WJC: 2015 — USA Roster Talk

[AmericanDream]

I can also see Scott Savage - D - as a dark horse invite and sleeper pick for the team. McCoshen, Santini, and Savage all play together at BC and all have a ton of familiarity with each other...

the ex-USNDP alum has done just fine at BC and should be in consideration for an invite this summer.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

2014/2015 U.S. WJC Team

Official thread. Didn't see this referenced elsewhere, but Mark Osiecki was named the head coach for this year's team: http://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/374229?referrer_id=752796

Good choice.

 

[William H Bonney]

Official thread. Didn't see this referenced elsewhere, but Mark Osiecki is was named the head coach for this year's team: http://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/374229?referrer_id=752796

Good choice.

Agreed. It was only a matter of time that Osiecki got the call as he put in his time on three successful WJC teams already. The only surprising thing is that he'll be leading the squad as an AHL coach instead of as an NCAA coach.

 

[William H Bonney]

Here's my guess at the Lake Placid Evaluation Camp Roster based on the 45 player estimate from the Osiecki article:

Forwards (x25):

Justin Bailey - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Paul Bittner - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Taylor Cammaratta - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
Cole Cassels - Oshawa Generals (OHL)
J.T. Compher - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Kyle Connor - Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Chase De Leo - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Jack Eichel - Boston University Terriers (NCAA)
Adam Erne - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Hudson Fasching - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
John Hayden - Yale University Bulldogs (NCAA)
Ryan Hitchcock - Yale University Bulldogs (NCAA)
Connor Hurley - Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA)
Keegan Iverson - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Dylan Larkin - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Jimmy Lodge - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Anthony Louis - Miami Redhawks (NCAA)
Ryan MacInnis - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Sean Malone - Harvard University (NCAA)
Nick Magyar - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Sonny Milano - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Michael McCarron - London Knights (OHL)
Tyler Motte - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Nick Schmaltz - North Dakota (NCAA)
Alex Tuch - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)

Defense (x16):

Gage Ausmus - North Dakota (NCAA)
Mike Brodzinski - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
Will Butcher - Denver Pioneers (NCAA)
Connor Clifton - Quinnipiac Bobcats (NCAA)
Anthony DeAngelo - Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Jack Dougherty - Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
Michael Downing - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Anthony Florentino - Providence Friars (NCAA)
Brandon Fortunato - Uncommitted (NCAA)
Jack Glover - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
Noah Hanifin - NTDP U18 (USHL)
Aaron Haydon - Niagara Icedogs (OHL)
Ian McCoshen - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Steve Santini - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Keaton Thompson - North Dakota (NCAA)
Tommy Vannelli - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Goalies (x4):

Brendan Burke - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Evan Cowley - Denver Pioneers (NCAA)
Thatcher Demko - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Alex Nedeljkovic - Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

Notes:

• USAH hasn't brought an underage player to this camp in awhile but Hanifin should be a lock to be there. That said I won't be surprised if they leave him home but he makes the eventual team anyway.
• Other underage players like Matthews, White, Kirwan, Bracco, and Werenski will probably play there way into consideration for the actual team during next season but I would be surprised if any got invites here.
• I left some good players off this list. The last players I chose for each position: Magyar (forward), Ausmus (defense), Burke (goalie).

 

[Xokkeu]

Osiecki is a former Badger coach, which means we are gold medal contenders.

 

[William H Bonney]

My initial guess on the final roster:

Forwards (x13):

Sonny Milano - Jack Eichel - Hudson Fasching
Adam Erne - J.T. Compher - Michael McCarron
Jimmy Lodge - Cole Cassels - Nick Schmaltz
Chase De Leo - Sean Malone - Tyler Motte
Dylan Larkin

Defense (x7):

Noah Hanifin - Steve Santini
Ian McCoshen - Tommy Vanneli
Will Butcher - Anthony Florentino
Connor Clifton

Goalies (x3):

Alex Nedeljkovic
Thatcher Demko
Evan Cowley

Notes:

