Now that we have completely decided EXACTLY who will be on Team Canada one year from now in Toronto it is time to head south to look at Team USA.
In 2010, prior to the Olympics when I attended Team USA Camp in Chicago, there was an interesting message being whispered by the media and even those involved with putting together that team. The message was one of transition..after all, this was the first real team after the great USA teams with players like Roenick, Modano, Leech, Leclair, and Richter…This was a new group of players and the feeling was they would “eventually… challenge Canada, but not right away. They were very young in comparison to Canada and the Vancouver Olympic expectations were pretty low.
We all know what happened. That team thrived in Vancouver and came within an overtime goal in the gold medal game of ruining the party…
And then came Sochi. And at the pre-Sochi event, this time in DC, the expectations were no longer low. The expectations were sky high…and we all know what happened there. Team USA had some very high moments in Sochi, but fell back a bit from Vancouver…
So where are they now?
When you look at the World Juniors there is no questioning the talent level coming out of USA Hockey has never been higher, and while I am not sure McDavid or Macinnon would make Team Canada, I am quite certain that Eichel and Seth Jones WOULD make this Team USA. Add to that the uncertainty of the Patrick Kane situation and Team USA again feels a bit at a crossroads…
For the sake of Projecting Team USA I am going to include Patrick Kane, but I will also include an alternater,….
Here Goes…
Eklund’s Team USA Projected Roster.
Offense:
Pavelski Parise Kane Pacioretty Tyler Johnson Kessel Kesler Backes Stepan van Riemsdyk Foligno Okposo Oshie Bjugstad Wheeler
if No Kane: Colin Wilson
on the Bubble… Brock Nelson, Stastny, Kreider, Ryan, Callahan,
Defense:
Suter McDonagh Carlson Faulk Byfuglien Shattenkirk Erik Johnson Leddy
Bubble: Jack Johnson, Martin, Krug, Goligoski, Fowler, Niskanen
Goal:
Quick Schneider Bishop
Bubble: Ryan Miller, Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson
What say you?
Can this team USA compete with yesterday's Team Canada?
Today we will discuss all this and more on the HockeyBuzzCast Live at 12:30pm