IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Granlund dominated in the last WC. And Lasch dominated (was better than Granlund) this year in FEL. He can be an impact player in the International games.
Or not. Tim Stapleton made a name for himself in the SM-liiga, but has had a moderate impact elsewhere.
Of course, it depends on the minutes and situations he plays in (Stapleton saw some good ice time on the PP with Winnipeg this year).
He is serviceable, but these Nordic leagues have a rather specific play style, and imports are not always the only catalysts on their team there. Taken out of that environment, and put on a more diverse international roster, not every player will thrive.
Team USA used to go with a bunch of Euros at the Worlds in the late 1990s-early 2000s and it didn't help them one bit.
In 1999, Tom Bissett scored an absolutely preposterous 40 goals in 50 Swedish Elite games (something that most NHLers would be hard pressed to replicate if they played in Sweden), yet I wouldn't necessarily call him an impact international player for the US.
Now I do believe that you can score gold with some Euro expats from time to time.
You can find a guy with a special ability that will make him stand out in the middle of even much better known guys, like Andy Roach of the DEL on the 2004 team. Pure offensive defenseman, great skater, great shootout move (which the staff didn't know when they picked him, but it got them a medal).
But you have to really know what you're doing and taking a guy just because he's been tearing it up for one season in Finland is not proof enough.
I'm not saying they don't have other good reasons to use Lasch. They might genuinely believe he has assets in his play that make him a good fit. It's just that IMO elite reputation as an import in a Nordic league is not enough on its own to justify a call to the Worlds on a Top 8 WC team.
I think Chicago wins in round 1 anyways, so it doesn't matter. San Jose has some players who could be useful for Team USA if they lose. It's a lot more likely IMO. Heck, that series guarantees a good American player becoming available (Pavelski or Oshie/Backes/Shattenkirk) since one side has to lose
I'd be over the moon if we got either Oshie or Pavelski on the roster.
Drew Stafford, Jason Pominville, Blake Wheeler officially refused to play the world championship in ice hockey???
have not seen any "official" declining from any of these guys, but looking at the available spots, only 1 of these guys can likely come on board, and I even doubt that as we need another center unless they plan on putting someone out of position currently on the roster.
Wheeler seems like the most likely, Billy Jaffe said a number of days back on NHL Tonight that Wheeler was in to play for USA...but something might have changed, I dunno.
still havent heard who our other coach is yet, but after seeing Joe Sacco getting a 2 year extension, it just annoys me that he isnt our coach.
I mean why would Sacco decline a chance to lead a young gun team to a medal? would be a great story, but now we have to worry about Scott Gordon and his inability to evolve and change up his lines when his players simply arent clicking together.
have not seen any "official" declining from any of these guys, but looking at the available spots, only 1 of these guys can likely come on board, and I even doubt that as we need another center unless they plan on putting someone out of position currently on the roster.
Wheeler seems like the most likely, Billy Jaffe said a number of days back on NHL Tonight that Wheeler was in to play for USA...but something might have changed, I dunno.
Wheeler plus a decent center would give us two scoring lines, and I'd feel good about the team's ability to score. I hope Jaffe was right.
interesting article about many of the 'Canes players....
from what I got out of it, is that Jamie McBain has NOT turned down his invite, as he was indeed invited. he looks to be mulling it over due to his RFA status and not injury and will make his decision in the next few days...
so if Buff cant go then we still have a great shot at Jamie McBain which is awesome!! I would rather have Buff and his shot/physical play...but McBain is the better overall dman whose smooth skating would be another welcome addition to this already mobile d corp....
pretty cool article on Kyle Okposo and how much he is actually pumped to play for USA, but also how pissed off he was at the teams 2010 finish...I love seeing a guy like this coming in motivated to not only represent your country, but he also said his mindset is on winning the Gold! I like you very much Kyle...need more like you!
still no word on Montoya one way or the other....still very very surprised by this. I guess USA Hockey didnt like the 7 goals he gave up the last game of the year.
Montoya had injury issues this year, concussion maybe more, plus he wasn't all that great. Maybe the team didn't want him, maybe he declined and we haven't heard about it. Maybe he's 4th or so on the list and has said yes already if néed be.
