Olympic Rosters

[Shep]

Want to know which team is underrated? The Czech's. They could sneak into the Bronze Medal game.

Patrik Elias - David Krejci - Jaromir Jagr
Jiri Hudler - Tomas Plekanec - Jakub Voracek
Ondrej Palat - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata
Tomas Fleischmann - Vladimir Sobotka - Roman Cervenka
Ales Hemsky - Michael Frolik

Marek Zidlicky - Ladislav Smid
Jakub Kindl - Zbynek Michalek
Jan Hejda - Petr Caslava
Tomas Kaberle - Radko Gudas

Ondrej Pavelec
Michal Neuvirth
Jakub Kovar

one big gaping hole here though. Between those pipes. They will likely be forgotten about and if Pavs gets hot you never know. I agree that they are a darkhorse.

Pavalec is known to get absolutely red hot for stretches. I think he could carry them to the medal round, especially with his poor NHL play at the moment. He'll be looking for motivation after being out played by Al Montoya.

[Robin Hood]

Want to know which team is underrated? The Czech's. They could sneak into the Bronze Medal game.

Patrik Elias - David Krejci - Jaromir Jagr
Jiri Hudler - Tomas Plekanec - Jakub Voracek
Ondrej Palat - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata
Tomas Fleischmann - Vladimir Sobotka - Roman Cervenka
Ales Hemsky - Michael Frolik

Marek Zidlicky - Ladislav Smid
Jakub Kindl - Zbynek Michalek
Jan Hejda - Petr Caslava
Tomas Kaberle - Radko Gudas

Ondrej Pavelec
Michal Neuvirth
Jakub Kovar

I own their Top 2 Cs, so I agree with this!

[kimmer]

Oh my god krejci is a czech?? I thought he was a canadian the entire time. I should quit bbkl

[Shep]

You think Fowler to Yandle is a big drop off on the PP2 ?

I think it is a massive drop. Yandle would be PP1. He is also likely the most under rated offensive Dman in hockey. He has lead his team in scoring and put up elite point totals despite being on a team with very little offensive talent. If he were in a big market or had some players to play with this guy would be appreciated a lot more. While Fowler is much better then just sufficient on the PP, he is no where near the caliber Yandle is imo. Yandles are rare imo. Fowler likely made it over him because he isn't quite as bad defensively which creates a whole new argument haha. I was just talking about the PP drop off as that is the only aspect of play where they would actually miss yandle.

Yandle is a Top 3 US dman.

Another huge snub? Ben Bishop. Sure, his experience is lacking. But Quick is hurt and was shit last year and this year with a bad SV% (.902 & .905 respectively). Howard also has been horrendous this year while Gustavsson had no problem stepping up.

I believe experience means something, but it shouldn't mean everything and in Ben Bishop's case, it meant everything.

[Shep]

I might like the snubbed D group better than the selected D group for the USA.

Keith Yandle
Dustin Byfuglien
Jack Johnson
Erik Johnson
Andy Greene
Seth Jones

vs.

John Carlson
Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler
Paul Martin
Ryan McDonagh
Brooks Orpik
Kevin Shattenkirk
Ryan Suter

[shooker]

You think Fowler to Yandle is a big drop off on the PP2 ?

I think it is a massive drop. Yandle would be PP1. He is also likely the most under rated offensive Dman in hockey. He has lead his team in scoring and put up elite point totals despite being on a team with very little offensive talent. If he were in a big market or had some players to play with this guy would be appreciated a lot more. While Fowler is much better then just sufficient on the PP, he is no where near the caliber Yandle is imo. Yandles are rare imo. Fowler likely made it over him because he isn't quite as bad defensively which creates a whole new argument haha. I was just talking about the PP drop off as that is the only aspect of play where they would actually miss yandle.

Yandle is a Top 3 US dman.

Another huge snub? Ben Bishop. Sure, his experience is lacking. But Quick is hurt and was shit last year and this year with a bad SV% (.902 & .905 respectively). Howard also has been horrendous this year while Gustavsson had no problem stepping up.

