably doesn’t help his progression, but there are a lot of players at this tournament who won’t play or will barely play that are there to buy into a team concept and to win for their country. Their own individual stats or progression aren’t the key. It’s also a few weeks and not sacrificing his season.

It’s no real loss to the team and probably a waste of time to discuss, but I don’t like it.
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Since he has no chance to pass Augustine and Fowler in camp, as a Saginaw fan I'm actually happy he passed...we're trying to build a team in Saginaw to not only win the Memorial Cup but to win the OHL outright. We've never been past the conference finals before (20+ year history) and Oke is a HUGE part of that run to a title. I compared the schedules and if he were to play in the World Juniors, he'd miss 9 games! While Lalonde is a solid backup, we need Oke playing 3 out of every 4 games if we want to climb the standings to catch Kitchener and stay ahead of London and the Soo. Any other year I'd love to see a Saginaw player go off and then get the recognition of playing for Team USA when he comes back but this year is different. I don't even want to lose Sapovaliv to Czechia, or Dionocio to Switzerland...I want to rack up wins and get home ice throughout the playoffs and having Oke sit as the 3rd goalie without getting any action is going to bring him back to Saginaw rusty and selfishly, I'd rather have him stay here and get a ton of games. I've been to the Red Wings training camp in Traverse City a few times and I see how much "action" the 3rd or 4th goalie gets...it's not much and they stand around until the starter decides they need a break. It's good for us fans who are there to see the #1 and #2 but you don't really see much of the other goalies.

Regardless, while I'd love to see Oke representing the Spirit in the red, white and blue, the team has 3 really good goalies and I hope the USA brings home the Gold!
 
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donjohnson said:
Since he has no chance to pass Augustine and Fowler in camp, as a Saginaw fan I'm actually happy he passed...we're trying to build a team in Saginaw to not only win the Memorial Cup but to win the OHL outright. We've never been past the conference finals before (20+ year history) and Oke is a HUGE part of that run to a title. I compared the schedules and if he were to play in the World Juniors, he'd miss 9 games! While Lalonde is a solid backup, we need Oke playing 3 out of every 4 games if we want to climb the standings to catch Kitchener and stay ahead of London and the Soo. Any other year I'd love to see a Saginaw player go off and then get the recognition of playing for Team USA when he comes back but this year is different. I don't even want to lose Sapovaliv to Czechia, or Dionocio to Switzerland...I want to rack up wins and get home ice throughout the playoffs and having Oke sit as the 3rd goalie without getting any action is going to bring him back to Saginaw rusty and selfishly, I'd rather have him stay here and get a ton of games. I've been to the Red Wings training camp in Traverse City a few times and I see how much "action" the 3rd or 4th goalie gets...it's not much and they stand around until the starter decides they need a break. It's good for us fans who are there to see the #1 and #2 but you don't really see much of the other goalies.

Regardless, while I'd love to see Oke representing the Spirit in the red, white and blue, the team has 3 really good goalies and I hope the USA brings home the Gold!
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I don't have a problem with him declining. I had an issue when Commesso declined, as the clear #1 guy, to play in the 2022 tournament to stay with BC, but this is far different.

I respect what I perceive to be the honesty from both sides on in Oke's case. I'm sure Oke and USAH were on the same page that he was clearly the #3 guy. Understandable to me that he wants to stay with his club and actually play games. He already has 2 WJC experiences, a WJC bronze medal, and given his somewhat limited playing experience, getting more games in as the guy is more important for him than it is for others. I'm sure he'll have some regret if the US wins gold but if he's not playing, it won't mean the same to him anyway.
 
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