Everyone knew as soon as torts was picked, this team would lose. Not just lose but be embarrassed. He is an out dated coach, a piece of crap as a person, and nobody respects him. I hope team USA learns from this and decides to be progressive in their next team, not regressive.
- cornnation

agreed, and his soap box stance on the national anthem was rich too..here is a guy that makes a living at shooting off his mouth and embarassing himself and the teams he coaches, yet has the nerve to tell someone else they cannot express themselves...that started the whole thing off on the wrong foot for this team

you're assuming that the American guys on the NA team would have been welcome on this American team. given that Justin Abdelkader, Jack Johnson and David Backes were on this team, i highly doubt there would have been a taste for guys like Saad, Eichel and Jones.

There are a couple of problems with Team USA this time around.
1. The Coach. I don't care if Torts is the American born coach with the most wins. He is not the best American coach, and he is not the best of this situation. (the latter being I think the most important).
2. As has been beaten to death, this team as if it was playing an 82 game schedule, not a short round robin tournament. Never mind the kids, what about all the other talent that was left home that in a short tourney can make the difference?
3. The Kessel factor. Kessel was recovering from surgery and couldn't have played anyway, but as an American hockey player to see that he was never going to be invited...ever...that says a lot. That tells the players who are invited or who are lobbying to be invited how they can expect to be treated.
4. The Kids factor. If there was no team North America this year, at least three members of that team would have made Team USA. If they didn't...that would be an even greater indictment of the decision making and the coaching staff. Sure, when the Olympics roll around, if the NHL goes, USA will have the possibility of dressing an amazing team...but if the decision making process is the same then I would not expect to see a different result.

I hope Torts goes to Montreal after Therrien's fired...but I know Bergevin is not that stupid.

- homiedclown

OMFG That is absolutely the best tweet ever. I love it!

Who wrote this blog?

82 games of this

Torterella is a legit crazy person, but he's also a pretty decent hockey coach. I think you nailed it with #3. The Americans were hooped when they couldn't bring their best young players.
- Hunkulese

A team with Kessel Shatenkirk Johnson Faulk Ect would of beaten team Europe. Maybe not Canada. But they would of had a ticket to the semis and a chance at an upset.

OMFG That is absolutely the best tweet ever. I love it!
- Aetherial

It's been retweeted 55,000 times now.

Sorry the entire middle paragraph vanished from that post tying Lombardi & Lamerielo together. A weird cyber glitch.

They beat Canada last week, and all of you got sand in your vaginas cause they played too rough.

They played like wimps, and lost. . .twice.

Make up your minds
- Charlie.Conway

it's competitive hockey yes but this was never going to be a tournament where guys were going to get physically jacked up and run around all over the ice, not with an 82-game schedule starting in 3 weeks. USA Hockey was stupid for thinking that would be the case.

OMFG That is absolutely the best tweet ever. I love it!
- Aetherial

agreed

I can give you 4 reasons exactly why you should kill Team Murica:

1. Tortorella
2. Shattenkirk
3. Faulk
4. Kessel

Best part of this blog: "We writers..."


BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


USA
USA
USA
USA
- bcallaway

Andy Murray would've been a better option for a coach.

Andy Murray would've been a better option for a coach.
- eggsegan

Laviolette even more so.

I hope Torts goes to Montreal after Therrien's fired...but I know Bergevin is not that stupid.
- SENSpatriot

Doesn't speak french... so we won't even worry about that will we.

Laviolette even more so.
- dragonoffrost

or Bylsma

you're assuming that the American guys on the NA team would have been welcome on this American team. given that Justin Abdelkader, Jack Johnson and David Backes were on this team, i highly doubt there would have been a taste for guys like Saad, Eichel and Jones.
- DoubleDown

I am with you on it, I doubt any from U23 would have made it for 'not enough grit'. Who said they would take Gaudreau if they did not take Kessel and Tyler Johnson... Maybe Saad would have made the team due to his size, but would not have made that much difference. Kane and Pavelski needed someone to pass when they were checked on double teamed and there was Abdelkader and similar caliber players around who the opposing team defense knew they did not have to cover...

so what if team usa didnt have access to the U23 stars....niether did Canada. But it doesnt matter if USA Hockey management is the one selecting the players.

They named torts and justin abdelkader from the very beginning. There is your problem

If Justin Abdelkader was German I don't know that he'd make Team Europe.

That's how awful that selection was.

you're assuming that the American guys on the NA team would have been welcome on this American team. given that Justin Abdelkader, Jack Johnson and David Backes were on this team, i highly doubt there would have been a taste for guys like Saad, Eichel and Jones.
- DoubleDown

youre the real bubba. USA management group is the issue, they are still trying to tinker with their 2010 team to finally beat Canada.

Abdelkader starting the game on the top line with Kane...

It's almost like the USA wants to shoot themselves in the foot with these tournaments.

I have never seen a country omit so many of their best players from international events.

No Faulk and Shattenkirk on the back end (basically your FIRST PP unit on D).

No Kessel, and Tyler Johnson up front.

I have no idea why they would try to build a team that would outhit and 'outgrit' other teams in such a short tourney. The USA's best asset right now is it's speed and they leave off two of their fastest players in favour of 'gritty' players.

It's also unfortunate that the young team robbed them of a full line + 1 and another two Dmen....

I think this whole NA team thing is a one and done after this year.

so what if team usa didnt have access to the U23 stars....niether did Canada. But it doesnt matter if USA Hockey management is the one selecting the players.

They named torts and justin abdelkader from the very beginning. There is your problem
- DDM-Coga

well theoretically the Americans did get screwed under this format. the Americans simply don't have the depth to replace the high end talent that was ineligible, whereas Canada does. but as everyone is pointing out, who knows if any of those kids would have been selected for this version.

If Justin Abdelkader was German I don't know that he'd make Team Europe.

That's how awful that selection was.
- BINGO!

reminds me of when Canada tried to outsmart itself and brought Rob Zamuner to Nagano