I believe experience means something, but it shouldn't mean everything and in Ben Bishop's case, it meant everything.

I think Bishop should have been on there over either Quick or Howard as well. I do agree with experience to a point and would likely have had him as a 3rd but he has played too well not to bring him. A hot goalie can win this tourney. It wont matter too much as I doubt Ryan Miller gives up the crease for more then one game, he has played way to well of late.

[shooker]

I might like the snubbed D group better than the selected D group for the USA.

Keith Yandle
Dustin Byfuglien
Jack Johnson
Erik Johnson
Andy Greene
Seth Jones

vs.

John Carlson
Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler
Paul Martin
Ryan McDonagh
Brooks Orpik
Kevin Shattenkirk
Ryan Suter

I'd have this

Suter
Carlson
Yandle
Martin
McDonagh
Orpik
Shattenkirk

I pretty much agree with them except for Yandles omission. Buffy and EJ would get destroyed on the big ice imo and JJ has just been awful all year long. Seth Jones is an interesting one. no doubt his play warranted some consideration but age was definitely the reason he was left off.

[Lee]

Want to know which team is underrated? The Czech's. They could sneak into the Bronze Medal game.

Patrik Elias - David Krejci - Jaromir Jagr
Jiri Hudler - Tomas Plekanec - Jakub Voracek
Ondrej Palat - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata
Tomas Fleischmann - Vladimir Sobotka - Roman Cervenka
Ales Hemsky - Michael Frolik

Marek Zidlicky - Ladislav Smid
Jakub Kindl - Zbynek Michalek
Jan Hejda - Petr Caslava
Tomas Kaberle - Radko Gudas

Ondrej Pavelec
Michal Neuvirth
Jakub Kovar

Nice to see Palat make the team.

[Shep]

That's projected, not confirmed.

[Shep]

I might like the snubbed D group better than the selected D group for the USA.

Keith Yandle
Dustin Byfuglien
Jack Johnson
Erik Johnson
Andy Greene
Seth Jones

vs.

John Carlson
Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler
Paul Martin
Ryan McDonagh
Brooks Orpik
Kevin Shattenkirk
Ryan Suter

I'd have this

Suter
Carlson
Yandle
Martin
McDonagh
Orpik
Shattenkirk

I pretty much agree with them except for Yandles omission. Buffy and EJ would get destroyed on the big ice imo and JJ has just been awful all year long. Seth Jones is an interesting one. no doubt his play warranted some consideration but age was definitely the reason he was left off.

I'd have:

Suter, Carlson, Yandle, Shattenkirk, E. Johnson, McDonagh, Jones then one of Faulk/Fowler.

I think EJ would be okay on the big ice. Buff would be a disaster though.

[Robin Hood]

I don't think there is a chance the US could go without Martin or Orpik. They are two of the best defensive players they have.

[kimmer]

None of you fuckers know anything about hockey. Let the higher ups who are qualified decide shit. You guys just sit back on the couch with ur fat asses and enjoy the show. God

[Tony]

None of you fuckers know anything about hockey. Let the higher ups who are qualified decide shit. You guys just sit back on the couch with ur fat asses and enjoy the show. God

Totalitarian ...

[Nick]

Keith Yandle
Dustin Byfuglien
Jack Johnson
Erik Johnson
Andy Greene
Seth Jones

-> less balanced players for sure than what they went with.



I think understanding the pairing and situations is important when picking the team.
Ryan McDonagh - Ryan Suter
Brooks Orpik - John Carlson
Paul Martin - Justin Faulk
-Cam Fowler- as the 7th who can sub into any of the above pairing, is rich with logic. He and Carlson are the only guys w/o a notable drop-off when playing either side.
Kevin Shattenkirk - He's an odd pick for me.


PP1 Pavelski - Suter
PP2 Martin/Fowler - Faulk/Shattenkirk -> and this is where Yandle would supposedly make a difference, although he has 1 more PP point than Cam. I believe a dman in short tourney's often do too much in the PP, simple and straight forward hockey works well for these tourney's.

