Really? If Callahan and Stepan shouldn't be on the team then Okposo definitely shouldn't.
- DONMURDOCH14

OK, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it but I have a hard time understanding how it's so clear cut to you when those two players combined don't have as many points as Okposo. Yeah they have other parts of their game that will help but to say it's clear cut enough to say "Okposo definitely" shouldn't be on the team seems kind of biased. Again, read the other part of my post I'm not up in arms about this i could care less but to say he definitely shouldn't have been on the team seems a little ridiculous to me.

I didn't think it was possible to think worse of Isles fans but Whaholy Shyt! Some of these comments and rational in regards to Okposo and Stepan who don't even play into each others chances of making the team are so asinine, one Isles fan called Stepan a "fringe NHL player" another claims the NHL is favoring the Rangers.....the NHL? What are these idiots talking about?
- cranford93

any original six team seems to get more coverage in general. A lot of people believe the rangers are favored because they are from ny. In reality they face more criticism because people know the potential of the rangers organization(hence the inflated expectations from the media during the offseason), so when they fail to meet that potential, they are scrutinized a little bit more than teams who are expected to fail like the jets/panthers/isanders and so on. Isles fans resent the attention the rangers get so when a player like stepan gets chosen over okposo, they automatically assume it has to do with favoritism rather than just plain judgement.

OK, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it but I have a hard time understanding how it's so clear cut to you when those two players combined don't have as many points as Okposo. Yeah they have other parts of their game that will help but to say it's clear cut enough to say "Okposo definitely" shouldn't be on the team seems kind of biased. Again, read the other part of my post I'm not up in arms about this i could care less but to say he definitely shouldn't have been on the team seems a little ridiculous to me.
- Cptmjl

oh, there you go again

oh, there you go again
- jimbro83

I started responding then I realized he was, again, basing it on the 40 games from this year. Doesn't matter anyway

oh, there you go again
- jimbro83

Im not saying that points are everything but give me a break. Its like you guys are saying they aren't anything. The point was I have a hard time seeing how anyone could say okposo definitely shouldn't have been considered if they weren't. That was my point.

I started responding then I realized he was, again, basing it on the 40 games from this year. Doesn't matter anyway
- DONMURDOCH14

Correct. It doesn't.

Correct. It doesn't.
- Cptmjl

if there was an all-star game this year, and Stepan was chosen for the last spot over Okposo, yes, that would be wrong.

if there was an all-star game this year, and Stepan was chosen for the last spot over Okposo, yes, that would be wrong.
- jimbro83

Ok

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 10m
#NYR have agreed to terms with forward Anthony Duclair to an entry level contract.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 10m
#NYR have agreed to terms with forward Anthony Duclair to an entry level contract.
- jimbro83

nice numbers from the Q that the rangers just tweeted

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 10m
#NYR have agreed to terms with forward Anthony Duclair to an entry level contract.
- jimbro83

Can he play tomorrow?

Can he play tomorrow?
- TPC

Av would just bench him in the 3rd period anyway.

Can he play tomorrow?
- TPC

that would be nice

this kid definitely has some promise, not like the Rangers to sign a junior player to an entry level deal during the season, they usually take care of that kind of business when season is over

Explain to me why someone would wear a Devils Jersey to a Flyers Rangers game. That's frigging stupid if you ask me. Just wear normal clothes if you go to that game.
- mrhattrick27

Being a Rangers fan living in So Cal I have attended games at the Pond and at Staples not involving the Rangers. The only thing I have on me that says Rangers is my keychain which is in my pocket. No need to wear a Rangers jersey to a Ducks-Jackets game even if 25% of the Jackets roster is made up of former Rangers.

that would be nice

this kid definitely has some promise, not like the Rangers to sign a junior player to an entry level deal during the season, they usually take care of that kind of business when season is over
- jimbro83

I know its only the QMJHL, but 31 goals in 37 games at any level is pretty nice

Im not saying that points are everything but give me a break. Its like you guys are saying they aren't anything. The point was I have a hard time seeing how anyone could say okposo definitely shouldn't have been considered if they weren't. That was my point.
- Cptmjl

well he wasn't even considered by some of the best hockey minds in charge of team USA so maybe we're right

just kidding.

