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Olympics: You're the GM for Team USA 2018. Who gets an invite back?

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McGuiresMonsters said:
Near locks:
Kessel
Kane
McDonagh
Suter
Quick

Everyone else is on the bubble or no chance. Players like Parise, Kesler, and Pavelski will be 33 and most likely slowing down. Team USA did not have one Forward who was 30 or older on their roster.

Fowler, Faulk, Carlson, and Shattenkirk have very good chances, but who knows how they continue to develop.
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I agree with this, but I think Fowler could be moved up into the "near locks" group; he'll be there barring some major and unforeseen setback.

I don't see all of Backes/Pavelski/Kesler coming back when they'll all be entering their mid 30's and you have guys like Bjugstad (will be 25ish), Galchenyuk and Eichel (will be 21ish) available down the middle.
 
Xokkeu said:
After watching this tournament I'm more and more convinced that we need to ditch this Brian Burke style top 6, bottom 6.

We have the depth now follow Canada's model and sole bring the best players, the most skilled players and tell, buy into the system or go home with no medals.

Scoring in the Olympics is hard, you are facing the top 100 hockey players in the world. Canada's third pair is jay boumeester and Alex pietrangelo. Good luck scoring with guys like Dustin brown who don't face top pairings every shift.

No more meat line role players. No more Dustin Brown and Ryan Callahan third liners who score at a mediocre clip in the nhl.
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Agree 100%.
 
Xokkeu said:
Give me Dean Lombardi and whoever he wants.
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Doesn't Lombardi operate from the same top six-bottom six dynamic that you want to avoid? I don't have a problem with him as the GM, but if you want a change of thinking, then I think that it starts with most of the guys in that room. Bowman seems closer to what you'd want.
 
I'd invite back Suter, McDonagh, Fowler and Shattenkirk on defense. And add Trouba and Seth Jones and there's a solid top 6.

Up front it's tougher to say since most of the guys are a little older and it remains to be seen what Pavelski, Kesler, Backes, etc. look like in 4 years. I think there's a good chance all 3 are back but we'll see. Guys like Kane, Kessel, JVR, Parise will be there. Bobby Ryan will probably be back on the radar (if he wants to be, lol) and I can see guys like Galchenyuk and Saad making it too. I think Oshie could stick around in a 4th-line or extra forward role, and probably Stastny too.

You're looking at Quick, Schneider and Bishop in net.
 
Exit Dose said:
Doesn't Lombardi operate from the same top six-bottom six dynamic that you want to avoid? I don't have a problem with him as the GM, but if you want a change of thinking, then I think that it starts with most of the guys in that room. Bowman seems closer to what you'd want.
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I think a Bowman-Lombardi duo would be good, just get guys like Poile and Burke out of Team USA.
 
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I tend to agree that if if Kesler/Backes/Parise make it back next time around it will be only 1 of them..They will all be starting to decline by 2018.
 
I don't think Ray Shero deserves to be in the "don't bring back" group. He's a smart GM, one of the smartest in the game, and has a good eye for talent.

I think USA's major downfall was the coaching. When I looked behind Canada's bench, I saw Babcock, Julien, and Ruff. When I looked at Team USA's bench, I saw Dan Bylsma, Tony Granato, Todd Richards and Peter Laviolette.

Now some of you may call me a homer, but the only two that deserved to be there are Peter Laviolette and Dan Bylsma, people can criticize the guy all they want (even I have) but I realize he's not a bad coach, he's not the greatest, and he has flaws, but he is so often criticized but would be a top coaching candidate for a lot of teams if the Penguins fired him.

I don't think Bylsma should be ruled out as head coach in 2018, and if he isn't a head coach, he should still be on the coaching staff. He's one of the best American coaches, as is Peter Laviolette.

Granato and Richards had no business being in Sochi, I would have rather had Ron Wilson and John Tortorella.

But other than coaching, I actually liked the team in terms of player selection. They were the best team in the tournament until they faced Canada, which Quick kept us in that game, then they had a melt down against Finland.

I don't understand why people don't want Quick back, he's young and he's such an elite talent. Hopefully he will still play like this (if not better:amazed: ) by 2018.

Obviously guys like Orpik, Martin, and guys entering their mid 30s will be replaced with the younger rising stars like Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba.

I think USA Hockey has a bright future. This is of course they let NHLers play in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
 
Exit Dose said:
Doesn't Lombardi operate from the same top six-bottom six dynamic that you want to avoid? I don't have a problem with him as the GM, but if you want a change of thinking, then I think that it starts with most of the guys in that room. Bowman seems closer to what you'd want.
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Every gm essentially has to do that in the nhl because you can't get Patrick Kane on your third line.
 
Xokkeu said:
Every gm essentially has to do that in the nhl because you can't get Patrick Kane on your third line.
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You don't have to have Patrick Kane on your third line to break out of that mindset. There are a handful of teams in the league doing that right now, including Bowman's Hawks. It's more about the type of players that you select to fill those lines out than where they top out. In Lombardi's case, it look like the Kings are building with a top six-bottom six strategy.
 
Reading Herb Brooks book and so I have been thinking about this for some time now on what I would do if given the opportunity. If I was given the job today...

I would immediately set forth to hire my ell designed staff and board and scouts. Have scouts scouting Americans in every league and let players know I am looking out and working extra hard for 2018 because I want gold and it starts today.

GM: Me (final decisions)
Assistant GM: Brian Burke (my right hand man in decisions. I would be honored to even give up the job to be Burke's assistant. I respect his hockey IQ)

Board of Advisors (a group of advisors to assist me in everyday decisions):
Dean Lombardi, Ray Shero, Pat Lafointaine, Mike Modano, David Poile, Craig Patrick and Chris Drury
* I am choosing a wide arrange of minds and opinions. Need some GMs, some scouts, some ex players from different generations. Wanted an odd number as well.

