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
- pensfan024

Plus they need some veteran leadership back there. This is a very young defense corps besides Martin and Orpik. Personally, I'd like to see Yandle over Martin but that's not going to make or break success.

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

Disco dan loves Martin and orpik so not a surprise... Martin is pittsburgh s best d man and very good on the pp, but Orpik??? other guys could have better filled that role

It's a good list. Bobby Ryan was a WTF? I would like to have seen Bishop, but Quick and Luongo are good choices, however I'm up in the air over Howard.

Team USA has Quick as the clear cut starter. Miller only recently moved up to the #2 spot ahead of Howard, who almost moved out of the top 3.
- bluecoconuts

Clear cut? Really? I know what my team affiliation says so call me a homer if you want, but you must have not watched much of the Sabres this year.

And I want Miller off of Buffalo except during an Olympic year.

Howard!
- Jurco_28

F-

Kyle Okposo, Bobby Ryan Byf and Bishop jould all be there

KO and BR are currently better than Parise, Wheeler, Brown, Callahan, Stepan, Stansy, JVR
- Danformo

Kyle Okposo is not better than either of those guys.

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.
- buffalofan19

Sabres89 alter-ego.

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.
- Talkshowhost

But that's my point, I think he got snubbed because of the Kessel - JVR connection. If anything, JVR is the one who took his spot. He's the only one in the top 6 who had to play his way onto the roster.

- Talkshowhost

My mistake

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

Wrong thread.

Wrong thread.
- TheSabresTaco

Meh. I'm not the one who brought it up. Relax.

Byfuglien over Orpik for sure. I'd argue Byfuglien could be top 4.

Ryan definitely should have been on the team.

Yandle and Bishop both great, but I can see the reasoning behind leaving them behind. Bubble players that could have gone either way IMO

Team USA has Quick as the clear cut starter. Miller only recently moved up to the #2 spot ahead of Howard, who almost moved out of the top 3.
- bluecoconuts

Ok LA Kings fan, do tell us why, with that sparkling gaa and sv% on such a good team.

But that's my point, I think he got snubbed because of the Kessel - JVR connection. If anything, JVR is the one who took his spot. He's the only one in the top 6 who had to play his way onto the roster.
- Jeffmt

I agree there, they would be crazy to not try JVR and Kessel together. But my other point is you should take players who can score. Toews was the 13th guy for Canada last time.

Plus they need some veteran leadership back there. This is a very young defense corps besides Martin and Orpik. Personally, I'd like to see Yandle over Martin but that's not going to make or break success.
- buffalofan19

Id love to see Scuderi back there over orbik all day every day. Esp with the RH shot dman we picked. Rather Orpik over Martin as well.

the fact that Schneider was left off the roster goes to show how badly CDN is beat in the goaltending department

Byfuglien over Orpik for sure. I'd argue Byfuglien could be top 4.

Ryan definitely should have been on the team.

Yandle and Bishop both great, but I can see the reasoning behind leaving them behind. Bubble players that could have gone either way IMO
- TheNugeIsHuge

His +/- is kind of an issue. The US needs to be quick and extremely defensively reliable to overcome the firepower of the hosers. I know it can be argued either way, but I like the Buff snub. Not a lot, but I think it's the right choice.

the fact that Schneider was left off the roster goes to show how badly CDN is beat in the goaltending department
- TheNugeIsHuge

Not this again.

Byfuglien over Orpik for sure. I'd argue Byfuglien could be top 4.

Ryan definitely should have been on the team.

Yandle and Bishop both great, but I can see the reasoning behind leaving them behind. Bubble players that could have gone either way IMO
- TheNugeIsHuge

If you see reasoning in why Yandle is off then you should see the glaring reason why Buff is off. He cant skate with the Canadians. He would be so burnt out on that big ice it was be ridiculous to ice him. Better off playing him at forward and planting him right infront of Bobby Lou.

I bet Bobby Ryan turns it up a few levels now and makes Team USA regret their decision. Based on the ESPN article, Oshie was taken because he has chemistry with Backes, and he's good in the shootout.

I agree there, they would be crazy to not try JVR and Kessel together. But my other point is you should take players who can score. Toews was the 13th guy for Canada last time.
- Talkshowhost

I see what they're trying to do here and in a way it makes sense, but you have a point too. It's hard to justify not finding a spot on the roster for one of the best American scorers in the league. If one of the top 6 wingers gets hurt in the tournament or they just struggle to score this is going to look like a really bad decision.

Huh. Guess Burke isnt a fan.


"Not intense. That word is not in his vocabulary. It's never going to be in his vocabulary. He can't spell intense." - Burke on Bobby Ryan

If you see reasoning in why Yandle is off then you should see the glaring reason why Buff is off. He cant skate with the Canadians. He would be so burnt out on that big ice it was be ridiculous to ice him. Better off playing him at forward and planting him right infront of Bobby Lou.
- poisondhearts37

fair. I think it was gonna be one of Yandle or Fowler, and Fowler's seriously turned it on this year.

byfuglien's a dominant player I think despite his speed he'd be more effective than an Orpik

Huh. Guess Burke isnt a fan.


"Not intense. That word is not in his vocabulary. It's never going to be in his vocabulary. He can't spell intense." - Burke on Bobby Ryan
- poisondhearts37

Wow. It's weird because there were so many rumors of Bobby Ryan to Toronto while Burke was here. Evidently that didn't have a chance in hell of happening.

fair. I think it was gonna be one of Yandle or Fowler, and Fowler's seriously turned it on this year.

byfuglien's a dominant player I think despite his speed he'd be more effective than an Orpik
- TheNugeIsHuge

I dont think Fowler has really be any better than he has in the past. He's really riding the coat tails of Perry and Getz who are scoring like crazy. Its kinda like Schultz when he was with the Caps and he had a +50 year. They said he was great defensively. But when your on the ice with Ovi who scores 50+ goals and Greene who scored like 25 goals. Your gonna look good.