AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
These early games are an absolute pain in the ass....so not used to this after all the times Canada/US has had this tournament
WJC: 2024 Team USA Roster Talk
- Thread starter William H Bonney
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Early thoughts.
- This tournament seriously needs Russia.
- Nations like Switzerland still can't challenge bigger nations in regular basis. It feels like their prospect pool has actually dried up a bit.
- This tournament should not be played in Europe if they can't fill the stands. It was crazy to see our team with that much talent and potential future NHL stars and there were no one in the stands. 2016 there was momentum in Finland but IIHF did not run with it. Sweden seems like a very weak choice. There is just not same feeling when occasionally this has been played in Europe. There is no junior hockey culture in Europe.
- This tournament seriously needs Russia.
- Nations like Switzerland still can't challenge bigger nations in regular basis. It feels like their prospect pool has actually dried up a bit.
- This tournament should not be played in Europe if they can't fill the stands. It was crazy to see our team with that much talent and potential future NHL stars and there were no one in the stands. 2016 there was momentum in Finland but IIHF did not run with it. Sweden seems like a very weak choice. There is just not same feeling when occasionally this has been played in Europe. There is no junior hockey culture in Europe.
Deep Blue Metallic
Bo knows hockey.
- Mar 5, 2021
- 5,548
- 7,005
Fun fact ... only the host team and Canada fills seats at this tourney.
Russia should definitely be in this tournament. Be fun to see US’s skilled team go against the 3 monsters in Simashev, But, Silayev and of course Michkov.
Deep Blue Metallic
Bo knows hockey.
- Mar 5, 2021
- 5,548
- 7,005
That matchup would be thrilling, but Russia is a pariah because reasons, so 18 and 19 year-old hockey players must suffer the consequences.
Jaykay
Registered User
The defense is a problem, I'm weirdly starting to trust Pohlkamp the most of any of these guys? Although Chesley and Hutson have been better today.
Hopefully that’s enough of a wake up call. Facing some type of adversity in the prelims is usually a good thing
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Has to bury one of those but he was their most dangerous forward the last 5 minutes and OT..... He tried to go five hole twice on the breakaways which was a smart move on such a big goalie..... see if the goals come in bunches in the critical games coming up
Agree. You don't need to like your opponents. You can still compete against them.
- Apr 27, 2005
- 36,317
- 36,385
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
The thing with Gauthier is that his game is fully dependent on his shot. His shot was not there today, he missed the net or hit the chest and pads every time.
This is exactly why we should have brought Hagens as another center option. I’d really like to see Gauthier moved to wing (maybe with Smith and Perreault or something). I guess we could rotate Moore in at C, McGroarty was pretty meh.
Gauthier's game isn't fully dependent on his shot - he has setup multiple scoring chances in the last game, with strong plays and passes and from the faceoff circle. He set-up a few today as well. Saying he's only a shot dependent center now (he's shot first, not shot dependent) is just applying the same narrative that follows him around. Teams have pigeon-holed him into that role because it's so good, but I've seen significant progress in the other areas of his game this tournament.
His shot is definitely off; but if you put him at wing, you emphasize that shot dependency even more. I think he still has some work to do evolving as a center - but it's clear the IQ and passing are there, but needs some refinement - almost seems like he's trying to avoid shooting too much.
Having another center option isn't really the solution, IMO. It's that the other two lines have players that have played together in their regular seasons and so the chemistry difference is evident. On top of that, you have an injured player in McGroarty who is just returning and contributing very little.
McGroarty has been a passenger for the whole tournament. I don't even know if I've heard his name called. That line is pure Gauthier and Snuggerud, with an anchor.
It's why it's a stupid decision to wait for injured players to jump into short term tournaments. By the time he finds his game and gets his timing, the tournament is over. And you certainly don't play them on the first line.
Last edited:
William H Bonney
Registered User
I think people are overreacting. It wasn't a great performance but it wasn't awful. It was an uneven game against a talented and very large Czechia team. Both teams were counterpunching well and Czechia made some key adjustments after they were dominated in the opening period to muck up the flow of the game. When USAH watches the tape back, they're going to rue how many quality chances they wasted, in particular guys like Gauthier and Snuggerud. I think the adversity is good for a team that hasn't lost yet and is playing in the weaker pool.
In general, the team needs to keep things simpler offensively. They're trying to be too cute and snipe everything top corner, so often killing offensive pressure as they're missing the net a lot. Get the puck on the net and use your speed to wear out the opposition.
