Updated:
Team USA tender Ryan Miller sat down and spoke with Brian Duff from sabres.com in Minneapolis just after the Team USA roster was named on Wednesday afternoon.
Thanks, sabres.com
The roster includes 13 Olympians, a stark contrast to four years ago when the silver medal-winning 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team featured just three players with Olympic experience. Among those selected with an Olympic pedigree are goaltenders Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Michigan Buffalo Sabres), who was the MVP of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games hockey tournament and Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y. Chicago Blackhawks), the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner who is currently second in the NHL scoring race with 23-30--53.
"We went through a very thorough process to get to today and could not be happier with the team we've selected," said David Poile, general manager of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and also the GM and president of hockey operations for the NHL's Nashville Predators. "We're fortunate to have probably the deepest talent pool we've ever had in our country and that made for some very difficult decisions. In the end, however, we're confident we've selected a group of players that puts us in the best position to have success in Sochi."
"We appreciate the work done by David (Poile) and all those involved in putting this roster together," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "We look forward to what will be a great Olympics in Sochi, where hockey will be at the center of attention."
Here's the complete list of goalies and skaters:
Goaltenders:
Jimmy Howard
Ryan Miller
Jonathan Quick
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Skaters:
John Carlson
Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler
Paul Martin
Ryan McDonagh
Brooks Orpik
Kevin Shattenkirk
Ryan Suter
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
Team USA has a distinct Upstate New York flavor. Jimmy Howard was born in Syracuse, NY. Dustin Brown was born in Ithaca. Ryan Callahan represents Rochester, while Pat Kane hails from Buffalo. Brooks Orpik is an Amherst, NY native. Factor in Ryan Miller's decade of excellence in Buffalo and this squad has a Western and Central New York state of mind. James Van Riemsdyk represents New Joisey. Its also interesting to note that the USA has two Connecticut natives in Jonathon Quick and Kevin Shattenkirk.
I'm pleased for Miller. He's more than deserving of this honor. He's been Buffalo's best player in this at-times ugly season. He's always kept his head up and his chest puffed out whether his team has won or lost. At 33 years of age, Miller is the oldest player on the USA roster. He was the MVP of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Am I surprised Miller made the team? Are you for real? Miller has been on the Team USA roster, in my opinion, since orientation camp in Washington, DC in August. Miller is a respected leader of men and proved his worth when against all odds, he earned USA the silver medal in the Vancouver Olympic game in 2010. He was one Sidney Crosby goal away from earning gold for USA. Miller is the x-factor for USA heading into a shot tourney in Sochi where a hot goalie can steal the show. Don't be misled by Miller's win-loss record in Buffalo this season. He is having one of the best seasons, if not the best season of his brilliant career in 2013-14.
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Notable Players Not Selected For Team USA:
Keith Yandle
Jack Johnson
Dustin Byfuglien
Erik Johnson
Bobby Ryan
Jason Pominville
Kyle Okposo
Kyle Turris
Brandon Saad
One never knows when injuries will occur. These players will be the ones considered if an injury(s) does occur.
Speed, and lack thereof, must have been a big reason why the aforementioned Americans were bumped off the Sochi list. Playing on the 200 by 85 of Vancouver and Salt Lake City is one this. Playing on the 200 by 100 of Sochi is entirely another. If players don't have wheels they get exposed and become liabilities on the European sheet of ice.
Cold hard fact.
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Notes courtesy USA Hockey:
Team USA's roster includes 14 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. Ryan Miller is the oldest player on Team USA at age 33 (Brooks Orpik is also 33, but two months younger), while Justin Faulk, at 21, is the youngest. The average age of Team USA by position is 29.7 for goaltenders; 25.9 for defensemen and 27.0 for forwards. The average age of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team was 26.5 ... U.S. General Manager David Poile established five players as the leadership group of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, including David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter ... Team USA's captain and alternate captains will be formalized at a later date .... Eight players from Team USA hail from Minnesota, while five call the state of New York home. A total of eight states are represented as home states of U.S. players ... Thirteen members of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team were born in the first half of the year, while 12 were born in the second half ... All 25 members of Team USA, who represent 17 NHL teams, participated in USA Hockey's Men's National Team Camp held in August at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues each have three players on Team USA to lead the way ... The U.S. roster includes 15 first-round NHL draft picks, six second-round picks, as well as one third, fourth, fifth and seventh round choice. Patrick Kane is the highest pick, as he was taken first overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, while Joe Pavelski is the lowest pick, taken 205th overall in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks ... All 25 players have worn the U.S. sweater in international competition at some level. Cumulatively, U.S. players have competed in 632 international games and captured 38 medals. A total of 11 players have won gold medals (Howard, Carlson, Faulk, Fowler, Suter, Kane, Kesler, Kessel, Parise, Stepan, van Riemsdyk) ... Ryan Suter has played the most games in international competition at 64, with Phil Kessel (53 games) and Dustin Brown (52 games) not far behind ... Twenty players have U.S. college hockey experience, with the University of Wisconsin leading the way with four players and the University of Minnesota with three players ... A total of nine players have competed for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (Faulk, Fowler, Howard, Kane, Kesler, Kessel, Shattenkirk, Suter, van Riemsdyk) ... Nine players on the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team have U.S. junior experience, including eight who played in the United States Hockey League and one who competed in the North American Hockey League ... Ryan Suter's father Bob played on the 1980 Miracle on Ice Team, while his uncle Gary played on the 2002 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team ... The management group that selected the roster for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team includes David Poile (Nashville Predators), general manager, Ray Shero (Pittsburgh Penguins), associate general manager, Brian Burke (Calgary Flames), director of player personnel and Jim Johannson (USA Hockey). In addition, Stan Bowman (Chicago Blackhawks), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia Flyers), Dean Lombardi (L.A. Kings), Dale Tallon (Florida Panthers) and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh Penguins), all part of the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group, were involved in the process from start to finish ... Dan Bylsma, head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is the head coach of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, with Peter Laviolette, Todd Richards, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Tony Granato, assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, serving as assistant coaches ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. National Teams.