okposo will be on the team next olympics if he keeps it up for 4 more years. he should've been in the conversation this year, but it's hard to see him picked over kane, kessel, callahan (i know you don't like him, but he's considered a leader on this team and was a lock before the season started), and oshie (more proven track record yet similar game to okposo's). if they were going to consider another RW to add to the team, it would've been ryan, but he got snubbed too.

okposo was more a victim of the number game (while also "making his own bed" with his extremely lackluster and inconsistent career prior to this season) while stepan benefited from it. USA is stacked on the wing while they are extremely thin at center. unfortunately, that's the way it is sometimes.

also, i posted this earlier: i read that a little before the olympic camp invite roster is announced in the summer, team GMs are required to submit a list of possible players that they will choose from. being on this list doesn't mean you're invited to the camp, it just means you're eligible to be selected. if a player IS NOT on this list, then he CANNOT be chosen for the team no matter what. okposo, along with bishop, might've not been on that original list and therefore have been ineligible.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 10m
#NYR have agreed to terms with forward Anthony Duclair to an entry level contract.
- jimbro83

i've liked this kid ever since we drafted him. they say he was the best skater in that entire draft and he seems to have a scoring touch. great combination.

well he wasn't even considered by some of the best hockey minds in charge of team USA so maybe we're right

just kidding.

okposo will be on the team next olympics if he keeps it up for 4 more years. he should've been in the conversation this year, but it's hard to see him picked over kane, kessel, callahan (i know you don't like him, but he's considered a leader on this team and was a lock before the season started), and oshie (more proven track record yet similar game to okposo's). if they were going to consider another RW to add to the team, it would've been ryan, but he got snubbed too.

okposo was more a victim of the number game (while also "making his own bed" with his extremely lackluster and inconsistent career prior to this season) while stepan benefited from it. USA is stacked on the wing while they are extremely thin at center. unfortunately, that's the way it is sometimes.

also, i posted this earlier: i read that a little before the olympic camp invite roster is announced in the summer, team GMs are required to submit a list of possible players that they will choose from. being on this list doesn't mean you're invited to the camp, it just means you're eligible to be selected. if a player IS NOT on this list, then he CANNOT be chosen for the team no matter what. okposo, along with bishop, might've not been on that original list and therefore have been ineligible.
- rangerdanger94

I don't dislike Callahan at all. I think he's a good player but his injuries have understandably effected his game a little bit. It's nothing personal

Great conversation and arguments today here and thanks to all for keeping it civil. I hopefully will get up a USA Olympic hockey blog, but have had so many conversations via twitter and also on a few radio shows today, I am tapped out.

Travis had a great blog on Bobby Ryan today and think it explains why I also feel he deserved a spot. The argument on intensity is ridiculous especially based on his play last Olympics and in the 2012 World Championships, where he had five goals in eight games. It's a bit different getting up for example Buffalo in mid-Nov than Canada in the Olympics. Ryan was hurt obviously by Burke's and other GM's views and when you add in how they like pairings, Oshie-Backes, Stepan-Callahan, he is fighting even more of an uphill battle.

Callahan and Okposo are two totally different players. Callahan was a mortal lock based on style of play and his previous Olympics experience. Plus, when you play him with Dustin Brown and David Backes, it's a pretty impressive second or third line than can go two way. I could have sen Okposo maybe getting the nod over Wheeler, though a Wheeler might have a bit more grit, and if Ryan didn't make it, Okposo wasn't. I am not a huge Oshie fan, think he is a PP specialist who has benefited from playing with Alexander Steen, but he will see time on the man advantage in Sochi.

In addition, Ryan and Okposo were hurt by Team USA's lack of depth at center, which has forced the, to move Pavelski back to the middle and select Stepan and Stastny, as I wrote yesterday, I would have preferred Dubinsky to either given the type of role he can play and ability to be used at wing and center. If there was room, my other preference was Brandon Saad, but he was viewed as a bit raw to make the team now.