Hutson was much improved today. Still not at the level he needs to be at but he looked more himself on the offensive end and was better (but not good enough) defensively.
I don't get the ragging on Chesley in this one. He wasn't good in the exhibitions but he's progressively gotten better each game and had a pretty good one today. I think people don't appreciate how much pressure he's under on a pair with Hutson, especially when Lane has been so poor in the tournament. When Hutson's riverboat gambling is working, it's terrific, but it hasn't been so far, and that continually puts Chesley in tough situations to cover for the pair.
Nazar was a constant threat again and has been our best forward. He needs more ice time.
McGroarty needs to be off the top line. He's the boat anchor. Try Howard, Moore, or Finley on that line as we saw working well in the exhibitions.
Staff needs to do a better job getting all the forward lines into the game. Overloaded the top line today which wasn't playing well and didn't get enough ice time to other lines to keep them engaged.
Pohlkamp needs to have a full-time role locked in by now. He's been so steady and while he's not vertically the biggest guy, he's the strongest and most physical defenseman on the team.
Let's end the Buium - Rinzel pairing. They were a trainwreck today individually and as a pairing. When Casey is back, Rinzel should be the extra defenseman even if Buium has been on the polar performance extremes. His upside on the ice is higher than Rinzel's.
Fowler was just okay. He hasn't done anything in his 2 games to steal the net from Augustine, who will remain the #1 unless he falters big time.
In general, the team needs to keep things simpler offensively. They're trying to be too cute and snipe everything top corner, so often killing offensive pressure as they're missing the net a lot. Get the puck on the net and use your speed to wear out the opposition.
Hutson was much improved today. Still not at the level he needs to be at but he looked more himself on the offensive end and was better (but not good enough) defensively.
I don't get the ragging on Chesley in this one. He wasn't good in the exhibitions but he's progressively gotten better each game and had a pretty good one today. I think people don't appreciate how much pressure he's under on a pair with Hutson, especially when Lane has been so poor in the tournament. When Hutson's riverboat gambling is working, it's terrific, but it hasn't been so far, and that continually puts Chesley in tough situations to cover for the pair.
Nazar was a constant threat again and has been our best forward. He needs more ice time.
McGroarty needs to be off the top line. He's the boat anchor. Try Howard, Moore, or Finley on that line as we saw working well in the exhibitions.
Staff needs to do a better job getting all the forward lines into the game. Overloaded the top line today which wasn't playing well and didn't get enough ice time to other lines to keep them engaged.
Pohlkamp needs to have a full-time role locked in by now. He's been so steady and while he's not vertically the biggest guy, he's the strongest and most physical defenseman on the team.
Let's end the Buium - Rinzel pairing. They were a trainwreck today individually and as a pairing. When Casey is back, Rinzel should be the extra defenseman even if Buium has been on the polar performance extremes. His upside on the ice is higher than Rinzel's.
Fowler was just okay. He hasn't done anything in his 2 games to steal the net from Augustine, who will remain the #1 unless he falters big time.
Last edited:
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Hard agree. I’d like to switch up the top-6 a little, the Nazar line is the only one really clicking.
Gauthier-Smith-Snuggerud
Perreault-Moore-Leonard
TLEH
Pronounced T-Lay
I think Nazar needs to be playing more as he and Brindley have been the best two forwards on the ice for USA and Nazar doesn't even play PP.
McGroarty isn't healthy and shouldn't be playing so many minutes, he does nothing. I'm not defending Moore, he hasn't been good enough this year, but those 3 together looked way better against Sweden and Canada than McGroarty has looked at all. Even put Nelson with them or something.
Rinzel and Buium were a train wreck defensively.
McGroarty isn't healthy and shouldn't be playing so many minutes, he does nothing. I'm not defending Moore, he hasn't been good enough this year, but those 3 together looked way better against Sweden and Canada than McGroarty has looked at all. Even put Nelson with them or something.
Rinzel and Buium were a train wreck defensively.
TLEH
Pronounced T-Lay
Has more to do with the fact that you are celebrating and uplifting a country, especially if they win. You could have them play, and play for a nothing country, but you can't have their national anthem be played and celebrate Russia if they win.
TLEH
Pronounced T-Lay
Think Pohlkamp needs to play more. Definitely missed Casey and I think Augustine has been better than Fowler.
Ad
Upcoming events
-
-
-
-
-
CHAMPIONSHIP - Canada vs United States - TD Garden, BostonWagers: 9Staked: $32,955.00Event closes- Updated: