I would be very surprised if Kuraly and Hartman were not even on the preliminary roster. I would also expect Skeij and Matteau to be on it but wouldn't be shocked if they weren't.
I would be very surprised if Kuraly and Hartman were not even on the preliminary roster. I would also expect Skeij and Matteau to be on it but wouldn't be shocked if they weren't.
Kuraly and Skjei have been left off my roster for the same reason in that they have struggled to make the transition to college hockey so far. Yeah, Skjei has been hurt but from what I've seen and the fact that I think he's a bubble player to begin with that's why I don't have him.
It's also worth noting three of these four names you listed are 94s. Not sure how young USA hockey is looking to get if talent is equal especially considering I think at least five 94s are already on the team or are in very good contention right now.
I can't imagine Henrik Samuelsson has done enough to get into play. His skating isn't good and there's players that can fill his role that Team USA actually liked at the Summer Camp where Henrik was an early cut. I also don't think you'll see two defenseman (Paliotta, Russo) that were early cuts get back into play. I imagine Housley would opt for a better skater like Grzelcyk instead, especially since neither Reilly or Skjei has been all that impressive so far to start their year.
Here's what I see at this point:
Forwards (x17):
Riley Barber
Tyler Biggs
Colin Blackwell
Travis Boyd
Adam Erne
Ryan Hartman
Alex Galchenyuk
John Gaudreau
Rocco Grimaldi
Sean Kuraly
Stefan Matteau
J.T. Miller
Stefan Noesen
Danny O'Regan
Blake Pietila
Vincent Trocheck
Brady Vail
Defense (x10):
Shane Gostisbehere
Matt Grzelcyk
Garrett Haar
Seth Jones
Jake McCabe
Connor Murphy
Mike Reilly
Patrick Sieloff
Brady Skjei
Jacob Trouba
Goalies (x3):
John Gibson
Jon Gillies
Garrett Sparks
I left off Lucia and Kerdiles, who I think are both there if they are in shape and producing by mid-December. A guy like Kuraly probably still has the benefit of doubt from dominating at the summer camp to get an invite to the final camp but he'll need to start producing or that could change as well.
__________________ "I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough." - Mark Twain.
I can't imagine Henrik Samuelsson has done enough to get into play. His skating isn't good and there's players that can fill his role that Team USA actually liked at the Summer Camp where Henrik was an early cut.
1) I see we agree on almost all the players
2) You bring up a good point about having three guys on my roster who wee already given a good look this summer. I was impressed with Russo in the games of Notre Dame I've seen online. Looking forward to watching him (Schmaltz, Grimaldi, and Lucia too) live about a week before the roster comes out. May change my mind then.
3) I chose Samuelsson over Hartman because of skillset. Never have too many power forwards in your bottom six on Olympic ice and with the forward groups Russia, Canada, etc. are bringing.
4) You still like Kuraly after being invisible in his first nine games of the year? Yeah, he did have a good camp, but if you take that out of the equation he was a longshot to begin with.
2) You bring up a good point about having three guys on my roster who wee already given a good look this summer. I was impressed with Russo in the games of Notre Dame I've seen online. Looking forward to watching him (Schmaltz, Grimaldi, and Lucia too) live about a week before the roster comes out. May change my mind then.
I don't dislike Russo, I just don't think both Russo and Paliotta have done enough to get back into play. I think it's much more likely a defenseman such as Grzelcyk, as a better skater than those two, gets into consideration.
Schmaltz has barely progressed in two years. I don't have high hopes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeissFC
3) I chose Samuelsson over Hartman because of skillset. Never have too many power forwards in your bottom six on Olympic ice and with the forward groups Russia, Canada, etc. are bringing.
Samuelsson won't be much good against those teams because he can't keep up on the Olympic Ice where skating is much more of a factor. Hartman is a better skater, an in your face, physical agitator despite not having the same size, and skilled in his own right. I just don't see how Samuelsson has done enough to impress the Team USA brass that was so wholly unimpressed with him to begin this process.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeissFC
4) You still like Kuraly after being invisible in his first nine games of the year? Yeah, he did have a good camp, but if you take that out of the equation he was a longshot to begin with.
I don't think he was considered a long shot on a roster that had a lot of open spots to begin with. And I don't think his camp will keep him on the team necessarily but that it will at least keep him on the preliminary roster at this point. If he doesn't get going in the next 3-4 weeks, that probably changes as well. It must also be noted that two guys I think are at this camp if they're back healthy and in form were left off pending their returns.
I hope they take Seiloff, his physical play will be very useful. The likely locks are Murphy, Gostisbehere, Reilly, Jones, and Trouba. After that Id take Seiloff. The 7 is really up for grabs. Id think Carrick gets a good look.
Kuraly has been a non factor this season, that will hurt him a lot, especially with how strong teammate Barber has looked.
I can't see them taking Kerdiles or Lucia due to their injuries. It isn't like they are so good that they need to take them. Neither is Galchenyuk, Trouba, Jones calibre.
Id much rather have Matteau, Hartman and Biggs over Boyd and Blackwell. We've all seen how small college forwards that aren't overly skilled get pushed around in this tournament. Neither of these two are a Grimaldi or Gaudreau, just can't see a reason to take either.
Havent Boucher and Gally been playing on the same line most of the year? Id assume they would be a package. Gally and Gaudreau lacked chemistry in the summer.
this could be a pretty interesting US SQUAD to say the least.
this team could mirror the team of 2010 with the perfect balance of big power wingers and skilled gifted wingers. In 2010 we had the balance of guys like Jenks, Walker, McRae, Morin, etc all playing a tough grinding style. We were able to throw in our skilled wingers like Schroeder, Kristo, Bourque, Palmieri, and Stepan that all played their roles perfectly.
