US team announced

[Hossa]

It has to be dissapointing for Shawn Weller to not be there, after making the team last year and improving noticeably this year, at least offensively.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Lee and Yandle on the 1st PP would have been scary.

I guess Niskanen isnt bad either.

US had a plethera of puck moving PP types to pick from. Niskanen, Lee, Yandle, Lashoff, etc.

 

[Oilers Chick]

Paukovich. 3 Assists in 16 games? Wow. Take a look at all 4th year players in the WHL, are they a top 5 scoring in the WHL?

So, you think that ALL players who are the top scorers should be on the team regardless, right?

Hmmmm, I seem to recall a player on Team USA's roster a couple of years ago named Jake Dowell. Not a big time scorer and to this day still isn't but guess what he won a gold medal with Team USA. Not bad for some guy who is more of "supoorting role" player on a team.

 

[FLYLine27*]

So, you think that ALL players who are the top scorers should be on the team regardless, right?

Hmmmm, I seem to recall a player on Team USA's roster a couple of years ago named Jake Dowell. Not a big time scorer and to this day still isn't but guess what he won a gold medal with Team USA. Not bad for some guy who is more of "supoorting role" player on a team.

Well goodie for Dowell, this is a short tournament and each team brings the best they have. This isn't a 3 week Olympics where a few role players wouldn't hurt. And is even Paukovich a role player? Or are this what your saying because he obviously has limited offensive talent?

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Well goodie for Dowell, this is a short tournament and each team brings the best they have. This isn't a 3 week Olympics where a few role players wouldn't hurt. And is even Paukovich a role player? Or are this what your saying because he obviously has limited offensive talent?

So youd rather have Andy Delmore on your team than Adam Foote??

Good to know.

Points arent the be all end all.

 

[Spectacular_Bid]

Paukovich. 3 Assists in 16 games? Wow. Take a look at all 4th year players in the WHL, are they a top 5 scoring in the WHL?

I'll agree, I'm not thrilled with the Paukovich pick but I can some what understand it. The US team is LOADED with skill and scoring. While this years team is a little bigger than lasts, it didn't really have any punishing, intimidating hitters - in come Paukovich. Obviously he won't be counted on to put up numbers but if he plays his role and punishes the other teams defense than I have no problem with him.

 

[nomorekids]

So, you think that ALL players who are the top scorers should be on the team regardless, right?

Hmmmm, I seem to recall a player on Team USA's roster a couple of years ago named Jake Dowell. Not a big time scorer and to this day still isn't but guess what he won a gold medal with Team USA. Not bad for some guy who is more of "supoorting role" player on a team.

Agree wholeheartedly. This is just rationalization as to why prospects from their favorite teams weren't picked. The "NCAA over CHL-politics" argument doesn't fly, this year. Much of the team is from the CHL. It could be that the guys USA brass felt were best for the team were selected, and they had reasons for not picking the others. As I said, the only thing I personally would have changed was Lashoff or Yandle over Mitera or MAYBE Chorney.

 

[FLYLine27*]

So youd rather have Andy Delmore on your team than Adam Foote??

Good to know.

Points arent the be all end all.

Who is talking defensemen? I'd easily have a defensive dman over a offensive dman because the offense is suppose to provide the offense, where the defense provides the defense.

 

[therealdeal]

Why didn't they name a 3rd goalie and have it a 23 man roster, isn't that what its supposed to be anyways?

 

[xander]

Dubinsky has been in the WHL for 4 years!!! He should be in the top 5 scoring in the league.

I don't really understand what this has to do with anything. I believe the team is suposed to be composed of the best American players under 20, period. Are you saying that a less succesful player should be picked ahead of Dubinsky because he's younger?

I'm not saying that Dubinsky should have been picked, but I don't know how you can look at the number of NCAA guys on this roster and the number of CHL guys and say that there was absolutly no bias towards one or the other (and I say this as a big college hockey fan.)

 

[espo*]

I'll agree, I'm not thrilled with the Paukovich pick but I can some what understand it. The US team is LOADED with skill and scoring. While this years team is a little bigger than lasts, it didn't really have any punishing, intimidating hitters - in come Paukovich. Obviously he won't be counted on to put up numbers but if he plays his role and punishes the other teams defense than I have no problem with him.

i thought Jack Johnson was a punishing intimidating hitter?

That's what he's been billed as around here for the last year anyway

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Who is talking defensemen? I'd easily have a defensive dman over a offensive dman because the offense is suppose to provide the offense, where the defense provides the defense.

You also need kids who will PK and check.

You dont take the 14 most talented forwards and see what happens.

You need the Maltby's and the Drapers of the world.

Forwards need to play defense too. Do you know how hockey works??

 

[Oilers Chick]

Well goodie for Dowell, this is a short tournament and each team brings the best they have. This isn't a 3 week Olympics where a few role players wouldn't hurt. And is even Paukovich a role player? Or are this what your saying because he obviously has limited offensive talent?

First off, what are basing your assumptions about Paukovich on? If all you're basing it on is what is on the stat sheet, then you are totally missing the boat on what Paukovich can or can't do. I think you're underestimating him as a player.

I'm happy with anyone that was picked from Team USA's evaluation camp list because regardless who got chosen, they're all excellent players and each brings something unique and special to the team. That said, there are also many good players who got left off for one reason or another as well. What this shows is the depth that the Americans have and I, for one, am glad to see that the US, regardless of what league they play in/for, can produce some of the best young hockey players in the world.

