I agree that Bobby Ryan is a more skilled player, I guess team USA management thought Blake Wheeler would be better suited for a bottom 6 role with the team.
- dallas717

That would make sense. As it would seem JVR and Kessle would be Wingers on a line. And Parise and Kane manning the top unit. Id like to see Backes between Parise and Kane.

I seriously can't wait until Canada announces it's roster and this website implodes.

I agree that Bobby Ryan is a more skilled player, I guess team USA management thought Blake Wheeler would be better suited for a bottom 6 role with the team.
- dallas717

Ryan should easily be in the top 6 of that team. There aren't 4 wingers on that team better than him

Ryan should easily be in the top 6 of that team. There aren't 4 wingers on that team better than him
- sensarmy_11

Parise, Kane. I think Kessel is right there with Ryan. Though Ryan size is nicer. But with the play of JVR this year and them playing together and Kessle and him both making it. Ryan doesnt slot into that mix.

I seriously can't wait until Canada announces it's roster and this website implodes.
- dallas717

I think the only real surprises will be who the 3rd goalie is, and whether letang and/or subban are left off the team

Edit: and whether St. Louis makes the team

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

Bernier was left off Canada's and he's been better than Schneider.

That would make sense. As it would seem JVR and Kessle would be Wingers on a line. And Parise and Kane manning the top unit. Id like to see Backes between Parise and Kane.
- poisondhearts37

To me, Backes is a perfect compliment to Parise and Kane. I'm willing to bet that will be their first line. Having JVR and Kessel on a line together also seems like a lock given the chemistry they have developed together in Toronto. I'm not so sure who will center that line, though.

I agree Yandle probably should have made it over Martin, but I don't think he is an upgrade at all over Faulk. As for Orpik, he plays an entirely different role than Yandle. They might as well play different positions, so discussing replacing one with the other makes no sense at all. Just out of curiosity, who would you take out for Ryan and why?
- dallas717

I know Yandle and Orpik are different types of players. But there's 8 defenseman spots. One of Orpik, Martin or Faulk should have been left off in favor of Yandle in my opinion. Who would I leave out for Bobby Ryan? Max Pacioretti or Wheeler. Ryan was effective last Olympics, he has the experience. He's gotten better since the last Olympics and I like his game a whole lot better than Wheeler's and Pacioretti's.

To me, Backes is a perfect compliment to Parise and Kane. I'm willing to bet that will be their first line. Having JVR and Kessel on a line together also seems like a lock given the chemistry they have developed together in Toronto. I'm not so sure who will center that line, though.
- dallas717

Im gonna bet that Stastny does. Just a wild guess. He catch's alot of flack on these boards. But hes a good player. Next bet would be Kesler. Stepan 3rd.

I think we're gonna see a Brown Pavelski Cally/Kesler shut down type of line.

Ryan should easily be in the top 6 of that team. There aren't 4 wingers on that team better than him
- sensarmy_11

Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, and JVR. Bobby Ryan and JVR are pretty close, but I don't see them splitting up Kessel and JVR. That pushes Ryan out of the top 6. Just my opinion of course.

Bernier was left off Canada's and he's been better than Schneider.
- djamon

debatable.

and Bernier's only been this good for a year. By the Bernier should make it logic, Bishop should have made team US

Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, and JVR. Bobby Ryan and JVR are pretty close, but I don't see them splitting up Kessel and JVR. That pushes Ryan out of the top 6. Just my opinion of course.
- dallas717

Ryan is neck and neck with kessel and parise, and is better than JVR

I know Yandle and Orpik are different types of players. But there's 8 defenseman spots. One of Orpik, Martin or Faulk should have been left off in favor of Yandle in my opinion. Who would I leave out for Bobby Ryan? Max Pacioretti or Wheeler. Ryan was effective last Olympics, he has the experience. He's gotten better since the last Olympics and I like his game a whole lot better than Wheeler's and Pacioretti's.
- TonyBazz

There's no way they would leave Orpik off in favour of Yandle, and Faulk has the better all-around game, but I definitely think the Yandle>Martin argument has merit. Honestly, if I were choosing the team, I would have went with Yandle over Martin.

