Its kind of my point about the team theyre putting together.
- poisondhearts37

yes hit and run needs to be on the team, there is no fighting...

Lets not forget that people laughed at the USA roster when it was announced last time. They decided to take players they though fit together rather than just pick the biggest names and best players. It worked out pretty well.
- Jeffmt

I was just about to go to the archives and look at the comments from the 2010 team.

Why would they take Ben Bishop? Absolutely no experience whatsoever, he has 34 NHL wins. Taking him would have been a huge mistake.

The Ryan exclusion doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but with the trade from Anaheim and his lack of ice time this year maybe there is something unlikable there

yes hit and run needs to be on the team, there is no fighting...
- Bones

You need players that know how to win. Brown is one of them.

Pretty scary team, but the no Ryan or Yandle thing is just ridiculous. I am however pretty stoked that Oshie and Backes made the team....Maybe this will help Lucic's odd of making the roster

You need players that know how to win. Brown is one of them.
- buffalofan19

That's probably the rational that has Orpik on the team over someone like Yandle.

You need players that know how to win. Brown is one of them.
- buffalofan19

you should know a lot about that

Not sure why Ryan was left off and there were better options than Orpik. Otherwise, I'm good with the roster. Looks like a formidable squad!

you should know a lot about that
- Bones

I would. Buffalo hasn't had any for a long, long time. I've been villainized by some in the Sabres community for pointing out that they still have none after their regime change.

Where is Robbie Schremp, Jordan Schoeder and Patrick O'Sullivan? lol

Where is Robbie Schremp, Jordan Schoeder and Patrick O'Sullivan? lol
- SPIDEROCKSTAR

I think they got picked up by the Olympic beer league team

How is Pominville not a 'snub'? He's everything they're complaining about Bobby Ryan not being. Also, Howard looked pretty bad today during the classic and Quick's looked bad whenever I've seen him play this year. Poile better hope that Miller stays healthy...

It's a good team. The Burnside article did an awesome job of giving insight into the selection process.

They built a squad with defined roles and not the 25 best players.

Time will tell.

...

How is Pominville not a 'snub'? He's everything they're complaining about Bobby Ryan not being. Also, Howard looked pretty bad today during the classic and Quick's looked bad whenever I've seen him play this year. Poile better hope that Miller stays healthy...
- Berfaller

Does Pominville fit in the bottom 6 though? Because I don't see who he replaces in the top 6.

...
- sudburyboy

Lucic would be a lock for most teams but I don't think he's even in the conversation on team Canada.

Is there such a huge difference between Kessel and Ryan that Kessel is a lock and Ryan get's left off?




also this defined roles stuff is crap.

You know who was the 13th forward for Canada last time? Toews. Led the team in scorning. and won a tournament MVP.

I'm a huge Bobby Ryan fan, so I was outraged when I heard the news that he was left off the team and Oshie was invited over him. But when you look at the team on paper, I see the thought process of how it might be hard to fit him in somewhere. Parise and Kane will log big minutes on the wings on the top line, vanRiemsdyk and Kessel will flank a line, Stepan and Callahan will be on a line and Backes and Oshie will be on a line. So the only spots open would be on the left side with Backes and Oshie or on the left side with Stepan and Callahan. Dustin Brown is a lock to play in one of those spots and it looks like Max Pacioretti is a lock as well. That means Ryan would be the 13th forward instead of Wheeler. I personally like Ryan a lot better, but I see why it's hard to find a spot for him on the team. The forwards look good to me, but I have no clue how Byfuglien and Yandle were left off the team. They both have their flaws, but Yandle is an upgrade over Fowler and it's so wrong that Justin Faulk and Paul Martin were invited over Byfuglien! It's worth the controversial risk to give him a chance. Worst case scenario is he's a benched. Same with Yandle. To me, it's a huge mistake by team USA's management. I hope I'm wrong, because other than the Flyers winning a cup; team USA winning a gold medal is the thing I wanna see most in sports.
I think team Sweden's transition game is going to be too much for anybody to handle with Ekman-Larsson and Karlsson moving the puck so well, plus good goaltending and forwards that'll match up against anyone. I think they beat Canada for the gold. USA and Russia will compete for a medal too and I think USA can and will beat Russia. Russia only ices two reliable defenseman and there's a huge drop off from their top line to their second line. I think USA will medal and if they get a hot goalie, maybe they can compete with Sweden and Canada.