• This is going to be an extremely tough team to predict (and earn a spot on). Lots of talent. I would only say there are 9 true locks (Eichel, Fasching, Erne, Compher, Santini, McCoshen, Butcher, Demko, Nedeljkovic).
• How many of the following can make it: Milano, Schmaltz, Cammarata, and Louis? I think the two '96s are the better players but the '95s will have the experience edge.
• There is a lot of depth up front. Can a guy like Justin Bailey make the big leap next season that most are waiting for? How will guys like Tuch, Hurley, Schmaltz, Milano, and Larkin adjust to the NCAA? A lot of shifting parts between a lot of good players.
• Kyle Connor is an interesting one. He's already a top USHL player but he'll be back there next year. He'll have to have a strong U18s, camp, and dominate the USHL to make the team but I think he's capable of it.
• Defensive options don't compare to the forward group but with three returnees that should all improve off last year's performance, combined with super prospect Hanifin, and their should be a good core to rely on. I'm interested in how Dougherty and Glover adjust to the NCAA. Hopefully at least one of them has a smooth transition and grabs a spot. DeAngelo is the wildcard - high end skill but will character concerns and roaming style work against him?
• Whatever roster is chosen the expectations should be a gold medal.

 

[jhoops89]

Here's my guess at the Lake Placid Evaluation Camp Roster based on the 45 player estimate from the Osiecki article:

Forwards (x25):

Justin Bailey - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Paul Bittner - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Taylor Cammaratta - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
Cole Cassels - Oshawa Generals (OHL)
J.T. Compher - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Kyle Connor - Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Chase De Leo - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Jack Eichel - Boston University Terriers (NCAA)
Adam Erne - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Hudson Fasching - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
John Hayden - Yale University Bulldogs (NCAA)
Ryan Hitchcock - Yale University Bulldogs (NCAA)
Connor Hurley - Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA)
Keegan Iverson - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Dylan Larkin - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Jimmy Lodge - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Anthony Louis - Miami Redhawks (NCAA)
Ryan MacInnis - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Sean Malone - Harvard University (NCAA)
Nick Magyar - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Sonny Milano - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Michael McCarron - London Knights (OHL)
Tyler Motte - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Nick Schmaltz - North Dakota (NCAA)
Alex Tuch - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)

Defense (x16):

Gage Ausmus - North Dakota (NCAA)
Mike Brodzinski - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
Will Butcher - Denver Pioneers (NCAA)
Connor Clifton - Quinnipiac Bobcats (NCAA)
Anthony DeAngelo - Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Jack Dougherty - Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
Michael Downing - Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Anthony Florentino - Providence Friars (NCAA)
Brandon Fortunato - Uncommitted (NCAA)
Jack Glover - Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
Noah Hanifin - NTDP U18 (USHL)
Aaron Haydon - Niagara Icedogs (OHL)
Ian McCoshen - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Steve Santini - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Keaton Thompson - North Dakota (NCAA)
Tommy Vannelli - Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Goalies (x4):

Brendan Burke - Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Evan Cowley - Denver Pioneers (NCAA)
Thatcher Demko - Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
Alex Nedeljkovic - Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

Notes:

• USAH hasn't brought an underage player to this camp in awhile but Hanifin should be a lock to be there. That said I won't be surprised if they leave him home but he makes the eventual team anyway.
• Other underage players like Matthews, White, Kirwan, Bracco, and Werenski will probably play there way into consideration for the actual team during next season but I would be surprised if any got invites here.
• I left some good players off this list. The last players I chose for each position: Magyar (forward), Ausmus (defense), Burke (goalie).

Looks like a good Eval camp roster, lots of Portland Winterhawks too!

 

[Juxtaposer]

Just a hunch, but I bet Colin White makes the team. He'd be solid in a defensive role but has a lot of offensive talent to him.

 

[Xokkeu]

I like the scoring options we have at the top.

 

[AmericanDream]

I would also keep a serious eye on :

Ryan Donato - F

Shane Eiserman - F

Joshua Jacobs - D

Zach Wilkie - D

Blake Siebenaler - D

All of these kids are risers and can make serious cases for this team, especially the Niagara dmen.

