International TournamentsDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Agreed. Just one more top offensive player would make for a pretty competant top six forward group.
An elite goalie
I'll take Schneider or Quick, but I think Schneider is much more likely. He's been a backup most of the year, so he's likely fresher than any other goalie. Ie no injury excuse. Plus he's good. Advantage is that Quick hasn't put in as much time with the US program as other guys like Miller. So maybe he thinks it's a good way to get in the good graces for 2014? I can dream right. Howard might be available, but he's been hurt much of the year. Hopefully he's healthy.
So an elite goalie, plus a 50 point forward, would be ideal. Specifically a center. Kane, Oshie, Pavelski, all would just put me over the moon.
The annoying thing is the sort of guesswork of who will accept an invite and who won't.
I'll take Schneider or Quick, but I think Schneider is much more likely. He's been a backup most of the year, so he's likely fresher than any other goalie. Ie no injury excuse. Plus he's good. Advantage is that Quick hasn't put in as much time with the US program as other guys like Miller. So maybe he thinks it's a good way to get in the good graces for 2014? I can dream right. Howard might be available, but he's been hurt much of the year. Hopefully he's healthy.
So an elite goalie, plus a 50 point forward, would be ideal. Specifically a center. Kane, Oshie, Pavelski, all would just put me over the moon.
The annoying thing is the sort of guesswork of who will accept an invite and who won't.
Considering the first round match ups this year the amount of talent that will be available coming into round 2 will be immense.
It could be any of Oshie, Pavelski, Kane, Kesler, Schneider, Quick, Suter, Leddy, Yandle in the West..
East - Callahan, Parise, Carle, Carlson, Orpik, Martin, Thomas
I'm a Team Canada supporter but I really like how the US national teams have been playing these past few years, excited to see them again in the Worlds.
Considering the first round match ups this year the amount of talent that will be available coming into round 2 will be immense.
It could be any of Oshie, Pavelski, Kane, Kesler, Schneider, Quick, Suter, Leddy, Yandle in the West..
East - Callahan, Parise, Carle, Carlson, Orpik, Martin, Thomas
I'm a Team Canada supporter but I really like how the US national teams have been playing these past few years, excited to see them again in the Worlds.
It'd be nice but the fact is that most of those guys would likely decline.
Still too early to get a good read on this but I think Pavelski or Oshie would both play from that series. Backes probably not but he'd be an ideal addition as well. If we could add the aforementioned spots, it could bump Gerbe and Slater down to the 3rd line spots which they're perfect for in this tournament, or a guy like Okposo to provide an offensive presence to the 3rd line.
Defense:
1 - Defensive D-man
1 - Any other D-man
Depends on if Byfuglien plays here but a guy like Yandle would be a likely target.
Goalies:
1 - Number one goalie
1 - Young goalie
I still think Schneider is the best and most likely target other than that he'll be a RFA. Still, I think he'll want to play the games as our undisputed number 1 and showcase himself even more either for Vancouver or a possible trade target. I can't imagine Quick would play. He's carried LA most of the year by himself and while he's not a FA, he's due for a significant raise this offseason. I can't see him risking injury. Other than Schneider, I think Howard or Thomas would both be strong possibilities.
__________________ "I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough." - Mark Twain.
What happened with Bonino? It sounded like he'd been invited, but I haven't seen him listed as part of the team.
Not sure. The initial talk of it was coming from Bobby Ryan. He may have just been publicly trying to get Team USA to invite him. Either way, at this point they don't need a guy of his ilk.
Not sure. The initial talk of it was coming from Bobby Ryan. He may have just been publicly trying to get Team USA to invite him. Either way, at this point they don't need a guy of his ilk.
I'd have to agree. He should be a final option if we can't get anybody better.
I assume so with 25 man rosters. 12 forwards, 6 defenders, 3 goalies leaves four extra slots. So two forwards and two defenders. Is my math right?
Yes. You can break it up as you please. I'd assume they'll take 14 forwards and 8 d-men. 3, IIRC, which would end up sitting each game. I'd guess guys like J.T. Brown, etc. have been made aware of that possibility and they still understand it's beneficial for them to participate.
Well Schneider, Higgins, Booth and Kesler should be available fairly soon. I wonder how likely any of those are. As for me, I'll be disappointed if we don't get at least Schneider.
Also should have Brooks Orpik, Paul Martin, Matt Niskanen, Ben Lovejoy and Brent Johnson available. Considering how the Penguins D has played, they might all be useless and Brent Johnson isn't much more than a last ditch option.
Well Schneider, Higgins, Booth and Kesler should be available fairly soon. I wonder how likely any of those are. As for me, I'll be disappointed if we don't get at least Schneider.
