Olympics: Team USA 2022
- Thread starter JiggsNY
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- Apr 27, 2005
- 36,390
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Lol okay, is that why I have guys like B Tkachuk and Ryan Hartman instead of Jack Hughes or Alex Debrincat?
Was I wrong about that? He was a lock if you were paying attention. Gaudreau leads all Americans in scoring, and as I predicted, he broke out once being released from the boat anchor that is Sean Monahan. You think its about flash, but its about him just being an elite player.
I chose Garland because of his motor and speed, has nothing to do with how fancy he looks. He is a very good offensive player which helps as well.
I've never once advocated for Q Hughes to make this team lol. You literally are just making **** up.
Slavin - Fox
McDonagh - McAvoy
Werenski - Jones
Pesce
Would be my D group.
William H Bonney
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2005
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- 36,579
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
I'm not sure there are any grounds to include Hughes. He had to prove himself this season to make the team, and he's been injured. Maybe if he can go on a big run, but right now I wouldn't even think he's among the next five forwards left off, so there's really not much grounds to be including him.
deBrincat actually should probably be picked! I don't know why you aren't including him. I'd be interested to hear why. You may have a convincing reason why he shouldn't be picked, so lets hear it, if you don't mind sharing.
You weren't wrong in that he'd eventually be on the team. I think its pretty likely he'll be there.
Was he a lock, like you suggested? I don't think so. I think it was a lot more up in the air, dependent on how he performed.
It's a moot point now though of it he'd be there anyway with another season like the last few. That exact situation hasn't materialized.
Fair enough, but I'm also not sure you are actually including the best offensive players. You are leaving out guys like Pacioretty, deBrincat, Tkachuk, proven big-time NHL scorers and including a bunch of young guys that've never really proven that for prolonged samples. Even if its not about being the most exciting, it seems quite risky to just go on a whim, without even a clear sample of these young guys producing demonstrably better currently, as opposed to some dedicated philosophy.
My mistake then. My defense would be very similar.
I agree - Connor will make it but I choose Guentzel over him all day. Playoff proven and grittier.
Guentzel - Matthews - Kane
Gaudreau - Larkin - M.Tkachuk (Larkin is this line's Lindholm)
Pacioretty - Zegras - Eichel (move Eichel to wing, ease back in, can still take Faceoffs and allows Zegras to play C)
B.Tkachuk - Pavelski - Kreider
Miller (can play anywhere, in any role)
14th forward = Debrincat (can insert him in if Zegras struggles)
I agree with your D:
Slavin - Fox
McDonagh - McAvoy
Werenski - Jones
Pesce
Hellebuyck
Gibson
Campbell
Gaudreau - Larkin - M.Tkachuk (Larkin is this line's Lindholm)
Pacioretty - Zegras - Eichel (move Eichel to wing, ease back in, can still take Faceoffs and allows Zegras to play C)
B.Tkachuk - Pavelski - Kreider
Miller (can play anywhere, in any role)
14th forward = Debrincat (can insert him in if Zegras struggles)
I agree with your D:
Slavin - Fox
McDonagh - McAvoy
Werenski - Jones
Pesce
Hellebuyck
Gibson
Campbell
Trade
Guentzel is ELITE
- Apr 13, 2015
- 7,271
- 6,515
Team USA desperately needs some right-handed forwards. They have lefties for days.
Lefties:
Kane
Matthews
Guentzel
Connor
Larkin
B. Tkachuk
M. Tkachuk
Johnny Hockey
JT Miller
Pacioretty
Hughes
Zegras
Righties:
Eichel (injured)
DeBrincat
Troy Terry
Boeser (barely deserves a spot atm)
Pavelski (old)
Kessel (old, but best forward at Sochi)
Oshie (old, Olympic hero)
I’m likely missing some players, but the RH pool is pretty damn shallow.
