IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
I really hope another high-end forward is added. Zajac will be like our shutdown center along with Horcoff and Lombardi.
Armstrong did say that Canada would like to add two players after Neal was injured and Coburn and Vlasic were invited......*fingers crossed*
If Carter was invited and he didn't have an injury, it's a shame......He's a young player who is on the bubble. He better have an injury...and what's up with Marleau or Gagne?
It's a nightmare to think that a player like Parise was actually looking forward to playing for the US and they didn't save a spot for him. I've always worried about US players caring about this event and to see proof that the best US player in the world really wants to be there and USA Hockey didn't leave that option open is so sad. I believe that this year is a bit different with the olympics coming and I support the notion of giving certain players that are on the bubble for that team a chance to prove themselves but there are guys there that won't be contributing to either team. It's a shame.
Well, to be fair, the U.S. brass probably thought Parise wouldn't be available, and acted accordingly. I know I thought New Jersey would make it to the second round or beyond. Besides, it seems like they called him, which is a nice gesture. He's got nothing to prove, but it is nice to see a player show enthusiasm for this tournament.
At the moment, team captain Mike Richards is the only confirmed surgery on the board, while the club awaits MRI readings from noted hip specialist Thomas Byrd in Tennessee, who is looking at films on Antero Niittymaki, Simon Gagne, Darroll Powe and Randy Jones.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Sharks could be well represented at the World Hockey Championships in Switzerland. Confirmed to go: left wing Milan Michalek (Czech Republic) and center Joe Pavelski (United States). Also invited were defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic and right wing Devin Setoguchi (Canada).
Last edited by DrFeelgood: 05-01-2009 at 11:45 AM.
Scott Clemmensen has in fact been added to the U.S. Team. Watch your back Esche!
Yep, looks like I did get my wish after all.
"Team USA will use its last roster spot, a third goalkeeper, for Scott Clemmensen. Clemmensen shared the New Jersey Devils cage with Martin Brodeur and Kevin Weekes this season. He had a 91.7 save percentage and a 2.39 GAA in 40 games."
Good for Clemmensen, it's a nice reward after the good season he had.
Looking at the US goalies before today I thought they should have considered Jeff Frazee for a spot. He had a great year in Lowell for the Devils affiliate and has played well for the US internationally before.
I'm guessing Alec Richards was never officially added? Good for Clemmer. He had a really good year and I feel a lot better with him potentially taking over for Esche than I do with Montoya.
I'm guessing Alec Richards was never officially added? Good for Clemmer. He had a really good year and I feel a lot better with him potentially taking over for Esche than I do with Montoya.
He might have been brought as a true emergency/experience player.
Boy, we sucked balls today. Russia was far better than we were. Every time the came down the ice it seems they got a quality shot on goal. Every time we came down the ice it seemed like an adventure in human error.
Derek Roy - Jason Spezza - Dany Heatley
Shane Doan - Steven Stamkos - Martin St. Louis
Matthew Lombardi - Shawn Horcoff - Travis Zajac [Shutdown Line]
Colby Armstrong - Mike Fisher - Scottie Upshall
Ian White
Chris Phillips - Drew Doughty
Shea Weber - Dan Hamhuis [Shutdown Pair]
Brayden Coburn - Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Luke Schenn
Chris Mason
Dwyane Roloson
Josh Harding
First PP pair:
Roy - Spezza - Heatley
St. Louis - Weber
Second PP pair:
Doan - Stamkos - Lombardi/Horcoff [Maybe Zajac?]
Doughty - Coburn [I would assume Coburn will get 2nd PP time]
First PK pair:
Horcoff - Lombardi
Weber - Hamhuis
Second PK pair:
Fisher - Armstrong
Phillips - Doughty [Could be Vlasic]
We don't know how the three new additions fit so let's see....
Strengths:- Goaltending [One of the best in the tournament]
- Gritty Defense [Watch out....]
- Shutdown and Energy lines
Weaknesses:-The top-end scoring [especially ES]
-Getting too fancy sometimes [whole team]
As I said before, it'll be interesting to see if Heatley and Spezza can perform against the good teams as the tournament rolls along..............especially at even-strength.
Too bad, a lot of the Canadian forwards are injured.
Good for Clemmensen, it's a nice reward after the good season he had.
Looking at the US goalies before today I thought they should have considered Jeff Frazee for a spot. He had a great year in Lowell for the Devils affiliate and has played well for the US internationally before.