Is there such a huge difference between Kessel and Ryan that Kessel is a lock and Ryan get's left off?




also this defined roles stuff is crap.

You know who was the 13th forward for Canada last time? Toews. Led the team in scorning. and won a tournament MVP.
- Talkshowhost

Kessel is better looking?

If i hear one more person complain about orpik bein on the team my heads gonna explode. Orpik can skate with anybody in the league and can finish checks like no ones business. The perfect shutdown defender against other teams top lines

Kessel is better looking?
- Kaden

I'm a huge Bobby Ryan fan, so I was outraged when I heard the news that he was left off the team and Oshie was invited over him. But when you look at the team on paper, I see the thought process of how it might be hard to fit him in somewhere. Parise and Kane will log big minutes on the wings on the top line, vanRiemsdyk and Kessel will flank a line, Stepan and Callahan will be on a line and Backes and Oshie will be on a line. So the only spots open would be on the left side with Backes and Oshie or on the left side with Stepan and Callahan. Dustin Brown is a lock to play in one of those spots and it looks like Max Pacioretti is a lock as well. That means Ryan would be the 13th forward instead of Wheeler. I personally like Ryan a lot better, but I see why it's hard to find a spot for him on the team. The forwards look good to me, but I have no clue how Byfuglien and Yandle were left off the team. They both have their flaws, but Yandle is an upgrade over Fowler and it's so wrong that Justin Faulk and Paul Martin were invited over Byfuglien! It's worth the controversial risk to give him a chance. Worst case scenario is he's a benched. Same with Yandle. To me, it's a huge mistake by team USA's management. I hope I'm wrong, because other than the Flyers winning a cup; team USA winning a gold medal is the thing I wanna see most in sports.
I think team Sweden's transition game is going to be too much for anybody to handle with Ekman-Larsson and Karlsson moving the puck so well, plus good goaltending and forwards that'll match up against anyone. I think they beat Canada for the gold. USA and Russia will compete for a medal too and I think USA can and will beat Russia. Russia only ices two reliable defenseman and there's a huge drop off from their top line to their second line. I think USA will medal and if they get a hot goalie, maybe they can compete with Sweden and Canada.
- TonyBazz

I agree with almost all of this. However, Paul Martin is and should be a lock on the D. He's an amazing PMD. Orpik, Fowler--not so much. Byfuglien may be too slow for the big ice, but I'd take Orpik and Fowler out and put in EJ and Yandle. As stated, there's plenty of time for injuries though.

No way Howard, at his present level, is as good as Bishop. Not even close. maybe a few years ago, but the tourney is being played in 2014, not 2011. Bad choice, especially when Quick is coming off injury, and hasn't played an NHL game in quite a while.

Is there such a huge difference between Kessel and Ryan that Kessel is a lock and Ryan get's left off?




also this defined roles stuff is crap.

You know who was the 13th forward for Canada last time? Toews. Led the team in scorning. and won a tournament MVP.
- Talkshowhost

I think Kessel is a better player than Ryan but I don't expect you to agree with me so let's just avoid that argument altogether. The advantage with Kessel is that he already has great chemistry with JVR so you have a second line that's a known commodity rather than taking Ryan and hoping you find someone he can gel with.

I think Kessel is a better player than Ryan but I don't expect you to agree with me so let's just avoid that argument altogether. The advantage with Kessel is that he already has great chemistry with JVR so you have a second line that's a known commodity rather than taking Ryan and hoping you find someone he can gel with.
- Jeffmt

I'd say Kessel is better too. I'm just saying, is there so much of a difference between the #1 and #2 USA born goal scorers since 2008 that Kessel is a surefire lock and Ryan gets a snub? It's a little baffling.