Lefties:
Kane
Matthews
Guentzel
Connor
Larkin
B. Tkachuk
M. Tkachuk
Johnny Hockey
JT Miller
Pacioretty
Hughes
Zegras
Righties:
Eichel (injured)
DeBrincat
Troy Terry
Boeser (barely deserves a spot atm)
Pavelski (old)
Kessel (old, but best forward at Sochi)
Oshie (old, Olympic hero)
I’m likely missing some players, but the RH pool is pretty damn shallow.
- Apr 27, 2005
- 36,390
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I just feel like there are players that can provide what he can and then some.
It's not a whim though. Zegras has been an elite prospect for a long time and he's proving that he's entering the category of elite offensive player. We don't have the luxury of leaving off elite offensive centers on a team like this.
bsu
"I have no idea what I am doing" -Pat VerBleak
- Sep 27, 2017
- 28,539
- 29,293
Not taking Zegras would be stupid if he keeps it up. He controls the entire tempo of a game when he gets the puck.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
In response to the idea of Kreider, which I've seen a few people mention, I don't want him on the team. I say that as a fan of the team he plays for.
I don't think he's a good fit for the construction of this team. If he's there, its in a bottom six role to begin with. What Kreider's best at is being a net front presence on the PP. He's probably the best at that in the game. But Pavelski isn't far behind at that, and he's pretty close to a lock for this team to begin with. Also, if Matt Tkachuk is on the team, he probably is in a top 9 role and on the PP. And if not, someone like Pacioretty is also another big forward that can play net front. We might not even have two traditional net-front guys for our PP set-up.
If Kreider isn't on the PP, what is he useful for? He's very fast. That'll be true for any situation he plays in, but he's not some ultra gritty forward. His defense is pretty lazy. He takes a lot of bad offensive zone penalties. He has barely played any PK in his career, only 3rd pair PK the last two years. He's driven hard with speed to the net a lot less after Markov tripped him, and he was accused of injuring Price. I think the reaction to that play, which wasn't even his fault, effected how he plays with hard drives with speed to the net. He's a very good forechecker, has great size and speed, and would be a great locker-room guy, but his actual usefulness to our bottom six doesn't seem clear to me.
The thing he's best at we already have covered, he's not a big PK'er, he's not a good defensive forward, and I'd be worried that playing 10 minutes per game on the fourth line he'd take a bad OZ penalty that loses us a game. He's also another left-shot LW that hasn't played much on the right side in his career.
I don't think he's a good fit for the construction of this team. If he's there, its in a bottom six role to begin with. What Kreider's best at is being a net front presence on the PP. He's probably the best at that in the game. But Pavelski isn't far behind at that, and he's pretty close to a lock for this team to begin with. Also, if Matt Tkachuk is on the team, he probably is in a top 9 role and on the PP. And if not, someone like Pacioretty is also another big forward that can play net front. We might not even have two traditional net-front guys for our PP set-up.
If Kreider isn't on the PP, what is he useful for? He's very fast. That'll be true for any situation he plays in, but he's not some ultra gritty forward. His defense is pretty lazy. He takes a lot of bad offensive zone penalties. He has barely played any PK in his career, only 3rd pair PK the last two years. He's driven hard with speed to the net a lot less after Markov tripped him, and he was accused of injuring Price. I think the reaction to that play, which wasn't even his fault, effected how he plays with hard drives with speed to the net. He's a very good forechecker, has great size and speed, and would be a great locker-room guy, but his actual usefulness to our bottom six doesn't seem clear to me.
The thing he's best at we already have covered, he's not a big PK'er, he's not a good defensive forward, and I'd be worried that playing 10 minutes per game on the fourth line he'd take a bad OZ penalty that loses us a game. He's also another left-shot LW that hasn't played much on the right side in his career.
As hard as it would be to leave off a guy who has scored as many goals as he has, I think I want Robertson on the team over Connor.
Robertson has been the straw that stirs the drink in Dallas this year and he’s part of an elite two-way line, while Connor, good as he is, has always given up almost as much as he produces.