I hope Clemmensen is ready, because Esche has been AWFUL. Now, when I saw awful, I don't mean that he hasn't been average, but he simply has not been able to make the expected save, much less the BIG save against countries like Sweden and Russia. They have turned him into their own personal shooter-tutor.
Having watched all the US games, goaltending is THE reason this US team will likely bow out the minute they face Sweden, Canada, Russia, the Czech Republic and possibly even Finland. Montoya played against France and allowed 2 goals on like 17 shots, but at the time they were scored, it was 2 goals allowed on 8 shots and he didn't look all too good there either. France is an opponent who shouldn't even have smelled the US end of the ice. Still, they scored twice and beat Montoya a couple of other times, then missed the net.
I hope Clemmensen brings the "game" he had at season because it's obvious that the skaters have little to no belief in the current goalies.
We're through to the QF's now and was wondering what players on Team USA you all thought have helped their chances of making the Olympic team (of those guys that have a shot in the first place, so don't say Colin Wilson). I think Jack Johnson, JM Liles, Patrick O'Sullivan and Ron Hansey have really helped their chances, especially Johnson. I think Ryan Suter, TJ Oshie, and Keith Ballard haven't done themselves any favors. I really like what Chris Higgins showed against Switzerland, although I still don't expect he'll make it to Vancouver. I don't know what to make of David Backes. He's been good when out there but that 5-min./game misconduct he took against Switzerland hurts. I thought he was a sure-thing to make the 4th line in 2010 but he's gotta play more disciplined hockey. You know Brian Burke had to be watching and thinking, "Just imagine if he pulls a stunt like that in the medal round in 2010."
One thing I think I've concluded is that we're won't be bringing a great defense to Vancouver. This defense hasn't played all that well, and with the exception of Rafalski and maybe Komisarek or Orpik, we don't have many defensemen that are better than these guys. You can only blame Robert Esche for so much, when Russians and Swiss are allowed to shoot from right in front of the net, you gotta piint the finger at the d-men. If our defense isn't better in Vancouver I don't see us going too far.
One last observation- is "Funkytown" the only song they have in Switzerland? Seems like every break in the action they're playing that song. I'm going to hate that song by the time this tournament is over!
Last edited by PaulieVegas: 05-04-2009 at 03:02 PM.
We're through to the QF's now and was wondering what players on Team USA you all thought have helped their chances of making the Olympic team (of those guys that have a shot in the first place, so don't say Colin Wilson). I think Jack Johnson, JM Liles, Patrick O'Sullivan and Ron Hansey have really helped their chances, especially Johnson. I think Ryan Suter, TJ Oshie, and Keith Ballard haven't done themselves any favors. I really like what Chris Higgins showed against Switzerland, although I still don't expect he'll make it to Vancouver. I don't know what to make of David Backes. He's been good when out there but that 5-min./game misconduct he took against Switzerland hurts. I thought he was a sure-thing to make the 4th line in 2010 but he's gotta play more disciplined hockey. You know Brian Burke had to be watching and thinking, "Just imagine if he pulls a stunt like that in the medal round in 2010."
One thing I think I've concluded is that we're won't be bringing a great defense to Vancouver. This defense hasn't played all that well, and with the exception of Rafalski and maybe Komisarek or Orpik, we don't have many defensemen that are better than these guys. You can only blame Robert Esche for so much, when Russians and Swiss are allowed to shoot from right in front of the net, you gotta piint the finger at the d-men. If our defense isn't better in Vancouver I don't see us going too far.
One last observation- is "Funkytown" the only song they have in Switzerland? Seems like every break in the action they're playing that song. I'm going to hate that song by the time this tournament is over!
We're through to the QF's now and was wondering what players on Team USA you all thought have helped their chances of making the Olympic team (of those guys that have a shot in the first place, so don't say Colin Wilson). I think Jack Johnson, JM Liles, Patrick O'Sullivan and Ron Hansey have really helped their chances, especially Johnson. I think Ryan Suter, TJ Oshie, and Keith Ballard haven't done themselves any favors. I really like what Chris Higgins showed against Switzerland, although I still don't expect he'll make it to Vancouver. I don't know what to make of David Backes. He's been good when out there but that 5-min./game misconduct he took against Switzerland hurts. I thought he was a sure-thing to make the 4th line in 2010 but he's gotta play more disciplined hockey. You know Brian Burke had to be watching and thinking, "Just imagine if he pulls a stunt like that in the medal round in 2010."
