Quote:
Originally Posted by Galchenyuk94
Is he a lock for Sotchi? What would the American line up look like? The LW depth is usually thin. He had a solid WC IIRC.
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he is as close to a lock as it comes for US forwards imo...
a few reasons:
1. he has size that our top wingers lack...he can be mixed in a top 6 role with Kane and Kessel and allow us to drop Parise down to 3rd line playing an all-around role which he is solid at.
2. he is young. the best years are still to come for this kid as we are just seeing this power forward come into his skin and understand how he needs to play the game each and every night.
3. he is a fighter. coming back from the injury that he took is awesome and amazing. coming back to net 33 goals is simply astounding. you would think he would come back but be a player hesitant to hit, or get close to the boards, or have to change his game because it is in his head. but that wasnt the case. I feared that this injury would derail him like the injury Kevin Stevens had when he hit Rich Pylons helmet back in 93-94 I believe...
4. he answers the call. to see a 30 goal scorer like Patches and Bobby Ryan answer the call to play for the US team at the WC, pretty much cemented his status with USA Hockey compared to those that simply said no thanks. he is in higher graces then most right now.
for the US at Sochi, it could look like this
Kane - Kesler - Kessel
Pacioretty - Stastny - Ryan
Parise - Pavelski - Wheeler
Brown - Backes - Callahan
Oshie
Suter - Yandle
McDonagh - J. Johnson
E. Johnson - Carlson
Orpik
Miller
Quick
Schneider