Head Coach would be discussed based on several key traits but ultimately a coach who understands the type of hockey I want to play. I like a diverse group of guys, I liked the blueprint the USA team has had recently (though this year I think they failed in bringing in to many young guys especially on the blue line). I like a top 6, bottom 6, top 4 bottom 2 roster. I like speed but I desire toughness and I want a team that is conditioned and passionate. I like playing a possession game, a quick game but a structured defensive style. Like I said, very similar to Team USA history of play.


The coaches up for grabs are
1) Dan Byslma (I think he messed up in the medal round but up until that he was crisp. He deserves an interview with my team and me)
2) Todd Richards ( I like the things hes doing in Columbus, he gets a clear look for the next season or 2)
3) John Tortorella (he has been going off my radar lately but as the winningest American NHL coach he deserves a shot. I also want to consult w him on his conditioning. I like his no nonsense coaching style. I don't like his strictness on offense)
4) Laviolette (not his biggest fan but gets a look)

**In many ways I would like a coach who could be free from 2016-2018 and work full time as my coach. I understand the hardships of that but these 4 are on my radar. I am leaning towards Todd Richards/Laviolette. depening on future success.



My preliminary roster...
*understand I am looking for a top 6, bottom 6 and doing this based off what I expect in 4 years.
JVR : Pavelski : Kessel
Parise (Captain) : Bonino : Kane
Kreider : Backes (Assistant) : TJ Oshie
Saad : Kesler : Callahan
Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenkov

Defense is even more interesting
Suter (assistant) : Shattenkirk
McDonagh : Jack Johnson
Seth Jones : Cam Fowler
Erik Johnson

Goalies:
Jonathan Quick
Jack Campbell/Alex Starlock
Cory Schneider
 
SanDogBrewin said:
And Shero out as well. I would like to see Laviolette as the head coach with 2013 U20 Gold medal coach, Phil Housley as an assistant.
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Guess I am the odd man out here on hockey opinions. I love Burke. Top 6, Bottom 6 mentality works. I think Byslma played around too much with the lines and in Canada we lost to a better team and in the Bronze we just gave up but hey... whatever.

Guys like Laviolette scare me.

Too offensive in my mind. they think attacking is the only way and there wide open game often gets the team in trouble.

Also, I heard he ran one of the worst off-seasons this year with Philly. Im not shocked if true. Laid back guy I am sure
 
Thesensation19 said:
My preliminary roster...
*understand I am looking for a top 6, bottom 6 and doing this based off what I expect in 4 years.
JVR : Pavelski : Kessel
Parise (Captain) : Bonino : Kane
Kreider : Backes (Assistant) : TJ Oshie
Saad : Kesler : Callahan
Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenkov
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If Jack Eichel is anything close to what posters/fans think, you need to bring him to provide additional youth to your forward lines.
 
KevyD said:
If Jack Eichel is anything close to what posters/fans think, you need to bring him to provide additional youth to your forward lines.
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Considering that he listed some guy named Galchenkov, I'm not sure .... yeah.
 
I want Burke back.

In the NHL hes put on weak teams with poor organizations and he has proven to change them. Vancouver, Anaheim. Toronto is even a whole lot better now then they ever were before he came in and that was rough for him because the organization was limited through past mistakes. A few trades and things now look good for Toronto who have been in playoff contention all year and made it last. I have no doubt that Calgary will look better in 3 years time or sooner.

USA 2010. We were predicted to be out of medal rounds with a roster of some great talents and names such as Modano, Gomez and others. He went in an entire different direction and we played great.

In 2014 they used the same model but they took away the guy who brought it in and in the end you can tell that his final decisions were not the same as Poille. A lot of politics seemed to take control

I mean Burke criticized Bobby Ryan and Jack Johnson. But Poille admitted that Burke had Ryan on his final roster and I am sure he would have had Johnson too.

Regardless, I think the issue in 2014 was we didnt have a good enough blue line especially in terms of experience. Carlson, Fowler. Then in the final Paul Martin got hurt. I think I would have liked Fowler as well but maybe I choose Yandle over him and I definately have Johnson on my team.

Im just shocked guys like erik and jack johnson werent there this time.
 
I replay the game against Canada and Finland and I remind myself how helpless we were against their attack. Canada in the offensive zone and Finland on the transition. I blame the defense of course, inexperienced for the most part. I think if Paul Martin was healthy for the game against Canada, it would have been a better result.

Best team won though
 
I'll address this from purely this angle. Who on the 2014 team will be on the 2018 roster?

G - Jonathan Quick
D - John Carlson
D - Ryan McDonagh
D - Kevin Shattenkirk
D - Ryan Suter
F - David Backes
F - Dustin Brown
F - Patrick Kane
F - Ryan Kesler
F - Phil Kessel
F - T.J. Oshie
F - Zach Parise
F - Derek Stepan
F - James van Riemsdyk

In looking back at this list, I could see less of the forwards making it back.
 
Dr Jan Itor said:
I agree with this, but I think Fowler could be moved up into the "near locks" group; he'll be there barring some major and unforeseen setback.

I don't see all of Backes/Pavelski/Kesler coming back when they'll all be entering their mid 30's and you have guys like Bjugstad (will be 25ish), Galchenyuk and Eichel (will be 21ish) available down the middle.
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Defense will be super competitive for USA if they go in 2018. Many many good options to choose from.
 
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