Just a ton of depth from top down for the next few years, Gold should be expected for the foreseable future with this talent.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

My initial guess on the final roster:

Forwards (x13):

Sonny Milano - Jack Eichel - Hudson Fasching
Adam Erne - J.T. Compher - Michael McCarron
Jimmy Lodge - Cole Cassels - Nick Schmaltz
Chase De Leo - Sean Malone - Tyler Motte
Dylan Larkin

Defense (x7):

Noah Hanifin - Steve Santini
Ian McCoshen - Tommy Vanneli
Will Butcher - Anthony Florentino
Connor Clifton

Goalies (x3):

Alex Nedeljkovic
Thatcher Demko
Evan Cowley

Notes:

• This is going to be an extremely tough team to predict (and earn a spot on). Lots of talent. I would only say there are 9 true locks (Eichel, Fasching, Erne, Compher, Santini, McCoshen, Butcher, Demko, Nedeljkovic).
• How many of the following can make it: Milano, Schmaltz, Cammarata, and Louis? I think the two '96s are the better players but the '95s will have the experience edge.
• There is a lot of depth up front. Can a guy like Justin Bailey make the big leap next season that most are waiting for? How will guys like Tuch, Hurley, Schmaltz, Milano, and Larkin adjust to the NCAA? A lot of shifting parts between a lot of good players.
• Kyle Connor is an interesting one. He's already a top USHL player but he'll be back there next year. He'll have to have a strong U18s, camp, and dominate the USHL to make the team but I think he's capable of it.
• Defensive options don't compare to the forward group but with three returnees that should all improve off last year's performance, combined with super prospect Hanifin, and their should be a good core to rely on. I'm interested in how Dougherty and Glover adjust to the NCAA. Hopefully at least one of them has a smooth transition and grabs a spot. DeAngelo is the wildcard - high end skill but will character concerns and roaming style work against him?
• Whatever roster is chosen the expectations should be a gold medal.

Sabres are well represented. Fasching, Malone, Florentino, Compher, and Eichel

(And maybe Hurley/Bailey as you mentioned too).

 

[AmericanDream]

My early look


Defense

Ian McCoshen
Steve Santini
Noah Hanifin
Anthony DeAngelo
Jack Dougherty
Tommy Vannelli
Will Butcher


Forwards

Sonny Milano
Jack Eichel
Alex Tuch
Nick Schmaltz
Dylan Larkin
Kyle Connor
Adam Erne
J.T. Compher
Hudson Fasching
Paul Bittner
Chase De Leo
Jimmy Lodge
Cole Cassels

Goaltending

Thatcher Demko
Alex Nedeljkovic
Brendan Burke

Milano - Eichel - Tuch
Schmaltz - Larkin - Connor
Erne - Compher - Fasching
Bittner - De Leo - Lodge
Cassels

McCoshen - Santini
Hanifin - DeAngelo
Dougherty - Vannelli
Butcher

Demko
Nedeljkovic
Burke​

to me, keep Milano - Eichel - Tuch together. do not split them up they have tremendous chemistry

I also love Fasching and Erne with Compher. that line is skilled, tough, and going to be a ***** to play against

I can't see Kyle Connor not making this team, put him with Schmaltz and Larkin and watch the magic from these three stars

I went with Cassels and Lodge as the last two forwards, could just as easily be Motte and MacInnis

I am not a huge fan of Butcher and his style is a bit redudant with what we have so I would rather have Haydon on this team but Butcher is a lock unless he completely flops

goaltending is super strong and offense is scary deep. the defense is solid as there will be a lot of wild card risers that we will be talking about like Glover, Jacobs, Haydon, Downing, etc

this squad should be playing for the Gold medal, anything less would be an epic flop

 

[wings5]

Should be another strong USA team, Canada in juniors is a bit of a political mess so I don't know if im too confident in who they'll pick and have a feeling they'll leave off some deserving players again. Goaltending for us is a big questionmark with Fucale's recent performances, Demko should be the best in the tourny along with Saros.