To me, Faulk and Fowler were the last two to make the team. Faulk does have the ability to skate, which will be needed on the open ice, and Fowler has come along way, especially this year. That said, unsure I view Yandle as purely a PP specialist, sheltered, as others have written, and a liability in his own end. The questions on Buff were mainly about his weight, but having him on the PP with his ability to clear the net would be a nice add to the team. I don't have an issue with Martin, as think he outplayed Letang last year and he has the ability to play on the PP, PK and even strength equally effectively. In addition, I could have seen Erik over Jack Johnson, since I think he ally has been solid in his own end and taken a major step forward. That said, McDonagh will be the team's second best d-man behind Suter and this will be his national and international coming out party.

Hank's Stadium Series Mask... Looks pretty sweet

Great conversation and arguments today here and thanks to all for keeping it civil. I hopefully will get up a USA Olympic hockey blog, but have had so many conversations via twitter and also on a few radio shows today, I am tapped out.

Travis had a great blog on Bobby Ryan today and think it explains why I also feel he deserved a spot. The argument on intensity is ridiculous especially based on his play last Olympics and in the 2012 World Championships, where he had five goals in eight games. It's a bit different getting up for example Buffalo in mid-Nov than Canada in the Olympics. Ryan was hurt obviously by Burke's and other GM's views and when you add in how they like pairings, Oshie-Backes, Stepan-Callahan, he is fighting even more of an uphill battle.

Callahan and Okposo are two totally different players. Callahan was a mortal lock based on style of play and his previous Olympics experience. Plus, when you play him with Dustin Brown and David Backes, it's a pretty impressive second or third line than can go two way. I could have sen Okposo maybe getting the nod over Wheeler, though a Wheeler might have a bit more grit, and if Ryan didn't make it, Okposo wasn't. I am not a huge Oshie fan, think he is a PP specialist who has benefited from playing with Alexander Steen, but he will see time on the man advantage in Sochi.

In addition, Ryan and Okposo were hurt by Team USA's lack of depth at center, which has forced the, to move Pavelski back to the middle and select Stepan and Stastny, as I wrote yesterday, I would have preferred Dubinsky to either given the type of role he can play and ability to be used at wing and center. If there was room, my other preference was Brandon Saad, but he was viewed as a bit raw to make the team now.

To me, Faulk and Fowler were the last two to make the team. Faulk does have the ability to skate, which will be needed on the open ice, and Fowler has come along way, especially this year. That said, unsure I view Yandle as purely a PP specialist, sheltered, as others have written, and a liability in his own end. The questions on Buff were mainly about his weight, but having him on the PP with his ability to clear the net would be a nice add to the team. I don't have an issue with Martin, as think he outplayed Letang last year and he has the ability to play on the PP, PK and even strength equally effectively. In addition, I could have seen Erik over Jack Johnson, since I think he ally has been solid in his own end and taken a major step forward. That said, McDonagh will be the team's second best d-man behind Suter and this will be his national and international coming out party.
- airjan23

Let's face it, the US team is more good than great when it comes to their forward ranks. Of the forwards I only consider Patrick Kane, Parise and Kessel to be great players. The rest are good to very good. But compared to what Canada (Crosby, Tavares, Stamkos, Toews, Perry, Giroux, Getzlaf and Duchesne) and Russia (Ovie, Malkin and Datsyuk) I don't think the US is as talented. That doesn't mean they won't be as good or as effective but speaking solely about talent the US forward group is fighting for third.

Their D is a good mix of vets and young guys but the total is going to have to be better than the sum of their parts.

Miller will need to be outstanding for this team to have any shot at stealing the gold. He can do it and has been playing great this year but it's going to be a tough road to plow.

Hank's Stadium Series Mask... Looks pretty sweet
- pcjr307

Agreed, very sweet looking

Agreed, very sweet looking
- airjan23

I saw the jerseys today in person. I thought they were really nice.

in November, Okposo went through a 10 game stretch and had 0 goals and 3 assists and every Islander fan I know talked about getting rid of him because of his streaky play. Now it's a travesty and the world is against the Islanders because he isn't one of the wingers on the US Olympic team
- jimbro83

This is a fact we were pissed at him. But same thing happened with you guys and Stepan. Many of you guys wanted him trade just a week ago.

So the pens picked up Pyatt, i guess thst means hes good for 30 goals now.