Grahame named U.S. starter...

[BMOK33]

I agree 100% and this is not because I am an Islanders fan...I am not at all a fan of Dipietro but everything I have seen from Esche points to him flat out stinking....he's on a good team and his stats blow. As for Grahame as you say I just do not nor have I ever seen him carry a team for a stretch as Dipietro did early this season with the Isles and for a stretch in 03-04 as well. He has also never played in any sort of major tournament as DiPietro did in the world cup and touched the ice for a grand total of 33 minutes in 23 games for the Lightning in the playoffs....I think he;s gonna be you know whating out their in his pants. I think this will be a very bad move, not that it matters anyway....the U.S. team is god awful and may very well lose one of two to either Latvia or Kazahkstan anyway.

 

[Sotnos]

Yes, from the beginning of 03-04 till now is a long time.

Nah, I've seen you around since before then, you're quite well traveled.

You probably hate us a lot more since we have beaten you ever since your franchise was established until the 03-04 season.

The big prize is all that counts, I'll leave the small victories to you if you insist.

 

[Brad Tolliver]

Grahame proved today that he should be starting again.

At least that's what the Kazakhs are hoping.

 

[sabresrat]

Grahame proved today that he should be starting again.

At least that's what the Kazakhs are hoping.

BURN!

The sad thing is Laviolette may decide to stick with his golden boy.

 

[Skroob*]

Its gonna be a blood-bath.
.

a 3-3 tie against Latvia, as close as you can get, i think.

 

[btn]

This is going to come off very homer-ish, but wihout a big-game goalie like Richter in nets, the Americans have always been outmatched everywhere else, 'cept maybe in grit when guys like LeClair and KT were in their primes. This year will expose that as such.

Richter was a grade A choke artist for Team USA outside of the World Championships that one year, he has a weak legacy in international play for the US.

Grahame played well enough to win vs. Latvia. I don't know if Laviolette wants to go with a tandem, but Grahame did nothing to lose the starting job.

 

[Vomiting Kermit*]

Something can be done to put Miller on the roster and get Esche out; does Don Waddell have Tonya Harding's phone number?

 

[Lindros_for_rizzle_]

Grahame has nothing to regret from yesterday. He should be the first choise for the remainder of the tournament. Not that Di Pietro couldn´t do it, but maybe he´s too inconsistent. Anyone knows who´ll be in net today?

 

[Zobes]

I love our defense and we have a really clutch set of forwards. I like our team, except between the pipes.

And naming John Grahame as the starter isn't changing my mind. Here's to hoping his play surprises everyone, but I just don't see it.

The average age of a Team USA defenseman is 34. The two D-Men singled out by the New York Daily News in their coverage of the Latvia fiasco were Mathieu Schneider, 37, and Chris Chelios, 44.

Looks like goaltending might not be the number one problem. The man needs a little help!

 

[Maelmoor]

Well I saw the game and Grahame was good, you can't blame him on the goals, but the defence were weak so that is something to worry about, J.G made some huge saves to actually give US a tie...

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Richter was a grade A choke artist for Team USA outside of the World Championships that one year, he has a weak legacy in international play for the US.

Grahame played well enough to win vs. Latvia. I don't know if Laviolette wants to go with a tandem, but Grahame did nothing to lose the starting job.

Huh? Richter was outstanding in both the World Cup in '96 and the 2002 Olympics.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

The average age of a Team USA defenseman is 34. The two D-Men singled out by the New York Daily News in their coverage of the Latvia fiasco were Mathieu Schneider, 37, and Chris Chelios, 44.

Looks like goaltending might not be the number one problem. The man needs a little help!

I would agree with this. The goaltending and forwards were fine (although I would have liked a bit more finish). Not having Brian Rafalski hurt, and the defense in general played too loose. The gaps were horrendous. If the U.S. plays like that against Russia or Slovakia it will get ugly fast...