James Tanner: Team USA: We Don't Want A Medal!!! Game recap from last night and a discussion on the Yandle snub.

"I'm not looking for the best players, I'm looking for the right ones"

Terrible write up. Just a fan boy whining as usual.

"I'm not looking for the best players, I'm looking for the right ones"
- mehetmet

He better be right

"I'm not looking for the best players, I'm looking for the right ones"
- mehetmet

That's fine but the only thing I find odd is the reason they didn't take B Ryan was because of his foot speed yet they chose Orpik? To me that kind of contradicts that theory.

Team USA's defense is going to be exposed in a big way. You make sure your defense is mobile on big ice.

He better be right
- Buffalo-Sabres

What is a better way to field a true American team? Guys considered underdogs, show up and go win a medal!

Seriously, The fact that some of these players have the best stats this year isn't reason enough to have them on the U.S. roster. You need the guys who will be reliable and perform well together, in the designed system.

Some players that weren't may be benefiting from their systems, which could be run in a way nowhere near the system that is going to be run for team USA. That would also play into that decision? Did anyone think of that point?

How many times does a guy need a "change of scenery" to perform better? The USA scouts most likely picked the guys that would fit their system best, not necessarily the top point-getters.

That's fine but the only thing I find odd is the reason they didn't take B Ryan was because of his foot speed yet they chose Orpik? To me that kind of contradicts that theory.

Team USA's defense is going to be exposed in a big way. You make sure your defense is mobile on big ice.
- Sheppy99

Bobby Ryan's not a defenseman.

As a pens fan you shouldn't be suprised about Martin. Maybe Orpik... not Martin

A guy who would of been great is Andy Greene. By far our best defenseman logs big minutes mobile kills penalties ( if we have 8 penalty minutes he is on for 7 of those minutes) plays on our first pp unit so he has some offense he is perfect for this type of ice and can play great defensive game and chip in offense. Also Buff would be torched on the big ice I can totally see why he was left off ( guy is rumored to be anywhere between 245-270 lbs )

As a pens fan you shouldn't be suprised about Martin. Maybe Orpik... not Martin
- ChrisMS

Martin coming back from a long term injury is a legit concern IMO. He'll have 2 maybe 3 weeks to be in top form.

He has been excellent this year.....no question he was a lock before he was hurt. Would have been on the last team if he wasn't hurt.

I understand the questions about Orpik. I'm not sure about his inclusion either. He's having a good year but not a special year. He's been really physical this year and that must be what they want.

Martin coming back from a long term injury is a legit concern IMO. He'll have 2 maybe 3 weeks to be in top form.

He has been excellent this year.....no question he was a lock before he was hurt. Would have been on the last team if he wasn't hurt.

I understand the questions about Orpik. I'm not sure about his inclusion either. He's having a good year but not a special year. He's been really physical this year and that must be what they want.
- madmike71

Yeah... even as a pens fan who is glad to see orpik there, him over buff and yandle creates suspicion of cronyism

That's fine but the only thing I find odd is the reason they didn't take B Ryan was because of his foot speed yet they chose Orpik? To me that kind of contradicts that theory.

Team USA's defense is going to be exposed in a big way. You make sure your defense is mobile on big ice.
- Sheppy99

I got the impression from the article that Orpik would be a 7th defender. The US has mobile defenseman, both Carlson and Fowler can move the puck and jump into the rush.

Terrible write up. Just a fan boy whining as usual.
- poisondhearts37

Seriously, this Tanner guys a idiot.

as a rangers fan i agree. it seems they forgot they were playing on the bigger ice surface! i like McD making it, but cally and stepan should not. imo neither should backes or brown. galchenyuk, saad, ryan, okposo and as you said yandle should all be on this team. maybe not saad, but he should have a spot over cally backes brown. i mean if they were going to go grinder and "heart and soul" players then they should've taken dubinsky. with orpik and martin, you take 1 not both. yandle should be on this team. they are going to miss his offense big time. i am going to be optimistic going in, but it is going to be a tough road to medal. hope miller is ready to stand on his head. i think miller has more than earned the #1 spot with his play this year and quick still on the IR. bishop not making it and howard in as the #3 is absurd. i would have rather seen them give gibson the #3 spot.

