PaulieVegas
Registered User
We're halfway between Olympic cycles--2 years removed from Vancouver and 2 years until Sochi. Obviously there would be some turnover, if you were to pick your country's Olympic team if the tournament were held TODAY (note: not projecting the 2014, but rather if it were held right now), who would and wouldn't make it? Pick any country you like, I'm American so naturally I'll do Team USA.
GOALIES: I'd stick with Quick, Miller, and Thomas, although this time Thomas would be the starter. Jimmy Howard has done everything he can to make this team, and it's so hard to leave him off. But Thomas is the world's best goalie right now, Miller is the reigning tournament MVP, and Quick is equal to Howard but has been in the NHL a little longer.
DEFENSEMEN: Here's where the real turnover begins. We've had a few D-men step up since 2010 that are better than some guys that played in 2010. Rafalski retired, so he has to be replaced. I'd ax Erik Johnson (been pretty average since 2010, change of scenery hasn't helped much, turned down the Worlds last year), Tim Gleason (to be fair, he had a pretty good Olympic tournament, but is he really one of our best 7?), and Brooks Orpik (same there, is he really one of our 7 best?) I'd replace them with Keith Yandle, Dustin Byfuglien, Paul Martin (who should have been there in the first place but for injury), and Alex Goligoski. I wonder if maybe John Carlson or Cam Fowler should be in the running this soon in their careers.
FORWARDS: This is where is gets disappointing. Because so few young American forwards have really stepped up their game since 2010, the guys we took in 2010 are largely the guys I'd take today, even though some of them may not deserve it. Guys like Okposo, Wheeler, Stafford, Gaustad, Booth...all are guys you'd hoped would be a lot farther along at this point in their career. Obviously you have to replace the retired Drury, and Langenbrunner has no shot anymore. I'd leave Malone at home and probably Stastny too (that one hurts a little, but his game has really fallen off since Vancouver). In their place I'd take VanRiemsdyk, Connolly, Patchioretty, and I hate to say it since he's truly Canadian...but Pomminville. He's having an amazing season and he's worn the USA sweater in the past. Really hard to leave Oshie off, he's playing good hockey.
So about 2/3 of the guys in 2010 would probably be on my roster today, with most of the turnover being in the defense. Still a competitive and medal winning team, hopefully some good forwards (hello Colin Wilson) will evolve in the next two years and make the 2014 roster.
GOALIES: I'd stick with Quick, Miller, and Thomas, although this time Thomas would be the starter. Jimmy Howard has done everything he can to make this team, and it's so hard to leave him off. But Thomas is the world's best goalie right now, Miller is the reigning tournament MVP, and Quick is equal to Howard but has been in the NHL a little longer.
DEFENSEMEN: Here's where the real turnover begins. We've had a few D-men step up since 2010 that are better than some guys that played in 2010. Rafalski retired, so he has to be replaced. I'd ax Erik Johnson (been pretty average since 2010, change of scenery hasn't helped much, turned down the Worlds last year), Tim Gleason (to be fair, he had a pretty good Olympic tournament, but is he really one of our best 7?), and Brooks Orpik (same there, is he really one of our 7 best?) I'd replace them with Keith Yandle, Dustin Byfuglien, Paul Martin (who should have been there in the first place but for injury), and Alex Goligoski. I wonder if maybe John Carlson or Cam Fowler should be in the running this soon in their careers.
FORWARDS: This is where is gets disappointing. Because so few young American forwards have really stepped up their game since 2010, the guys we took in 2010 are largely the guys I'd take today, even though some of them may not deserve it. Guys like Okposo, Wheeler, Stafford, Gaustad, Booth...all are guys you'd hoped would be a lot farther along at this point in their career. Obviously you have to replace the retired Drury, and Langenbrunner has no shot anymore. I'd leave Malone at home and probably Stastny too (that one hurts a little, but his game has really fallen off since Vancouver). In their place I'd take VanRiemsdyk, Connolly, Patchioretty, and I hate to say it since he's truly Canadian...but Pomminville. He's having an amazing season and he's worn the USA sweater in the past. Really hard to leave Oshie off, he's playing good hockey.
So about 2/3 of the guys in 2010 would probably be on my roster today, with most of the turnover being in the defense. Still a competitive and medal winning team, hopefully some good forwards (hello Colin Wilson) will evolve in the next two years and make the 2014 roster.
