Team USA 2010 - Hockey Wilderness Style

by nathaneide on Dec 31, 2009 9:48 AM CST Comment 20 comments

Let's get as many guys from the 2004 WJC gold medal team and crush the Canadians again.

With all of the 2010 men's Olympic teams finalized other than the U.S., we at Hockey Wilderness thought we'd go ahead and give it a shot.

Now, please keep in mind that I am opinionated and plan on selecting from my gut instead of pretending that I am a crazy man who happens to be the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. As such, I may make some choices that you look at and think "What the hell is he thinking? Jesus, he must be on drugs!" Well, yeah, actually, I'm rocking the painkillers since shoulder surgery before Christmas. EAT THAT!

Anyway, I'm sure Mirtle's will be much more in depth, make "sense" and be closer to the actual final roster. Keep in mind though, he's a stinking Canadian, and we don't need them and their fake bacon. He's just trying to keep the US from fielding a team that could kick the crap out of those maple syrup eating, colored money having bastards in their own home.

So, without further adieu, I present the Hockey Wilderness American ass-kickers!

Goaltenders

Ryan Miller

#30 / Goalie / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-2

Weight: 175

Born: Jul 17, 1980

1. Ryan Miller
2. Tim Thomas
3. Jimmy Howard

This one really doesn't matter. It's Miller in every game except maybe the Norway one. Many people will want Jonathan Quick instead of Howard, but I don't trust Quick, and Howard has won medals at the World Juniors.

Defensemen

Matt Carle

#25 / Defenseman / Philadelphia Flyers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 205

Born: Sep 25, 1984

Now, my top pick, Andy Greene, is not likely to play because of stringent anti-doping rules, and the fact that he likely didn't go through the necessary regimen in order to be approved for the Olympics. Also, Paul Martin will be left off the list, but only because he will have had two or three weeks of full-speed play since coming off injury before the break. He won't be ready.

1. Matt Carle
2. Ryan Whitney
3. Erik Johnson
4. Tyler Myers
5. Ryan Suter
6. Alex Goligoski
7. Brooks Orpik

Yes, I selected Alex Goligoski in his first full season. Yes my defense is young. Yes I left off Brian Rafalski. These things are not coincidental. The US is weak at the blue-line, so let's get built for speed and transition. These guys are going to be fast, move the puck and play positionally. Can they stop the Swedes, Russians and Canadians? Frankly, I really don't know, but we're going to change the guard.

Forwards

Zach Parise

#9 / Left Wing / New Jersey Devils

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190

Born: Jul 28, 1984

Speaking of changing the guard. I don't want Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin anywhere near Vancouver. I want fresh, young talent. The kind of talent that has had success in the WJC. The kind of talent that can make things really exciting, entertaining and provide the kind of thrills WJC fans had in 2004 watching a ridiculously talented American team defeat the Canadians 4-3 in the gold medal game.

1. Zach Parise
2. Brian Gionta
3. Ryan Malone
4. Bobby Ryan
5. David Legwand
6. Patrick Kane
7. Blake Wheeler
8. Ryan Kesler
9. Jamie Langenbrunner
10. Tim Connolly
11. Phil Kessel
12. Kyle Okposo
13. Drew Stafford

So, what do you all think? Am I way off-base?

Poll

How ridiculous is my roster?

Not ridiculous at all. You should be the GM

14 votes

Dude, take another painkiller and a nap

5 votes

Take off you hoser! Canada rules, eh?

4 votes

You're 85% right. