WC: General Talk '14 — USA
- Thread starter Xokkeu
- Start date
Buckst3r
Registered User
I'm a Sabres fan but also a big fan of Wisniewski. He's having his best season points wise. I have him on my fantasy hockey team and he almost always produces. I wonder how come he wasn't considered for our Olympic team? Him or Yandle.
OG
cajun filet
He hasn't been good at all in his own end. He can bring it offensively obviously though.
OG
cajun filet
Defense might be the one place where we can actually say, no he should hold off on this nhl regular before inviting him.
Franck
eltiT resU motsuC
Petry and Stafford should definitely get invites ASAP, I would hold off on inviting someone like Bachman until the very last moment though, committing a roster spot to an emergency option like that too early could come back and end up biting USA Hockey in the ass as the tournament gets closer.
1Gold Standard
Registered User
- Jun 13, 2012
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Doubt he would have gone anyway, but regardless, the one positive is we don't have to listen to "I'm glad he didn't go because USA Hockey is stupid," from Sens fans.
1Gold Standard
Registered User
- Jun 13, 2012
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Well, who knows what he may have decided. But I think he and a few others from other countries have some motivation to show up for these lesser tournaments to get back in the convo if there's going to be a World Cup at some point in the not too distant future.
William H Bonney
Registered User
We never know what to expect out of Team USA at the WC except for tons of declined invites. That said, there should be some nice pieces, albeit young, to hopefully accept early that provide a decent start to the squad. Here's who I think should receive, and would accept, invites barring unknown injuries:
I'd only be mildly surprised if guys like Stuart and Nystrom declined because they're veterans but I think they'd welcome the challenge as the leadership core for this likely young team and they have long histories with USAH.
Other guys I would invite would definitely invite that I feel would likely accept if they weren't upcoming free agents (which I think means they're likely to decline):
Obvious invitees but I'm not confident any would accept:
Byfuglien has no history with USAH so I won't count on his participation until he actually plays. Okposo has a young infant and probably isn't eager to leave his family behind for the WCs, especially after missing out on the Olympic squad. Wheeler was on the Olympic squad but barely played so I'm not confident he'd leave his young family behind twice in one season. Bogosian has battled injuries for another season so I'm not sure he'd be keen on playing here. Faulk is another Olympic vet that barely played and two commitments to the national team in one year are rare.
Others to consider if some of the above decline:
If USAH could get all the guys I think would accept, plus pull a couple of surprises (say Wheeler and Faulk), it would be a very good start to the core of the team, other than in goal. However, there could likely be help coming in goal though from one of the bubble teams as both Cory Schneider (New Jersey Devils) and Tim Thomas (Dallas Stars) are on the outside looking in. Thomas is an upcoming UFA but I doubt he'd say no to an invite.
I'm fully aware that even my extremely guarded outlook is on the optimistic side according to history.
F - Nick Bjugstad (Florida Panthers)
F - Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College)
F - Eric Nystrom (Nashville Predators)
F - Craig Smith (Nashville Predators)
F - Drew Stafford (Buffalo Sabres)
F - Colin Wilson (Nashville Predators)
D - Seth Jones (Nashville Predators)
D - Mark Stuart (Winnipeg Jets)
D - Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg Jets)
F - Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College)
F - Eric Nystrom (Nashville Predators)
F - Craig Smith (Nashville Predators)
F - Drew Stafford (Buffalo Sabres)
F - Colin Wilson (Nashville Predators)
D - Seth Jones (Nashville Predators)
D - Mark Stuart (Winnipeg Jets)
D - Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg Jets)
I'd only be mildly surprised if guys like Stuart and Nystrom declined because they're veterans but I think they'd welcome the challenge as the leadership core for this likely young team and they have long histories with USAH.
Other guys I would invite would definitely invite that I feel would likely accept if they weren't upcoming free agents (which I think means they're likely to decline):
F - Nathan Gerbe (Carolina Hurricanes) - RFA
D - Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers) - RFA
G - Al Montoya (Winnipeg Jets) - UFA
D - Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers) - RFA
G - Al Montoya (Winnipeg Jets) - UFA
Obvious invitees but I'm not confident any would accept:
F - Dustin Byfuglien (Winnipeg Jets)
F - Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders)
F - Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets)
D - Zach Bogosian (Winnipeg Jets)
D - Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes)
F - Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders)
F - Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets)
D - Zach Bogosian (Winnipeg Jets)
D - Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes)
Byfuglien has no history with USAH so I won't count on his participation until he actually plays. Okposo has a young infant and probably isn't eager to leave his family behind for the WCs, especially after missing out on the Olympic squad. Wheeler was on the Olympic squad but barely played so I'm not confident he'd leave his young family behind twice in one season. Bogosian has battled injuries for another season so I'm not sure he'd be keen on playing here. Faulk is another Olympic vet that barely played and two commitments to the national team in one year are rare.
Others to consider if some of the above decline:
F - Jimmy Hayes (Florida Panthers) - RFA
F - Brock Nelson (New York Islanders)
F - Vince Trocheck (Florida Panthers) - AHL team won't make playoffs
F - Brock Nelson (New York Islanders)
F - Vince Trocheck (Florida Panthers) - AHL team won't make playoffs
If USAH could get all the guys I think would accept, plus pull a couple of surprises (say Wheeler and Faulk), it would be a very good start to the core of the team, other than in goal. However, there could likely be help coming in goal though from one of the bubble teams as both Cory Schneider (New Jersey Devils) and Tim Thomas (Dallas Stars) are on the outside looking in. Thomas is an upcoming UFA but I doubt he'd say no to an invite.
I'm fully aware that even my extremely guarded outlook is on the optimistic side according to history.
Last edited:
SanDogBrewin
Righteous bucks!
Craig Smith played really well last year. I would love to see John Gibson play again. If Colorado were to be eliminated in the 1st round, Stastny also had a great tourney in 2013.
OG
cajun filet
usahockey22flyers
2 years away from being 2 years away
SanDogBrewin
Righteous bucks!
http://www.usantdp.com/news_article/show/372117?referrer_id=666974
Might not be the right thread but Under-18 Team Roster Announced.
Might not be the right thread but Under-18 Team Roster Announced.
usahockey22flyers
2 years away from being 2 years away
Depending on how bad the decline rate is, perhaps Jake McCabe who just signed with Buffalo might be an option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HduKJg48j8o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HduKJg48j8o
AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
was just going to post the same thing, and I think he will be on this team if the declines are bad.