Robertson has been the straw that stirs the drink in Dallas this year and he’s part of an elite two-way line, while Connor, good as he is, has always given up almost as much as he produces.
TheDoldrums
Registered User
I agree with this sentiment. I've always found Connor (and Scheifele/Wheeler) a little overrated because they've put up such bad defensive metrics over multiple seasons. He'd be a bubble guy if I were making my optimal lineup. But I just don't see the decision makers leaving him at home when he's scored 15 more goals than any other American* over the past three seasons.
*Not including Matthews who has 26 more than Connor because he's a machine
I still see Connor VS Guentzel, too similar, same role ... and personally I choose Guentzel all day every day. Connor is very talented ... just tough decisions needed - finally !!!!
How about Robertson VS Pacioretty - who you taking ? I know both could go but again kind of the same role.
Robertson - Eichel - Pavelski ... is very intriguing with Eichel (if healthy) perfectly filling the Hintz role on that electric line.
Robertson - Eichel - Pavelski ... is very intriguing with Eichel (if healthy) perfectly filling the Hintz role on that electric line.
These are the 45 guys my inside source has seen tested by the OC. I’m guessing there are a few more goalies to get to 50.
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Gaudreau | Matthews | Matthew |
Debrincat | Eichel | Kane |
Guentzel | Larkin | Terry |
Brady | JT Miller | Hartman |
Kreider | Norris | Pavelski |
Zegras | Trochek | Wheeler |
Patches | Nelson | Boeser |
Robertson | Hughes LW | Oshie |
Slavin | Fox |
McD | McAvoy |
Werenski | Pesce |
Hughes | Jones |
Hanifin | Carlson I |
Suter/Fowler | Trouba |
HBuck |
Gibson |
Campbell |
Demko |
@Pavel Buchnevich of course I forgot Connor when I put Guentzel back in LOL
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
You have 41 names listed here. That leaves nine remaining. I would think a guy like Kyle Connor makes the list....
Good thing you aren't selecting the US Team.
Your Kreider hate knows no bounds.
Kreider is the only true fast top goal scoring PF the US has. He is exactly what you want facing Dought, AP,
Letang and Ekblad. He plays net front with Fox who guarantee is one of the 2 QB for the PP and Kreider
does PK, so that is absolutely in his favor. His speed
may make a point man a little more hesitant.
Also your OZ penalty stuff is over blown. Think Canada
will leave Marchand off because he will take a penalty?
I see you started your Max Pac campaign. He sucked in 2014 and he sucked in 2016.
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Yeah I forgot top put him back in and miscounted LOL this team is going to be very tough to pick...
Give me Robertson over Max Pac any day. Max sucked in 2014 and 2016.
| Connor | Matthew | Kane |
| Gaudreau | Larkin | Matthew (Off) |
| Kreider | JT Miller | Wheeler (C/RW) |
| Guentzel | Norris | Brady (Off) |
| Trochek (C/RW) | Hartman (C/RW) |
| Slavin | Fox |
| McD | McAvoy |
| Werenski | Pesce |
| Hughes | Jones |
| HBuck |
| Gibson |
| Campbell |
| Debrincat (LW/RW) | Eichel *Inj*??? | Terry |
| Patches | Nelson | Rust |
| Robertson | Hughes (C/LW) | Pavelski (C/RW) |
| Zegras (C/LW) | Coyle (C/RW) | Oshie |
| Copp (C/LW) | Dvorak | Boeser |
| Hanifin | Carlson |
| Suter | Trouba |
| Fowler | Petry |
| Krug/Martinez | Pionk/Faulk |
| Demko |
| Quick |
| Knight/Nedeljkovic |
SanDogBrewin
Righteous bucks!
I'm gonna give Zegras a bit of an edge cause of his play on the big stage and he' s a playmaker.
This is a tough one. I like Robertson as well.