Ryan is neck and neck with kessel and parise, and is better than JVR
- sensarmy_11

Parise is def a far better player. He does more than just get points. I do think Kessle and Ryan are neck and neck. But JVR gets the extra nod because hes already making the team and will play on a line with Kessle. JVR could play a 3rd or 4th line role while Kessle cannot. Neither can Ryan.

Ryan is neck and neck with kessel and parise, and is better than JVR
- sensarmy_11

Disagree.

And anyways, someone pointed out that it wouldn't make sense to split up Kessel and JVR. That's probably why Ryan didn't make it.

Honestly, do you think Ryan could make a big difference for the team?
- Compeyson

No, a 5-time 30 goal scorer would have no impact. Fool.

Ryan is neck and neck with kessel and parise, and is better than JVR
- sensarmy_11

I think you need to take the homer goggles off for a second. Bobby Ryan is good, but not that good. Phil Kessel and Zach Parise are both better players.

debatable.

and Bernier's only been this good for a year. By the Bernier should make it logic, Bishop should have made team US
- TheNugeIsHuge

I didn't say Bernier should make it...I said he's been better than Schneider. Your claim that the US is so deep in net simply because Schneider was left off is wrong, IMO.

And Bernier and Schneider have had virtually the same career to this point.

I think you need to take the homer goggles off for a second. Bobby Ryan is good, but not that good. Phil Kessel and Zach Parise are both better players.
- dallas717

well, all stats, both traditional (goals, points, +/-), as well as advanced (corsi, fenwick, etc) would all point to ryan being as good or better. he's neck and neck with kessel in goals and points, and he's miles ahead of parise.......pretty sure the main goal of a top six forward is to put up points. oh, and ryan has been very good in his own end this year too.

i'm not saying he's miles better than these players, but to say that kessel and parise are clearly better then ryan, with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to back it up, is ridiculous. please explain to me why they're better?

what do homer glasses have to do with this, i'm canadian, i'm happy he's left off the roster. it means that the US isnt' as good as they could be, and ryan is pissed and playing with something to prove for Ottawa

Disagree.

And anyways, someone pointed out that it wouldn't make sense to split up Kessel and JVR. That's probably why Ryan didn't make it.
- BetterCallSaul

i get the "chemsitry" thing.....i'm just laughing at the people who say ryan isn't good enough to play in the top six on this team, when he's EASILY one of the 4 best US wingers in the game today.

Id swap Ryan for Wheeler and or Stepan. Stepan is mostly a Center and we have 4 that are better than he is. And one in Oshie would plays RW but is capable at C. I think Ryan might bring more to the table. But I think most of the fans in the east prolly have more hate for Stepan because hes a Ranger. I think Ryan is a better player than Wheeler. But there is something about Wheeler that always draws people to him. Not sure what it is. But its obvious Team USA wants his size.
- poisondhearts37

Wheeler is fast for his size, that's why people are drawn to him and why he was drafted so high. Watched him in Boston for a while, didn't like him at all at the time but happy he found his game in Winnipeg. Must have been Claude's system holding his offense back.

I agree about Ryan for Wheeler, and I would have taken Okposo over Stepan.

I seriously can't wait until Canada announces it's roster and this website implodes.
- dallas717

This website will implode and explode at the same time.

i get the "chemsitry" thing.....i'm just laughing at the people who say ryan isn't good enough to play in the top six on this team, when he's EASILY one of the 4 best US wingers in the game today.
- sensarmy_11

Seems to me no one outside of USA Hockey thinks leaving Ryan off of the team was a good idea. That being said you can't definitively say Ryan is better than JVR. And to say he's on par with Kessel and Parise is just a false statement in my opinion. Kessel and Parise had years of self manufacturing offense on Toronto and New Jersey, respectively. If you put those two on a line with Getzlaf and Perry I truly believe both would be perrenial 90-100 point players.

I was laughing at that too.....I think price-loungo-smith (assuming that's the trio) is as good as the Americans
- sensarmy_11

Are you always this delusional?

Wheeler is fast for his size, that's why people are drawn to him and why he was drafted so high. Watched him in Boston for a while, didn't like him at all at the time but happy he found his game in Winnipeg. Must have been Claude's system holding his offense back.

I agree about Ryan for Wheeler, and I would have taken Okposo over Stepan.
- GSDIV

Maybe not if you get last years Stepan.