I also love seeing guys take pride in playing for the US.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmericanDream
pretty cool article on Kyle Okposo and how much he is actually pumped to play for USA, but also how pissed off he was at the teams 2010 finish...I love seeing a guy like this coming in motivated to not only represent your country, but he also said his mindset is on winning the Gold! I like you very much Kyle...need more like you!
still no word on Montoya one way or the other....still very very surprised by this. I guess USA Hockey didnt like the 7 goals he gave up the last game of the year.
pretty cool article on Kyle Okposo and how much he is actually pumped to play for USA, but also how pissed off he was at the teams 2010 finish...I love seeing a guy like this coming in motivated to not only represent your country, but he also said his mindset is on winning the Gold! I like you very much Kyle...need more like you!
still no word on Montoya one way or the other....still very very surprised by this. I guess USA Hockey didnt like the 7 goals he gave up the last game of the year.
Montoya definitely needs the summer to get over his concussion injury. Below are his stats before and after his concussion, it could really jeopardize his NHL career. I don't think that includes his last game in which he gave up 7 goals.
I know the NHL likes to talk the big talk about players not coming back until they are fully healed from concussions, but I really think it's kind of clear that that often isn't the case.
That's why I completely understand players like Montoya or Liles taking the summer off to heal up and why I'm less forgiving of boo boos like Phil Kessel's wrist injury.
Ugh. I haven't seen anything about it elsewhere but eliteprospects has Mike Brown listed for the team as well. These aren't promising signs for getting another 1 or 2 top six forwards.
F - Cam Atkinson (CBJ)
F - J.T. Brown (TBL)
F - Joey Crabb (TOR)
F - Pat Dwyer (CAR)
F - Nathan Gerbe (BUF)
F - Ryan Lasch (Finland)
F - Kyle Okposo (NYI)
F - Max Pacioretty (MON)
F - Bobby Ryan (ANA)
F - Jim Slater (WPG)
F - Paul Stastny (COL)
F - Nate Thompson (TBL)
----
D - Chris Butler (CGY)
D - Justin Faulk (CAR)
D - Cam Fowler (ANA)
D - Alex Goligoski (DAL)
D - Jack Johnson (CBJ)
D - Jeff Petry (EDM)
----
G - Richard Bachman (DAL)
Mulling Invitation
F - Blake Wheeler (WPG)
D - Dustin Byfuglien (WPG): *Injured Foot*
D - Jamie McBain (CAR)
Declined Invitation
F - Erik Cole (MON)
F - Phil Kessel (TOR) *Wrist Injury*
F - Chad LaRose (CAR)
F - Ryan Malone (TBL)
F - R.J. Umberger (CBJ) *Does it really matter?*
D - Zach Bogosian (WPG)
D - Tim Gleason (CAR)
D - J.M. Liles (TOR)
D - James Wisniewski (CBJ) *Rest after injury riddled season*
G - Brian Boucher (CAR)
G - Ryan Miller (BUF)
Available Players
F - Jason Blake (ANA)
F - Nick Bonino (ANA)
F - Adam Burish (DAL)
F - Tim Connolly (TOR)
F - Jake Dowell (DAL)
F - Patrick Kaleta (BUF)
F - Peter Mueller (COL
F - Eric Nystrom (DAL)
F - Jason Pominville (BUF)
F - Drew Stafford (BUF)
F - Tim Stapleton (WPG)
F - David Steckel (TOR)
F - Lee Stempniak (CGY)
----
D - Mark Eaton (NYI)
D - Tom Gilbert (MIN)
D - Ron Hainsey (WPG)
D - Matt Hunwick (COL)
D - Erik Johnson (COL)
D - Mike Komisarek (TOR)
D - Jordan Leopold (BUF)
D - Mark Stuart (WPG)
D - Ryan Whitney (EDM)
----
G - Jack Campbell (AHL)
G - Robert Esche (Switzerland)
G - Al Montoya (NYI)
Unavailable Players
F - Matt Cullen (MIN) *Injury*
F - Brian Gionta (MON) *Injury*
F - Scott Gomez (MON) *Injury*
F - David Moss (CGY) *Injury*
F - Ryan Shannon (TBL) *Injury*
----
D - Jake Gardiner (TOR) *AHL Playoffs*
----
G - Rick DiPietro (NYI) *Injury*
__________________ "I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough." - Mark Twain.
Last edited by William H Bonney: 04-14-2012 at 01:56 PM.
