USA Olympic roster - discussion

[Nick]

invite list:

Craig Anderson
John Gibson
Jimmy Howard
Ryan Miller
Jonathan Quick
Cory Schneider


Zach Bogosian
Dustin Byfuglien
John Carlson
Dan DeKeyser
Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler
Jake Gardiner
Erik Johnson
Jack Johnson
Seth Jones
Nick Leddy
Paul Martin
Ryan McDonagh
Brooks Orpik
Kevin Shattenkirk
Ryan Suter
Jacob Trouba
Keith Yandle



Justin Abdelkader
David Backes
Beau Bennett
Nick Bjugstad
Dustin Brown
Ryan Callahan
Alex Galchenyuk
Patrick Kane
Ryan Kesler
Phil Kessel
Trevor Lewis
Kyle Okposo
T.J. Oshie
Max Pacioretty
Kyle Palmieri
Zach Parise
Joe Pavelski
Bobby Ryan
Brandon Saad
Craig Smith
Paul Stastny
Derek Stepan
James van Riemsdyk
Blake Wheeler

[Nick]

3 Goalies I would bring:
Craig Anderson
Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Quick

-> IMO It's quick's to lose, Anderson could steal it and I view Howard as a safe third to have in waiting.

Forward lines:
Bobby Ryan - Derek Stepan - Zach Parise
Ryan Callahan - Ryan Kesler - Patrick Kane
Phil Kessel - Joe Pavelski - James van Riemsdyk
Justin Abdelkader - David Backes- T.J. Oshie
13th: Alex Galchenyuk



First line is unreal all around, they do not make C's the way Canada or Sweden does, but this group would win draws and be hard to play against all over the ice.
They do have a nice mix of skills, speed and size on the wings, and capable of putting out very pesty duo's and pks.


Defense is very strong all around IMO, hard to pick wrong with this group, a little young but how they play this year will decide which make it:

I think Suter might be the most suited big-ice dman in the world. Obvious #1, and next to a heavy shot like JJ IMO would be a deadly all around top pairing. The next 4 all bring more question marks. Yandle I likely under-rate, but he's not the best dman on his team, and I'd actually pass on him, but focusing on the need for quick skating, offensively capable dmen who can focus on shutting down a top swede/Russian/Canadian line, I'd go with McD and Bogo. I would take Fowler as the 7th dman in-case the PP is struggling and needs a shakeup, and his foot-speed is through the roof, likely a strong fit for the big ice. For a bottom pairing I'm considering Faulk Gardiner, EJ & Orpik. IMO it would be a mistake to bring Brooks to the euro reffing and big ice, EJ similar to JayBo has the size and speed that is potentially a great fit for the big ice, add the last two would determine on their play this season.

D-core:
Ryan Suter - Jack Johnson
McDonagh - Bogosian
EJ - one of Faulk or Gardiner
Extra: Cam Fowler

[The BBKL Insider]

young team that's forsure

[The BBKL Insider]

No dustin brown on your team nick?

i'd think he's the captain

[Nick]

Maybe in JvR's place?

[The BBKL Insider]

Maybe in JvR's place?

i'd say Brown over Abdelkader

and Brown would be on the 2nd line.

[Robin Hood]

Maybe in JvR's place?

i'd say Brown over Abdelkader

and Brown would be on the 2nd line.

+1 lol don't know how you left Brown off Nick. I also think Stastny has a chance of making it.

[Nick]

Maybe in JvR's place?

i'd say Brown over Abdelkader

and Brown would be on the 2nd line.

That's a different role, no?

2nd line instead of Callahan or Kane?

I really like DB and think he's a great NHLer, but the big ice is a different game, the refs are different, pesty works, grity bring PIMS and PP's have WAY more space. Abdelkader is a wicked versatile player.

[The BBKL Insider]

Carlson over Gardnier or Fowler for me as well.

[KapG]

How cN you put gardiner in over a stud like carlson?

[KapG]

Carlson over Gardnier or Fowler for me as well.

Nice to see I'm not the only one!

[MSP4LYFE]

I disagree with almost all of this. You omitted Brown and Wheeler in favor of JVR and Abelkader... Dressed Kessel on the third line, relegated Backes to the fourth line when he was an integral part of the US third line in Vancouver, and has only progressed since then. On defense you put Fowler, Johnson and Bogosian over Martin, Yandle, Carlson and Shattenkirk. Gardiner and Faulk don't deserve to be in that top 6/7 yet. I'd also take Schneider and Miller over Howard rather easily.

[MSP4LYFE]

Carlson over Gardnier or Fowler for me as well.

Nice to see I'm not the only one!

I wouldn't even have Fowler on the team, he's overrated.

[MSP4LYFE]

My Team USA:

Zach Parise - Ryan Kesler - Patrick Kane
Bobby Ryan - David Backes - Phil Kessel
Dustin Byfuglien - Joe Pavelski - Dustin Brown
Ryan Callahan - Derek Stepan - Blake Wheeler

Ryan Suter - Keith Yandle
Paul Martin - John Carlson
Kevin Shattenkirk - Ryan McDonagh

Jonathan Quick
Craig Anderson

Taxi Squad: Ryan Miller, Paul Stastny, and Zach Bogosian

[Robin Hood]

I would go:

Parise-Kesler-Kane
JvR-Stepan-Kessel
Callahan-Backes-Brown
Oshie-Pavelski-Wheeler

Note: Line #s could be jumbled but those would be my 12

Jack Johnson-Ryan Suter
Brooks Orpik-John Carlson
Ryan McDonagh-Zach Bogosian
Byfuglien/Martin/Yandle (swap in and out)

Quick/Anderson/Miller

[Robin Hood]

Forgot Bobby Ryan jesus.

[Robin Hood]

Pretty similar teams there Kareem. I'd say Orpik makes it for sure. They have enough puck movers as it is.

[Nick]

I wouldn't bring Miller into the locker room as anything other than the Starter.

For me the issue isn't puck moving, it's straight up foot speed.

[MSP4LYFE]

Pretty similar teams there Kareem. I'd say Orpik makes it for sure. They have enough puck movers as it is.

Carlson, Martin, Mcdonagh and Suter can all play heavy PK minutes, and unlike Orpik can handle the larger ice surface. I'm also not a proponent of taking a defensive specialist over a two way defenceman who can handle his own end, and move the puck into the offensive end thus spending less time in his own zone.

[Robin Hood]

Pretty similar teams there Kareem. I'd say Orpik makes it for sure. They have enough puck movers as it is.

Carlson, Martin, Mcdonagh and Suter can all play heavy PK minutes, and unlike Orpik can handle the larger ice surface. I'm also not a proponent of taking a defensive specialist over a two way defenceman who can handle his own end, and move the puck into the offensive end thus spending less time in his own zone.

Your argument is fair, which is why they would use up the other 5 slots with players like that. No way Orpik gets left off IMO. I'd even make a BBKL wager on that.