WJC: 2025 Team USA Roster Talk

[AmericanDream]

Hope the kid scores a hatty today..we need all hands on deck. Perrault wake the f up too. Connelly stop the bullshit blind passes and play smarter.

 

[SK94]

Slukynsky in the net?

 

[wickedwitch]

Slukynsky in the net?

They had Fowler in net for the QF last year.

 

[AmericanDream]

I think they liked spotting in Eiserman in opportunistic shifts versus having a regular line. If Connelly continues to be a boat anchors though, Eiserman should take his spot.

Agreed. Use your players to their strengths. Right now that is Eiserman on the pp and rotating in. Some however feel he has played well by simply stat watching. Not the case which I know you get. Connelly has to step up or he should drop down to 13th. If he makes another blind cross ice pass bench him. No time left for that nonsense.

 

[William H Bonney]

Hope the kid scores a hatty today..we need all hands on deck. Perrault wake the f up too. Connelly stop the bullshit blind passes and play smarter.

If Perreault stops puck hogging the first line will make an impact

 

[Konk]

Perrault has struggled. People have been calling him out.

Connelly has struggled people have been calling him out.

Eiserman has struggled and people have been calling him out. Just because he is an Isles prospect doesn't mean some get to disregard his flaws.

"Much more impactful" is a massive stretch. His play outside of the power play has been pretty poor. Expected for a younger offensively skilled player. But please let's reel this in and take off the homer glasses.

I am a fan of the kid. I hope this sparks him and returns to a regular role where we will need him if we want to win gold.

Connelly - 3 points in 4 games

Perreault - 4 points in 4 games

Eiserman - 6 points in 4 games, including the PP goal in the most important game for Team USA so far, with limited minutes as the 13th forward where Perreault had 0 points.

You say his play has been poor outside of the power play, but I'd argue the opposite. His play on the powerplay has been poor up to the last game, in fact the goal (and assist on Hutson's first goal) against Canada were his first powerplay points in the tournament, and both teams only scored in the PP in that game (aside from the EN goal) so you can't just dismiss them as not important. That was a big goal in a critical moment.

The biggest negative for Eiserman in this tournament were those two stupid penalties and he was correctly demoted to the 13th forward spot as a result.

Fact of the matter is he's done more than the other two (with much less ice time than Perreault), whether that's "much more impactful" or simply "more impactful" is semantics.

 

[Lou Sassole]

Fun fact. Eiserman is currently 2nd on USA in points for the tournament. Tied with Hagens for 1st among forwards. Not bad for a “13th”forward.

I like that Carle sent a message to him after taking some penalties. But he’s proving that he produces even with less ice time than many of the other guys.

He’s an intense kid and needs to be a bit more disciplined during shifts but when he on he’s engaged physically at both ends and doesn’t quit on shifts. He plays fast.

I’d like him to pick his shots a little better on the PP but I’m certainly not gonna complain about him shooting because that’s a positive thing. Just have to get it through if he’s going to look to one time the puck that much.

His shot is absolutely ridiculous though when he uses his wrister and snap shots.

I’d like to see him and Nelson with a different winger other than Connelly. Maybe Ziemer?

The BC line has been underwhelming after the 1st game. I don’t think they will break that line up but if they did I would swap Nelson and Hagens. Hagens and Eiserman have familiarity and Nelson has chemistry with Leonard and Perreault.

I'd much rather have to rein a guy in, than light a fire under his ass.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Finishing first in the group while not having the best overall record definitely sets them up for a favorable path. Assuming they get by Switzerland (they should), then they get either the Czechs, Finns or Slovaks (Swedes will beat Latvia). That's still preferable to me than either of Sweden or Canada in a semi.

I do feel the first line need to get going the next few games to have the best chance at gold. Perreault is the biggest concern as he seems like he's been pressing all tournament. The more frustrated he gets, the more he doubles down on doing things the hard way to find results (trying to snipe corners, forcing behind-the-back passes). Him simplifying things and being less selfish in approach could really do a lot in helping that line work towards some higher percentage plays and goals.

It seems folks are mostly aligned with moving Burnevik off the 1st PP. Besides that, if things don't click, it could be worth considering bumping Perreault off as well, moving Hagens to the opposite side and adding Eiserman. Hagens had a knack for getting passes to Eiserman in a good spot with the NTDP, though that might also work best with Cole at the point.