The defense was just as well balanced with puck moving dmen and stay at home defenders....Fowler,Donovan, and Carlson were awesome from the point.. Lashoff, Gardiner, and Ramage played their role perfectly as well.. overall this team was as CHL heavy as I have seen, and is exactly the same way this years squad should look as well.
My prelim roster would look like this
Goalies
Jon Gillies Jon Gibson Garrett Sparks
Defense
Seth Jones Connor Murphy Jacob Trouba Pat Seiloff Shayne Gotisbehere Jake McCabe Brady Skjei Mike Reilly Jordan Schmaltz Matt Grzelcyk
Forwards
J.T Miller Alex Galchenyuk Rocco Grimaldi Tyler Biggs Ryan Hartman Vincent Trocheck Stefan Noesen John Gaudreau Reid Boucher Brady Vail Colin Jacobs Adam Erne Sean Kuraly Danny O'Regan Riley Barber Stefan Matteau Nick Kerdiles
I hope they take Seiloff, his physical play will be very useful. The likely locks are Murphy, Gostisbehere, Reilly, Jones, and Trouba. After that Id take Seiloff. The 7 is really up for grabs. Id think Carrick gets a good look.
Kuraly has been a non factor this season, that will hurt him a lot, especially with how strong teammate Barber has looked.
I can't see them taking Kerdiles or Lucia due to their injuries. It isn't like they are so good that they need to take them. Neither is Galchenyuk, Trouba, Jones calibre.
Id much rather have Matteau, Hartman and Biggs over Boyd and Blackwell. We've all seen how small college forwards that aren't overly skilled get pushed around in this tournament. Neither of these two are a Grimaldi or Gaudreau, just can't see a reason to take either.
Havent Boucher and Gally been playing on the same line most of the year? Id assume they would be a package. Gally and Gaudreau lacked chemistry in the summer.
Yes, only recently (last 7 games or so). They have been playing on the top line together with Sarault at center. Beaulieu prefers to put all his eggs in one basket with his veteran point producers.
this could be a pretty interesting US SQUAD to say the least.
this team could mirror the team of 2010 with the perfect balance of big power wingers and skilled gifted wingers. In 2010 we had the balance of guys like Jenks, Walker, McRae, Morin, etc all playing a tough grinding style. We were able to throw in our skilled wingers like Schroeder, Kristo, Bourque, Palmieri, and Stepan that all played their roles perfectly.
The defense was just as well balanced with puck moving dmen and stay at home defenders....Fowler,Donovan, and Carlson were awesome from the point.. Lashoff, Gardiner, and Ramage played their role perfectly as well.. overall this team was as CHL heavy as I have seen, and is exactly the same way this years squad should look as well.
My prelim roster would look like this
Goalies
Jon Gillies Jon Gibson Garrett Sparks
Defense
Seth Jones Connor Murphy Jacob Trouba Pat Seiloff Shayne Gotisbehere Jake McCabe Brady Skjei Mike Reilly Jordan Schmaltz Matt Grzelcyk
Forwards
J.T Miller Alex Galchenyuk Rocco Grimaldi Tyler Biggs Ryan Hartman Vincent Trocheck Stefan Noesen John Gaudreau Reid Boucher Brady Vail Colin Jacobs Adam Erne Sean Kuraly Danny O'Regan Riley Barber Stefan Matteau Nick Kerdiles
It's funny that you talk about the 2010 forward group without mentioning the name of the guy who scored 5 goals in the last three U.S. games.
It's funny that you talk about the 2010 forward group without mentioning the name of the guy who scored 5 goals in the last three U.S. games.
he was a tweener...not a grinder and not an offensive dynamic player either..
Jerry was a right place right guy player...teams need those, but I didnt need to highlight him as I was talking about power wingers and highend skilled forwards...
...though Kreider belongs in the highend level as well...
he was a tweener...not a grinder and not an offensive dynamic player either..
Jerry was a right place right guy player...teams need those, but I didnt need to highlight him as I was talking about power wingers and highend skilled forwards...
...though Kreider belongs in the highend level as well...
Thanks for the reply. Shows how good that team was that D'amigo was not among the top six skilled forwards. In any event, your opinion on D'amigo seems to be shared by Dallas Eakins.
McCabe-Trouba
Gostisberhere-Jones
Reilly-Murphy
Paliotta
(Don't put too much stock in d pairings)
Gibson
Sparks
These would be mine at this point.
Suprised you put Pietila up there, but why not Matteau? Devils might have Matteau, Boucher, and Pietila all on the team, which will be awesome from a Devils perspective.
though I doubt his standing with USA Hockey is in anywhere near solid shape, you have to be impressed so far with the freshmen campaign of Cristoval Boo Nieves.
I can see him as being one of those kids that Johansson was talking about as being a surprise player that could get a December invite...
very impressed so far from Boo, I hope the kid keeps this up because he could turn into a Beau Bennett type of player if all the screw are on tight enough.
What about Matt Deblouw as one of the bottom 6 centres? He's been scoring at a surprisingly decent pace so far, despite being billed as more of a defensive player.
What about Matt Deblouw as one of the bottom 6 centres? He's been scoring at a surprisingly decent pace so far, despite being billed as more of a defensive player.
I like that choice as a dark horse candidate. The team needs a shutdown style center and while most of us have been saying that's Brady Vail for awhile, it wouldn't be suprising to see USAH choose a guy like Deblouw instead since he's a '93 and in the NCAA.
Last edited by William H Bonney: 11-16-2012 at 03:30 PM.
