In a bizarre announcement earlier today, the United States Men’s Olympic team issued a statement saying that they have no intention of winning a medal at the upcoming Olympics.

At least, I think that's what they meant when they announced their roster.

In what I am still assuming is some kind of practical joke, the team was announced and Keith Yandle was among four players – Dustin Byfuglien, Kyle Okoposo and Bobby Ryan being the others – who were inexplicably left off the roster.

Earlier in the week, they announced their goalies and for some reason, instead of selecting perhaps the most talented goaltender from America currently playing in the NHL, they elected to leave Corey Schneider at home. This should have sent off some alarm bells that maybe the team is being run by crazy people, but still, I didn’t – not even for one second – consider that Keith Yandle would be left off the team.

Carlson. Faulk. Fowler. Martin. McDonagh, Orpik, Shattenkirk. Suter.

These are the eight defenseman that will make up team USA.

I admit it, I could be a little biased here, but I am shocked they left Yandle off the team. Absolutely shocked. I have him down after Suter as the second best American Defenseman in the NHL, and I think it’s a joke he isn’t on this team. I mean, this isn’t an especially good group to start with. It’s not even close to what Sweden and Canada will have on their back ends when the Olympics begin. How they can leave off Byfuglien and Yandle is beyond me. Paul Martin? Justin Faulk? Are you kidding me?

(Takes a breath. Tries to relax).

One would think that Yandle’s skating, vision and puck movement would be especially beneficial during the Olympics, on the extra large international ice-surface. I have to assume that GM David Poile knows better than me, and that Martin and Faulk bring something to the team I don’t know about – I don’t exactly watch tons of Carolina or Pittsburgh games, so that is possible. Still, I am left nearly speechless at the Yandle snub: it seems ridiculous – I watch this guy play every night and he is unreal. Even though he has a reputation as an offensive defenseman, he is truly a much better 5 on 5 player than he is ever given credit for. He does everything outside of lay thundering body checks. I think he should be on the team.

So, as I try to understand what logical thought process made Team USA leave off four of their most talented players, I am left realizing that it probably isn’t that big of a deal. Maybe even a rested Yandle will help spur the Coyotes onto a late season charge up the standings. I wish he made it, but oh well! What can you do? Let’s just be thankful we live in a world where we can be angry about who gets selected to be part of a tournament of millionaires playing a game. Kinda sucks, but at least we all got to eat today! (I assume. If you didn’t, maybe consider hocking the computer you’re reading this on, or trading it in for a sandwich.)



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Game Recap:

On New Year’s Eve, the Coyotes played the Oilers, and won 4-3 in overtime.

The game began with the Coyotes controlling the play, scoring first and looking like they were going to end 2013 with a possible blow-out. Unfortunately, the Oilers scored 3 goals on 10 shots and lead 3-1 just a few minutes into the second period. All three of the goals were stoppable and Mike Smith was pulled after Justin Schultz scored the third Edmonton goal. The goals may have been stoppable, but Smith spent a lot of the first period standing around, as Phoenix thoroughly dominated the Oilers in the first period, so you can hardly blame him.

Thanks mostly to the fine play of backup goalie Thomas Greiss who came in and was perfect, and to a superb two goal one assist performance by Keith Yandle, who played nearly thirty minutes, the Coyotes were able to make a comeback and win in overtime.

Not sure if it is a new team policy or just a bizarre and unlikely occurrence, but this game was the sixth straight time the Coyotes have ended regulation in a tie. It is also the sixth straight game that they have recorded at least one point and puts the team two points up on Dallas and four points up on Minnesota.

Phoenix plays Columbus Thursday and Philadelphia on Saturday. Both games are at home.

Oh, and the arena was crazy last night. No one believes that the Coyotes actually have a great fan base, but last night proves it. A packed arena on New Years Eve and when the Coyotes tied it late, the crowd went nuts. When they won it, it was even louder. The atmosphere in the arena was great and it was the ninth time this year (according to the play by play man) that Phoenix tied a game after being down by two or more goals.


Thanks for reading. Happy New Year.

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