I'll admit to not having seen Kleber play much at all but I figure since I called him out as someone I was quite nervous about after some earlier games, he played well enough against Canada for me to not notice him in any negative way. That's a good thing for someone paired with Cole, who's always going to be taking risks. It also allows them to leave Hensler alongside Ralph, which works well since he would have more freedom as a mobile option next to the stay-at-home Ralph. Given Minnetian's continuted sturggles I might just ride the top six a bit more in that configuration (Fischer is still out of the lineup for me).

Finally it was good to see Augstine have a pretty solid outing. I think they have to ride him from here out and hope he can build some confidence and comfort after this win.

I was frustrated at points during the game but bottom line is it's great to get a win against Canada in Canada, and they are in a good position to get a shot at gold.

Perreault is probably the best scorer in the tournament. You don’t take that guy off your PP. Just take Burnevik off. This isn’t a year long thing. Three games left, at most. There won’t be time for another change.

 

[MTU34]

Slukynsky in the net?

They had Fowler in net for the QF last year.

Fowler played the quarters last year because Augustine was sick. Augustine has the net today

Edit: apparently it is Slyukynsky. Lineup on Twitter says Augustine though

 

[AmericanDream]

Connelly - 3 points in 4 games

Perreault - 4 points in 4 games

Eiserman - 6 points in 4 games, including the PP goal in the most important game for Team USA so far, with limited minutes as the 13th forward where Perreault had 0 points.

You say his play has been poor outside of the power play, but I'd argue the opposite. His play on the powerplay has been poor up to the last game, in fact the goal (and assist on Hutson's first goal) against Canada were his first powerplay points in the tournament, and both teams only scored in the PP in that game (aside from the EN goal) so you can't just dismiss them as not important. That was a big goal in a critical moment.

The biggest negative for Eiserman in this tournament were those two stupid penalties and he was correctly demoted to the 13th forward spot as a result.

Fact of the matter is he's done more than the other two (with much less ice time than Perreault), whether that's "much more impactful" or simply "more impactful" is semantics.

You seem to be arguing in circles. It is clear to anyone who watched these games that he has been a weak link out there. The play has died more times than not with lines he was on, plus offering nothing in his own zone.

He is a skilled forward that will always come with ups and downs. He isn't alone in the fact of struggling 5v5 which is why the coaching staff has moved him to 13th forward. And no it isn't because of penalties. The lines look better balanced now. It showed against Canada for stretches.

Connelly has struggled as well. If he plays piss poor again drop him to 13th forward. But the coaching staff and many of our eyes have seen a player that is better suited in the power play role and rotating in right now. Hopefully he changes that perception today.

Bigger fish to fry today
I hope Eiserman and Connelly go off. We need them.

 

[AmericanDream]

Nice! 1-0

 

[MTU34]

Unplayable bum I was told

 

[William H Bonney]

First game where they have (so far) embraced a shot first mentality. Finally!

 

[AmericanDream]

After watching Sweden vs Latvia, just keep pilling on...give them no hope early

2-0 Hagens!!

 

[William H Bonney]

Nice pass by Moore

 

[William H Bonney]

Eiserman losing his composure. Very common

 

[William H Bonney]

Now that's the Leonard we're used to

 

[AmericanDream]

Keep em coming boys. Leonard!

 

[AmericanDream]

Roll the lines, get everyone going. Need confidence from Perrault and Connelly.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Mateiko was special this tournament but that whole Latvian team was a lot better than people gave them credit for. They gave everyone a hard to honest game. They should be very proud and their country should be excited about their hockey future.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Nice pass by Moore

That was just waited perfectly.

 

[Konk]

You seem to be arguing in circles. It is clear to anyone who watched these games that he has been a weak link out there. The play has died more times than not with lines he was on, plus offering nothing in his own zone.

He is a skilled forward that will always come with ups and downs. He isn't alone in the fact of struggling 5v5 which is why the coaching staff has moved him to 13th forward. And no it isn't because of penalties. The lines look better balanced now. It showed against Canada for stretches.

Connelly has struggled as well. If he plays piss poor again drop him to 13th forward. But the coaching staff and many of our eyes have seen a player that is better suited in the

I think you're just too preoccupied with personal attacks and taking potshots to comprehend the point that I was making.

I never once said he was having some amazing tournament or wasn't struggling, so don't try to misconstrue what I said. My point was that, despite his and other players struggles such as Perreault and Connelly, he was having a bigger impact and the stats back that up.

His biggest downfall has been his emotions and he's taken another stupid penalty today.

 

[AmericanDream]

Perrault with a sick point feed there

 

[William H Bonney]

This team is poor at face offs

 

[SanDogBrewin]

That's about as clean I faceoff as an opponent could possibly win.