Also should have Brooks Orpik, Paul Martin, Matt Niskanen, Ben Lovejoy and Brent Johnson available. Considering how the Penguins D has played, they might all be useless and Brent Johnson isn't much more than a last ditch option.
Schneider is the really only one worth grabbing right away. Kesler is too but he wouldn't play. I'd rather wait for other options than the guys you list outside of Orpik.
I have a pretty good feeling that Schneider will play and be the #1 we haven't had in this tournament since Tim Thomas was going to help us to a medal before injuring his groin.
In terms of likelihood to accept the call and talent, he's probably the #1 guy available.
Quote:
Originally Posted by William H Bonney
Schneider is the really only one worth grabbing right away. Kesler is too but he wouldn't play. I'd rather wait for other options than the guys you list outside of Orpik.
I have a pretty good feeling that Schneider will play and be the #1 we haven't had in this tournament since Tim Thomas was going to help us to a medal before injuring his groin.
Well just for comparisons sake Higgins and Booth (43 pts and 29) would be our forth highest scoring forwards, but yes generally I agree. Neither of those two are very eye catching.
Kesler obviously would be amazing. He's only played at one World Championship to my knowledge, but then the only other time he was free to my knowledge was 2008. Lets keep our hopes up that his passion for USA hockey will convince him that he had another month of hockey in him.
Barring a miraculous Canucks comeback I'd bet that Schneider will jump at the opportunity to play the #1 role, but Kesler will respectably decline the invite. Last summer he had a short off season mostly spent recovering from injury leading to a very poor showing this season. And with a roster spot pretty much secured on the US Olympic team he'll probably want to take the time off to get have a full summer to recover for next season. You should get at least one of Booth or Higgins available though.
Barring a miraculous Canucks comeback I'd bet that Schneider will jump at the opportunity to play the #1 role, but Kesler will respectably decline the invite. Last summer he had a short off season mostly spent recovering from injury leading to a very poor showing this season. And with a roster spot pretty much secured on the US Olympic team he'll probably want to take the time off to get have a full summer to recover for next season. You should get at least one of Booth or Higgins available though.
I think Schneider and Higgins would be locks. Higgins needs to keep playing meaningful hockey or else he might start hitting the bottle again
just would leave a center.....hello there Ryan Kesler!! I have been watching that series and Kesler hasnt taken a beating like last year, so he could play especially if he is pretty tight with JJ, Kesler, Ryan, or Stastny. Kesler is a very passionate supporter of USA Hockey, if the Kings sweep I could see him jumping on board to forget that train wreck performance.
my ideal situation would probably be this :
2 goalies - Corey Schneider and Ben Bishop - Schneider the obvious #1, with Bishop a very solid #2 who could steal a game or two
2 dmen - Dustin Byfuglien and Kevin Shattenkirk (hoping the Blues lose). massive additions if we can land these two horses
2 forwards - Chris Higgins and T.J Oshie - I like Higgins on the wing as he brings energy and some scoring. a likely type of winger we will get. and Oshie is that center that we desperately covet and need for the 2nd line. swap him or Pavelski with whatever team loses, but those are my top targets.
if we can get these guys, then I am a firm believer we can medal for once.
It's all relative (to past years and to what other teams will ice). With the exception of Canada, none of these rosters will look like world beaters on paper.
I doubt Kesler plays. He's got nothing to gain by going. And sometimes guys like to lay low after a disappointing loss. The media will be all over him after they pumped him up as such a clutch player last year.
Meanwhile, San Jose is one step closer to losing. A campaign for Pavelski might be more worthwhile.
I think if we can add another top-6 foward then we're in decent shape. I highly doubt Kesler would accept an invite, and Booth with his lenghty concussion history is iffy, but Higgins is a possibility.
Of greater importance is landing a solid goaltender, which can make all the difference in a tournament like this. And a robust, stay-at-home defenseman to partner with our stable of puckmovers on the blueline would be a huge addition. Brooks Orpik would be ideal, Pittsburgh's defensive performance vs. Philly not withstanding.
I think if we can add another top-6 foward then we're in decent shape. I highly doubt Kesler would accept an invite, and Booth with his lenghty concussion history is iffy, but Higgins is a possibility.
Of greater importance is landing a solid goaltender, which can make all the difference in a tournament like this. And a robust, stay-at-home defenseman to partner with our stable of puckmovers on the blueline would be a huge addition. Brooks Orpik would be ideal, Pittsburgh's defensive performance vs. Philly not withstanding.
I doubt Booth would play with your said reasons...but he would be a really nice add on the second line if he did come on board.
Still no word on Byfuglien, not sure if a good sign or a bad sign yet...