I'm happy for Blake Wheeler who has paid his dues in the NHL first with Phoenix, then with Boston and now with Winnipeg. The Minnesota Golden Gophers alum is a fast-skating power forward who will be counted on to make plays and create offense on the 200 by 100 Olympic-sized rink.
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I'm bummed that former Sabres capo Jason Pominville didn't get selected to play on Team USA.
However, I'm happy for Pommer that the Wild will celebrate Jason Pominville night when he Sabres skate into XCel Center on Thursady night.
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The Sabres have announced that their # 1 center
Cody Hodgson has been placed on injured reserve.
Hodgson hasn't played since the Bruins game on December 19 when he played only 4:03 TOI.
He leads the Sabres in scoring with 8 goal sand 11 assists in 33 games played.
CoHo's 2013 at in a nut shell:
Currently sidelined with an upper-body injury (first game missed: 12/19)
• Currently ranks 2nd among Sabres skaters in assists (11) and points (19), while also sitting T-2nd in goals (8)
• Contributed an assist and won 13 of 17 faceoffs vs. WPG (12/17)
• Missed two games with a lower-body injury (12/12-12/14)
• Logged 23:47 TOI vs. TOR (11/29), the second-highest total of his career
• Recorded a goal vs. DET (11/24)
• Registered an assist over a career-high 23:55 TOI at TOR (11/16)
• Tied his career best with a four game point-streak from 10/5-10/12 (1+4)
• Recorded a pair of points (1+1) and a team-high six shots vs. TBL (10/8)
• Tallied his first point of the season with an assist at PIT (10/5)
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The Sabres called up Johan Larsson and Brayden McNabb from Rochester, by way of Switzerland.
Larsson has played in 18 games with the Buffalo Sabres this season. He has zero goal sand an assists. He brings a heavy dose of grit and bite to the Buffalo lineup.
In 13 games with the Amerks, Larsson has contributed 2 goals and 7 assists.
McNabb is Rochester's #1 D and he deserves a promotion to Buffalo.
He has 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in 19 games in Rochester.
He played 5 games in Buffalo earlier this season.
Ted Nolan is a big fan of Larsson and McNabb having seen them play live in Rochester and in Buffalo.
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Happy New Year to all of you loyal, passionate puck heads. Thank you for supporting me. Its been my pleasure to serve you and your hockey buzz for the past 8 years. Eklund and I have some big things planned in 2014. We can't wait to share them with you!
Its New Years Day. The best of health, wealth, and happiness to you and your families.
Speaking of health....
Injuries have found their way into the Buffalo room. The Sabres lost a forward to injury in Tuesday night's loss in Winterpeg. Couple that with the starting D in the win over Washington, and the Sabres have to now dip into the Rochester for two solutions.
Ville Leino couldn't finish the game in The Peg after he suffered a lower-body injury in the first period.
Hank Tallinder will be lost to the Sabres for at least a week with an injury as well.
Ted Nolan said in his postgame presser in The Peg that the team will call up two players from the Rochester Americans. Logistics and travel will play a huge role in the call-up of replacement players as the #Merk$ are presently in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual Spengler Cup tourney.
Nolan said:
“We’re going to fly in a couple of guys early. We have some guys that are banged up,”
If I'm making the decision, I'm calling up Johan Larsson to replace Leino and Brayden McNabb to fill in for Tallinder.
The Sabres practice in Minneapolis today and will play the reeling Wild on Thursday night. With its sixth consecutive loss Tuesday night, the Wild made team history with its longest losing streak in 13 years. The Sabres have been playing well under Ted Nolan and will provide a stiff test for Mike Yeo's struggling Wild squad. The Wild are a sub-par 5-12-1 in the past 18 game. They've left 25 of 36 points on the table in his losing streak. They are sliding down the slippery slope of the Western Conference standings. Wild leading scorer and matinee star Zach Parise is out indefinitely with a lower body injury. As he goes, so go the Wild. Don't be surprised if former Sabres sniper and former U Minnesota Gopher Thomas Vanek trade rumors star to percolate in the Twin Cities. Vanek will become UFA on July 4. His cap hit right now is $3.5 million, the exact amount of money that the Wild have in available cap space.
More on the struggles of the Wild later.
Also, I'll be back with reaction to the Team USA Sochi Olympic official roster, which will be unveiled later this afternoon and the conclusion of the Winter Classic.
Yes, Ryan Miller will be on Team USA ;)
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Is it a coincidence that the LA Kings have chosen to announce that
Jonathon Quick will be returning to action on the same say that Team USA will be announcing its Sochi Olympic roster?
LA Kings Insider has confirmed reports that LA Kings starting goalie Jonathan Quick will be heading to AHL Manchester for a rehab assignment. Quick hasn’t played since he suffered a Grade 2 groin strain in a loss to Buffalo on November 12th. Quick is expected to be named to the Team USA Olympic Hockey team later today. He has been working out with his goalie coach and has been traveling with the Kings on their current four game roadie.
Quick's game schedule for his starts in Manchester is TBD.
My take:
Ryan Miller and Jonathon Quick are locks to play in Sochi.
How about the third goalie?
I like Tampa's Ben Bishop. He's earned a roster spot with his stellar play for the Lightning this season.
Detroit's Jimmy Howard was shelled in Nashville on Monday night in his first start since he was activated from LTIR for a lower body injury. Prior to his injury, Howard was ineffective and had lost his starting job to his backup Jonas Gustavsson.
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