PK1 McDonagh - Suter
PK2 Orpik - Carlson

I dunno, lots stable dmen who don't lack skill nor 'knowing how to win', compared to riskier dmen left behind. Aside from Orpik they all get around the ice with ease as well, and for a heavy hitting defensive D, Orpik moves well too.

Personally I'd have JJ in there over Orpik, but thats based on previous play, not on what he's done this year.

[Peter]

Ryan is a much more heads up player than JVR/Wheeler imo, and I think he fits in great with the USA build.
Yandle omission is silly also, dmen who have control over the pace of a game should be prioritized.

[Shep]

Disproving myths that Bobby sucks defensively and isn't elite on the PP.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Travis-Y ... /134/56874

[KapG]

I don't think there is a chance the US could go without Martin or Orpik. They are two of the best defensive players they have.

Orpiks not exactly the player he once was...

[Robin Hood]

I don't think there is a chance the US could go without Martin or Orpik. They are two of the best defensive players they have.

Orpiks not exactly the player he once was...

Orpik is a super stud shutdown guy IMO. He's only 33..Why do people suddenly begin making comments like "he's not the player he once was" once a player turns 33? I've watched so many pens games this year because I owned up to 4 of them at one point (Kunitz, Dupuis, Sutter, Orpik), now down to one. When Orpik was playing he was terrific. No reason to think he won't be that for the Americans.

Btw, the entire hockey universe would disagree with your statement IMO. Not just the 4 Gms who selected him. He'd be a lock regardless of which 4 NHL Gms were picking that team.

[KapG]

I didn't even bring up age.

I just said he is losing it a bit and isn't the same player he was. Works for me though, I think canada should be able to take advantage of his lack of foot speed.

[Robin Hood]

I didn't even bring up age.

I just said he is losing it a bit and isn't the same player he was. Works for me though, I think canada should be able to take advantage of his lack of foot speed.

'
This is the other thing. Not trying to pick at everything you're saying btw lol. You just said two things in a row I disagree with that's all.

I think Bruyns pointed this out earlier..the ice isn't THAT much bigger. People are amplifying the "slower" players.

At some point in time, the americans will have to play defence in their own end that isn't "off the rush" -> which is where "getting beat" due to foot speed usually happens. I feel like people imagine an open ended game when they are forecasting players on this big ice. I'd actually go the opposite. Majority of goals will be generated 1) off the cycle 2) on the PP. In both those instances, a player like Orpik has infinite value. Off the rush, not as much but he can easily be paired with a more offensive guy and be the guy that falls back on the pairing to cover for his speed/open ice.

The american team scares me the most out of any team. No team has as much talent as team Canada. So all they can do is either ice whoever they have (e.g. Czech's who will just complete their roster) or bring a toolbox team like the americans/swedes will for sure. Each player of theirs will have an exact role of what to do, an exact line/slot they play on and an exact assignment in every scenario. We on the other hand will be juggling lines for 90% of the tournament trying to "find" the optimal unit.

These are all world class players. When CHI plays STL, I don't think OMFG, one team has Toews Sharp Kane, the other has Backes Oshie Steen...Backes can be the best player on the ice in any given game. As can Patrick Kane, Kessel etc. But a toolbox team like the americans will not have the downside of constantly juggling lines.

This rationale is also why I hope Canada picks more "pure wingers". If MSL is left off the team, I will blow a gasket. If we take like 10 Cs and 2 Ws to compete in a tournament and then try to find Crosby's linemate for 4 games, that is not good. Put him with MSL and Stammer, put an end to it. Or bring Kunitz and put Stammer and MSl on another line. Keep Perry and Getzlaf together. Bring Duchene since he can play LW. Bring Sharp. Fuck Eric Staal. Fuck any elite player having a bad year. No time for that. We will get eaten alive by Sweden/US if we pick the "18 best skaters" team which has 10 Cs.