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In 2014, Will USA Have Better D-Pairs than Team Canada?

March 7, 2012, 1:12 PM ET [463 Comments]
Eklund
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This started as a debate on twitter a few nights back when I stated that I felt the only 2 Americans who would have made Team Canada's roster in Vancouver were Zach Parise and Ryan Miller. Many argued for others including Kane, Kesler, and Ryan Suter. I eventually yielded that Ryan Suter probably could have as well, but that Team Canada D was tough...

Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger,
Shea Weber, Drew Doughty,
Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Dan Boyle

The American squad was solid, but not quite on the same level:

Brian Rafalski, Ryan Suter,
Paul Martin, Mike Komisarek,
Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson and Brooks Orpik.

Then the conversation switched to 2014. When it comes to goalies the Americans will be highly competitive with the Canadians with Miller and Quick and probably an ageless Tim Thomas with Jimmy Howard in the wings...The Canadians would have Luongo, Fleury, and Price.

Up front, on offense the Canadians will not just be great, the will be ridiculously great adding to an already potent team the likes of Stamkos, Giroux, Tavares, Eberle, Duchene, and possibly Ryan Nugent-Hopkins...The Americans, from a talent perspective, can't compete with the Canadians but of course these games aren't played on paper...

However, let's examine the changes in defense...

for Canada...gone are the star pairing of Niedermayer and Pronger and that is a big, BIG pair to be gone.

Looking forward, Canada will have the unreal pairing of Weber and Doughty leading the way, followed by a return of Keith and Seabrook. Stepping in for Pronger and Niedermayer could be the pairing of Letang and Pietrangelo. In the Wings would be Tyler Myers, Girardi, and I believe Alzner could be a longshot.

The Americans would return 3 players for certain in Ryan Suter, and both Jack and Erik Johnson..it's after that we will see a serious influx of talent akin to the talent influx Canada will experience at forward. Some of these players are already good enough to make Team USA competitive on the back end now...we can only imagine what another 2 years experience will bring.

Ryan McDonagh
Ryan's rise has gotten him many Norris mentions this year and if you were more curious as to how good this guy has become all you need to do is remember the outpouring of anger from Rangers fans when Ryan was mentioned in Nash rumors.

Keith Yandle
Were Yandle playing almost anywhere else people would be talking about this kid with much more praise. Yandle moves the puck incredibly well and is as strong a transitional defenseman as you can find...a position vital for Team USA's counter attack style.

John Carlson
He already has to his credit one of the most important and famous goals in the history of Canada vs. USA history. But Carlson has gone on to become an NHL force. The Washington Post has speculated there is Norris in Carlson's future and it's hard to argue. He is a puck moving defenseman but also a shutdown guy.

Other possibles are Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shatttenkirk, and Alex Goligoski...

So let's compare...

Canada's Possible 2014 D-Pairs
Weber, Doughty
Keith, Seabrook
Letang, Pietrangelo

USA's Possible 2014 D-Pairs
Suter, McDonagh
Yandle, Carlson
Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson

When you line-up these pairings it is very hard to top Team Canada's top pair of course. Weber and Doughty are a monster pair. However, when you get past the top pair I like what the US team brings to the table.

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