Not a fan of this addition. Nothing against Crabb but they already had 11 forwards. Most of the first round of the NHL playoffs, if not all, will have concluded in time to possibly add those players to the team prior to the start of the tournament. Now they're down to 4 open spots left but only 2 of those can be used on skaters and with only 5 confirmed d-men, you'd have to assume they're looking for 2 d-men and not a forward. I can't imagine they'd head into the tournament with 13 F and only 6 D.
There's nothing wrong with starting the tournament with a possibly short roster if, hypothetically, they passed on these bottom liners and then every eliminated player said no and they couldn't find another player to sign on. But the latter wouldn't happen. I understand you need to hedge your bets and they've done that to an extent but again, like a lot of these tournaments, the USA brass has turned trigger happy and shortsighted. Now we'll essentially have to wait until after the first 3 games of the tournament to add any additional forwards and given that the first eligible game those guys would be able to play in is May 10th, I'm not sure the timing will work out where any eliminated forwards will want to sit around for 1-2 weeks before being able to play for the team.
The chance to add a top flight forward is worth the risk of losing out on a Crabb and possibly having to play with only 11 forwards for a game or two. This also has to confirm that both Pominville, Wheeler, Stafford, etc. have all officially declined.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cagney
Ugh. I haven't seen anything about it elsewhere but eliteprospects has Mike Brown listed for the team as well. These aren't promising signs for getting another 1 or 2 top six forwards.
I'd be sick with USA Hockey if that's the case. Hopefully this is false and I'd think it is. That would leave them with 13 forwards, 5 d-men, and 1 goalie. They'd only have 3 spots left to use and 2 have to be goalies (until after the first 3 games are done). I can't imagine they would only go into the tournament with 6 d-men. They've also already officially announced Crabb's addition but nothing on Brown.
Hopefully Eliteprospects just confused Mike Brown for J.T. Brown and then added J.T. but forgot to remove Mike.
Even with all that said, this is still a much better roster (goalies pending but I've been impressed with Bachman when I've seen him play this year) then we've iced since 2009. There's enough talent where this team should have consistent enough scoring and possibly compete for a medal depending on the goalie play. Less talented teams have done more in this tournament so at least this is an upswing from our previous rosters.
Last edited by William H Bonney: 04-12-2012 at 09:43 PM.
Not a fan of this addition. Nothing against Crabb but they already had 11 forwards. Most of the first round of the NHL playoffs, if not all, will have concluded in time to possibly add those players to the team prior to the start of the tournament. Now they're down to 4 open spots left but only 2 of those can be used on skaters and with only 5 confirmed d-men, you'd have to assume they're looking for 2 d-men and not a forward. I can't imagine they'd head into the tournament with 13 F and only 6 D.
I think that starting with this year (because of the new format) teams can ice a 25 man roster on the first day of the tournament.
Ironically Crabb is the forth highest scoring forward (not counting Finnish league numbers) on the roster.
I saw that too....
I can just see Bobby Ryan, Stastny, and Max going to each other " are you freaken kidding me?" those 3 are going to be leaned on so heavily that I doubt they can carry the load. we still need a legit #2 center to play with Okposo and Atkinson...
Crabb is a good role player who had an above average year, but this team lacks talent down the middle as well as another top 6 winger like you and I have been saying..
if the roster is truly 25 then that makes me a bit happier...but if not, I dont know if we can medal with this group...depending on our 2 goalies and if the 2 remaining dmen are McBain and Byfuglien.
Honestly just based on this group so far, I'd consider making the quarterfinals (top 4 in the group) a successful tournament. To have any hope of going further we need either a stud goalie to ride or the aforementioned second scoring threat. Without either I'd say this current group is going to struggle to do much except probably match last years quarterfinal exit.