 

[FLYLine27*]

Agree wholeheartedly. This is just rationalization as to why prospects from their favorite teams weren't picked. The "NCAA over CHL-politics" argument doesn't fly, this year. Much of the team is from the CHL. It could be that the guys USA brass felt were best for the team were selected, and they had reasons for not picking the others. As I said, the only thing I personally would have changed was Lashoff or Yandle over Mitera or MAYBE Chorney.

Seriously, do a little work before making comments. ONLY 3 out of 22 players are from the CHL.

 

[Spectacular_Bid]

i thought Jack Johnson was a punishing intimidating hitter?

That's what he's been billed as around here for the last year anyway

Sorry, I forgot. Johnson has been known to throw a hit or two!

 

[Aaron Vickers]

You also need kids who will PK and check.

You dont take the 14 most talented forwards and see what happens.

You need the Maltby's and the Drapers of the world.

Forwards need to play defense too. Do you know how hockey works??

Canada did this at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, naming the likes of Rob Zamuner to the club.

Canada opted to take the best 13 forwards they had at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Certainly just one instance, but if you look at the way 1998 went compared to 2002 in terms of building strategy, I think Gretzky might disagree.

 

[espo*]

Sorry, I forgot. Johnson has been known to throw a hit or two!

That's what i thought,o.k.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

RR, In the other thread you mentioned you believed the following guys from outside the NCAA would make the team;
Mike Sauer
Bobby Ryan
Rob Schremp
Adam Pineault
Matt Lashoff
A.J. Thelen
Brandon Dubinsky
Peter Mueller
Keith Yandle
Chris Bourque

Only 4 of those guys ended up making it. Are you happy with that team? I'm personally pretty disappointed that Keith Yandle wasn't named because I really wanted to get a good look at him because I drafted him in my Sim league. He has apparently been possibly the best defenseman in the Q this year, so him being left off has to be a surprise, especially since hes such a great skater.

I'm surprised by some of the omissions, but don't feel that will diminish the quality of the team. I actually think this is a stronger DEFENSIVE group than I originally envisioned. Guys like Lashoff, Thelen, and Yandle are great transition players, but Mitera, Chorney, Butler, and Niskanen are excellent in their own zone, which is what this team needs, especially with how loaded this team is up front.

 

[nomorekids]

Seriously, do a little work before making comments. ONLY 3 out of 22 players are from the CHL.

I was counting players like Bourque that were supposed to play in the CHL this year, altogether giving me 5.

Could it be that maybe...just maybe...no bias was involved, and rather, your favorite team's prospects weren't the best for the job? Maybe they're not as good as you think they are?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I was counting players like Bourque that were supposed to play in the CHL this year, altogether giving me 5.

Could it be that maybe...just maybe...no bias was involved, and rather, your favorite team's prospects weren't the best for the job? Maybe they're not as good as you think they are?

I think the U.S. brass learned it's lesson from last year's fiasco. Instead of going with an all-out offensive club, much more balance is being brought to the table. I love the defense, and the offense is top-notch, No complaints out of me.

 

[RangerBoy]

Agree wholeheartedly. This is just rationalization as to why prospects from their favorite teams weren't picked. The "NCAA over CHL-politics" argument doesn't fly, this year. Much of the team is from the CHL. It could be that the guys USA brass felt were best for the team were selected, and they had reasons for not picking the others. As I said, the only thing I personally would have changed was Lashoff or Yandle over Mitera or MAYBE Chorney.

The USA brass has really earned the benefit of the doubt

Last year,they chose Brian Lee over Jack Johnson.Lee was a deer in headlights when he was on the ice which wasn't often

The problem with USA Hockey's approach begins with the organizational flowchart -- from president Ron DeGregorio, to executive director Doug Palazzari and senior directors Art Berglund and Jim Johansson, there isn't one person who's clearly in charge of the team.

"There's a lack of clear leadership," said one Western Conference NHL team's pro scout familiar with USA Hockey. "You can't be consistent when there's so much confusion at the top."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1959790&type=story

 

[FLYLine27*]

I was counting players like Bourque that were supposed to play in the CHL this year, altogether giving me 5.

Could it be that maybe...just maybe...no bias was involved, and rather, your favorite team's prospects weren't the best for the job? Maybe they're not as good as you think they are?

Wow, a mod trying to bait people? Tisk tisk. You got caught in your false info statement, suck it up.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Canada did this at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, naming the likes of Rob Zamuner to the club.

Canada opted to take the best 13 forwards they had at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Certainly just one instance, but if you look at the way 1998 went compared to 2002 in terms of building strategy, I think Gretzky might disagree.

They didnt take the best 15 forwards at all. They took grinders as well.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

The USA brass has really earned the benefit of the doubt

Last year,they chose Brian Lee over Jack Johnson.Lee was a deer in headlights when he was on the ice which wasn't often



http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1959790&type=story

I think if you're a reasonable person, you'll agree that the correct approach is being taken this year when it comes to picking the team.

 

[xander]

I think if you're a reasonable person, you'll agree that the correct approach is being taken this year when it comes to picking the team.

I like the team, but do you really think that no biases was given to college players? 3 to 19 is just two wide of gap for me to conclude that there was no prefferance given for to the NCAA guys.