 

[ecemleafs]

Milano - Eichel - Tuch
Schmaltz - Larkin - Connor
Erne - Compher - Fasching
Bittner - De Leo - Lodge
Cassels

McCoshen - Santini
Hanifin - DeAngelo
Dougherty - Vannelli
Butcher

Demko
Nedeljkovic
Burke​

that 3rd line looks awesome for the WJC and a total ***** for the opposition to play against.

 

[nobuddy]

Milano - Eichel - Tuch
Schmaltz - Larkin - Connor
Erne - Compher - Fasching
Bittner - De Leo - Lodge
Cassels

McCoshen - Santini
Hanifin - DeAngelo
Dougherty - Vannelli
Butcher

Demko
Nedeljkovic
Burke​

Easily a gold medal caliber squad IMO.

 

[wings5]

Looks solid except I'm not so sure USA hockey brass is as high on Paul Bittner as you AmericanDream.

 

[AmericanDream]

Looks solid except I'm not so sure USA hockey brass is as high on Paul Bittner as you AmericanDream.

maybe/maybe not...

it depends on what USA Hockey views him as. being a 96' will not help his case a lot either as there are a decent group of 95's that have a solid shot as well.

with De Leo a likely fixture on this team, and his size and skillset I figured Bittner would be a solid name to have on this team and have scoring options on all four lines.

Bittner is a pure wild card who might not be suited for a bottom 6 role on this team, but if he tears it up early next year, I am not sure how you keep him off the team with the overall package he brings to the table.

 

[LaxSabre]

that 3rd line looks awesome for the WJC and a total ***** for the opposition to play against.

Would love for that third guy to join the other two and be a line in the Buffalo Sabres family but I doubt Tampa Bay trades him anytime soon. Still will be fun to see that trio team-up come World Juniors and we may get a hint - two-thirds worth - of a future line for the Sabres in a few years.

 

[CutOnDime97]

How many returning players would there be?

 

[Juxtaposer]

How many returning players would there be?

Not very many, especially up front. Lots of new blood up front. I honestly wouldn't hate to see a lot of this past U18 team's forwards on the U20 team next year, even though there'd be a couple of underagers. Eichel, Milano, Tuch, Connor, Larkin, Matthews.

What would Auston Matthews have to do to make the WJC roster? He's torn it up with the USNDTP, was a monster at the U18's, and just keeps getting better and better. If he keeps developing at the rate he has been, would it not be hard to leave him off the WJC roster?

 

[dwanmaster*]

Really think Hurley is going to rip it up at Notre Dame and make this squad.

 

[AmericanDream]

Not very many, especially up front. Lots of new blood up front. I honestly wouldn't hate to see a lot of this past U18 team's forwards on the U20 team next year, even though there'd be a couple of underagers. Eichel, Milano, Tuch, Connor, Larkin, Matthews.

What would Auston Matthews have to do to make the WJC roster? He's torn it up with the USNDTP, was a monster at the U18's, and just keeps getting better and better. If he keeps developing at the rate he has been, would it not be hard to leave him off the WJC roster?

I am not so sure he has much of a chance to be honest even though he is on the same high end skill level as Eichel. I think most of us agree that Hanifin will make this team so I doubt they would go with 2 97's. This team will not have a shortage of firepower so maybe in years past he would have a decent chance, just not so sure with all the 95's and 96's ahead of him. I am not saying for sure he won't, but it will be a big surprise if he does make this team IMO. Colin White is in a similar boat as well.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Any idea when the Summer Eval Camp Roster will be announced? Should be soon....

 

[William H Bonney]

Any idea when the Summer Eval Camp Roster will be announced? Should be soon....

Goalie camp invites were just announced:

Thatcher Demko
Alex Nedeljkovic
Edwin Minney
Brendan Burke
Evan Cowley
Brandon Halverson
Devin Williams

Full camp invites "later this month" per the release. http://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/390409?referrer_id=752796

 

[zeropotentate]

Wasn't Eichel an underager last year for America OP?

This team looks pretty strong, they might just dominate the entire tournament from start to finish.