One thing I think I've concluded is that we're won't be bringing a great defense to Vancouver. This defense hasn't played all that well, and with the exception of Rafalski and maybe Komisarek or Orpik, we don't have many defensemen that are better than these guys. You can only blame Robert Esche for so much, when Russians and Swiss are allowed to shoot from right in front of the net, you gotta piint the finger at the d-men. If our defense isn't better in Vancouver I don't see us going too far.
One last observation- is "Funkytown" the only song they have in Switzerland? Seems like every break in the action they're playing that song. I'm going to hate that song by the time this tournament is over!
Having watched most of the games, my impression is as follows:
- Esche has been really shaky. Of the top 8 nations at this tournament, he has provided the worst goaltending. Montoya was shaky against an underwhelming France. Fact is, one can see clearly that the players have NO confidence in these goalies and have been more and more uncertain as this tourney has progressed. The loss to Switzerland yesterday was symbolic of this situation.
- Shorthanded, the US has been very poor. Unless things change rapidly, a team like Canada or Russia or Sweden WILL score 2-4 PP goals PER GAME against the US. Russia, Sweden and FRANCE have already done that. The PK has been shockingly poor.
- The defense has been awesome in transition and pretty good in the offensive zone. But it just looks like they're constantly playing with the knowledge that any shot could go in at any time.
- The team is having problems being a consistant threat in the way Canada, Russia and Sweden seem to be consistant threats.
- Of the Dmen, Liles and Johnson have looked the best.
For the Olympics, I definitely see Rafalski and Martin added to the defensive mix. I'll be curious to see if Corvo and Erik Johnson will be in the mix as well.
Dustin Brown has been strong. Oshie and Backes have been noticeable. Okposo has not been all that good in total and a guy like Shannon has outplayed a good half of the forwards.
There's no one sniper who has been an overall stand-out, although O'Sullivan scored in each of the first 4 games.
Tomorrow they play Finland, who beat Canada in a meaningless game (for Canada). The biggest question for me is: does the US put the newly appointed Clemmensen in net? At this point, I believe the team has little confidence in Esche being able to beat Finland. He's currently 2-3 with a 3.38 GAA and .870 save percentage. At this rate, 30 shots on Esche means no less than 4 goals against.
We're through to the QF's now and was wondering what players on Team USA you all thought have helped their chances of making the Olympic team (of those guys that have a shot in the first place, so don't say Colin Wilson). I think Jack Johnson, JM Liles, Patrick O'Sullivan and Ron Hansey have really helped their chances, especially Johnson. I think Ryan Suter, TJ Oshie, and Keith Ballard haven't done themselves any favors. I really like what Chris Higgins showed against Switzerland, although I still don't expect he'll make it to Vancouver. I don't know what to make of David Backes. He's been good when out there but that 5-min./game misconduct he took against Switzerland hurts. I thought he was a sure-thing to make the 4th line in 2010 but he's gotta play more disciplined hockey. You know Brian Burke had to be watching and thinking, "Just imagine if he pulls a stunt like that in the medal round in 2010."
One thing I think I've concluded is that we're won't be bringing a great defense to Vancouver. This defense hasn't played all that well, and with the exception of Rafalski and maybe Komisarek or Orpik, we don't have many defensemen that are better than these guys. You can only blame Robert Esche for so much, when Russians and Swiss are allowed to shoot from right in front of the net, you gotta piint the finger at the d-men. If our defense isn't better in Vancouver I don't see us going too far.
One last observation- is "Funkytown" the only song they have in Switzerland? Seems like every break in the action they're playing that song. I'm going to hate that song by the time this tournament is over!
I hesitate to agree with your assessment of the defense, since the Olympics will be played on NA sized ice and the U.S. defense core will likely have a differant make-up. This team is lacking defensive defensemen, which I think is hurting the overall product. Add in an Orpik, Gleason, Martin, and Komisarek (if healthy and playing to his ability), and the defensive zone is not nearly as chaotic. I will say, that Liles, Jack Johnson, an Ron Hainsey have at least put themselves in a position to be considered for the team. Very good production so far. Out of the forward group, O'Sullivan has done a nice job, but the forward group is going to be tough to crack. The question with Backes is: Is he undisciplined, or are the refs taking him to task for being big, strong, and mean? He did have a ton of penalty minutes this year, so the U.S. brass might have to think long and hard about putting him on the Olympic team.
