Sochi 2014 Discussion

[Kobalt]

With US rosters released, time for this thread.

Spoiler

Forwards

David Backes
Dustin Brown
Ryan Callahan
Patrick Kane
Ryan Kesler
Phil Kessel
T.J. Oshie
Max Pacioretty
Zach Parise
Joe Pavelski
Paul Stastny
Derek Stepan
James van Riemsdyk
Blake Wheeler

Defensemen

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

Goaltenders

Jimmy Howard
Ryan Miller

Jonathan Quick

No Bobby Ryan What is US thinking by omitting the 2nd best goal scorer behind Kessel. I have no clue how Stepan is on the team, why Ryan isn't. Even Okposo would have been a better fit.

On defense, no Yandle nor Erik Johnson while Orpik, Shattenkirk, Faulk, Carlson, Martin makes it..... that makes sense.

No problems with goalies, Miller should start.

Fun read on selection http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10...pics-was-named

[jyoung]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

No Bobby Ryan What is US thinking by omitting the 2nd best goal scorer behind Kessel. I have no clue how Stepan is on the team, why Ryan isn't. Even Okposo would have been a better fit.

Bobby Ryan was also in Vancouver and has been the most consistent of U.S.-born scorers, having tallied 30 or more goals four times for Anaheim before being dealt to Ottawa in the offseason. And yet there is surprising resistance to simply penciling him into a spot on the wing.

The issue is where he fits. If he's not a top-six forward, his skating doesn't really lend itself to him being a third-line checker. He cannot kill penalties, and while in Anaheim, he was not on the team's top power-play unit.

"I think he's sleepy. I think he skates sleepy," offers one member of the selection committee.

No one questioned Bobby Ryan's talent, but he made the U.S. decision-makers nervous.
Poile asks for a show of hands: "Are guys nervous about Bobby Ryan?" A flurry of hands go up in the air.

"That's a lot of guys," Poile notes.

And so Ryan, unbeknownst to him, finds himself in a battle for a place on The Board with wingers like Max Pacioretty, James van Riemsdyk, Blake Wheeler and T.J. Oshie before Ryan has set one skate on the ice.

[rdnk]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

I'm very confused about Orpik making the team, but hopefully he'll be stapled to the bench. I would have taken Jack Johnson instead. I'm actually a big fan of Stepan, so I'm happy he made the team. Ryan got snubbed but the US has a pretty good group of forwards regardless.

[Sandman42]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

Can't believe Orpik and Carlson were taken, and that Jack Johnson was considered, over the likes of Byfuglien, Yandle, or Andy Greene. Johnson has been getting torched when he's been on the ice for the past few years.

And yeah, not picking Bobby Ryan is criminal.

[jb12780]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

I think the whole hockey community agrees not picking Bobby Ryan was absurd.

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[Madman55]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

Glad to see Wheeler make the US team. Hopefully this selection along with the December he just had gives him a confidence boost going forward. But as everybody else has said, I'm shocked Bobby Ryan wasn't selected. The starting job should be Miller's to lose. I doubt there is anyway that he arrives in Sochi in any other role.

[Cletus]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

I don't disagree much with Bobby Ryan being left off. There's only so many spots for good players. Bobby Ryan doesn't strike me as a great two way player and just at looking at players it's either him or Parise for big time minutes and I'm a bigger fan of Parise.

Orpik, however, ugh. I hate Orpik, I guess he'll be pretty good if the Czechs counter with Darius Kaspiritis, but does the USA need a guy that dirty in the Olympics?

[gopher_guy]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

It's too bad Quick is hurt and not in the form he has been in for the last couple seasons.

[carko32]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

Yeah, that ESPN article is great, it is perfect explanation of few decisions.

Maybe some players are better in some parts of game, but couldn't fit in the group.

And I'm expecting that coaches will play together players that have chemistry from their clubs, for example Kessel and JVR.

[Kobalt]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

Can't believe Orpik and Carlson were taken, and that Jack Johnson was considered, over the likes of Byfuglien, Yandle, or Andy Greene. Johnson has been getting torched when he's been on the ice for the past few years.

And yeah, not picking Bobby Ryan is criminal.

In past tournaments, Jack Johnson accepted a request to play for USA in different tournaments when asked, that's important. Not to mention he was solid in big ice.

What I don't get is JMFJ's early season struggle seemed beyond repair while they didn't care when Callahan, Brown, Stepan, struggled this year. Pacioretty disappears for stretch of games, get couple of goals in one game, and disappear once again. Bobby Ryan would have been a better fit, and seems like he's not even the backup option either. Saad is ahead of him if they need a replacement.

But I can't wait until team Canada is released, gonna be way more chaos

[SinisterAlex]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

You guys have to keep in mind these players are going to be playing on a bigger ice surface. I don't follow Team USA but I have a feeling that played a big part in player selection.

I'm sure Team Canada will leave out guys like Thornton and Seabrook for that very reason.

Last time we played on international ice Canada got destroyed. Especially the defence. Slower players like Pronger couldn't play on the bigger ice. I don't think they will make the same mistake twice when Team Canada announces their roster in a few days.

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[rdnk]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

Johnson has been getting torched when he's been on the ice for the past few years.

Past few years? He's had a bad start to this year but Johnson has come a long way in his own zone from 2011, especially considering he's played for some mediocre to bad Columbus teams. As much as I like Big Buff, he's much worse in his own zone than JMFJ.

The US went with speed and defense, which is why Ryan was left off the board. We'll find out if the strategy pays off, but they're probably overthinking the bigger ice size thing.

[DrJones]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

Regarding the Burnside article/Ryan fallout, apparently Nick Kypreos completely ripped Burnside for... doing his job, I suppose?... and suggested he should be sued for libel.

With Sportsnet's impending monopoly in all things NHL up here, Kypreos will almost certainly be "the face of the Canadian hockey media" for the next decade plus. Weep for us, my American friends.

On the plus side, I think I now have a pretty good idea who the "prominent hockey analyst" that bought crack from Rob Ford's dealer is!

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

The dumb thing about that whole fallout is that they let Burnside in on the inner workings of squad selection. Now they are mad that he is *gasp* reporting what he saw and heard?! The nerve of this Burnside guy!

[DrJones]

Re: Sochi 2014 Discussion

Kypreos said the onus was on Burnside to protect the reputations of the people he was reporting on and not print things that could embarrass anybody, even if they were said on the record. Good understanding of journalism there, Kyper!