I got the impression from the article that Orpik would be a 7th defender. The US has mobile defenseman, both Carlson and Fowler can move the puck and jump into the rush.
- fudd1689

im hoping they reunite fowler and carlson. i mean they did help beat canada for gold at the wjc

as a rangers fan i agree. it seems they forgot they were playing on the bigger ice surface! i like McD making it, but cally and stepan should not. imo neither should backes or brown. galchenyuk, saad, ryan, okposo and as you said yandle should all be on this team. maybe not saad, but he should have a spot over cally backes brown. i mean if they were going to go grinder and "heart and soul" players then they should've taken dubinsky. with orpik and martin, you take 1 not both. yandle should be on this team. they are going to miss his offense big time. i am going to be optimistic going in, but it is going to be a tough road to medal. hope miller is ready to stand on his head. i think miller has more than earned the #1 spot with his play this year and quick still on the IR. bishop not making it and howard in as the #3 is absurd. i would have rather seen them give gibson the #3 spot.
- hauger14

Thats childs play. Those guys off and those guys on. USA would be creamed and have no grit. Galy and Saad are way to Green. And the rest we already know why they didnt make it. Those in the real world know why.

Thats childs play. Those guys off and those guys on. USA would be creamed and have no grit. Galy and Saad are way to Green. And the rest we already know why they didnt make it. Those in the real world know why.
- poisondhearts37

i hope these guys can keep up. like i said miller is going to have to stand on his head

i hope these guys can keep up. like i said miller is going to have to stand on his head
- hauger14

Team USA will be just fine.

What is a better way to field a true American team? Guys considered underdogs, show up and go win a medal!

Seriously, The fact that some of these players have the best stats this year isn't reason enough to have them on the U.S. roster. You need the guys who will be reliable and perform well together, in the designed system.

Some players that weren't may be benefiting from their systems, which could be run in a way nowhere near the system that is going to be run for team USA. That would also play into that decision? Did anyone think of that point?

How many times does a guy need a "change of scenery" to perform better? The USA scouts most likely picked the guys that would fit their system best, not necessarily the top point-getters.
- mehetmet

Canada used this philosophy in 2006.

as a rangers fan i agree. it seems they forgot they were playing on the bigger ice surface! i like McD making it, but cally and stepan should not. imo neither should backes or brown. galchenyuk, saad, ryan, okposo and as you said yandle should all be on this team. maybe not saad, but he should have a spot over cally backes brown. i mean if they were going to go grinder and "heart and soul" players then they should've taken dubinsky. with orpik and martin, you take 1 not both. yandle should be on this team. they are going to miss his offense big time. i am going to be optimistic going in, but it is going to be a tough road to medal. hope miller is ready to stand on his head. i think miller has more than earned the #1 spot with his play this year and quick still on the IR. bishop not making it and howard in as the #3 is absurd. i would have rather seen them give gibson the #3 spot.
- hauger14

Excellent post!

James Tanner: Team USA: We Don't Want A Medal!!!
Game recap from last night and a discussion on the Yandle snub.
- James_Tanner

If he played for a major market team he would have been selected

I HOPE!!! you are right. But at the same time GO USA GO!!! I hope one of us is going for the gold!

as a rangers fan i agree. it seems they forgot they were playing on the bigger ice surface! i like McD making it, but cally and stepan should not. imo neither should backes or brown. galchenyuk, saad, ryan, okposo and as you said yandle should all be on this team. maybe not saad, but he should have a spot over cally backes brown. i mean if they were going to go grinder and "heart and soul" players then they should've taken dubinsky. with orpik and martin, you take 1 not both. yandle should be on this team. they are going to miss his offense big time. i am going to be optimistic going in, but it is going to be a tough road to medal. hope miller is ready to stand on his head. i think miller has more than earned the #1 spot with his play this year and quick still on the IR. bishop not making it and howard in as the #3 is absurd. i would have rather seen them give gibson the #3 spot.
- hauger14

I agree with almost all of this. Stepan hasn't had a great year and his foot speed is definitely one of his weak spots of his game. I can sort of understand Cally as he gives 100% every shift but he also hasn't had the best year and who knows how he plays coming back from injury. I also question how effective he'll be on the international ice. Orpik has no place on this team over Yandle, and the fact that Andy Greene wasn't even on the shortlist while Jack Johnson was getting serious looks really makes you wonder what these guys were thinking. I don't want to be pessimistic but I really don't see the US medaling.

Terrible write up. Just a fan boy whining as usual.
- poisondhearts37

Queens fan. Nuff said. Glad brown made it so I can cheer every team on to take him out at the knees, as he does every other player. Go Czechs!

I agree with almost all of this. Stepan hasn't had a great year and his foot speed is definitely one of his weak spots of his game. I can sort of understand Cally as he gives 100% every shift but he also hasn't had the best year and who knows how he plays coming back from injury. I also question how effective he'll be on the international ice. Orpik has no place on this team over Yandle, and the fact that Andy Greene wasn't even on the shortlist while Jack Johnson was getting serious looks really makes you wonder what these guys were thinking. I don't want to be pessimistic but I really don't see the US medaling.
- rmdevil313

Blake Wheeler over Bobby Ryan
Paul Martin/Justin Faulk over Yandle

Even Jason Pominville IMO deserved a spot, a defensive minded 30 goal scorer isn't someone to overlook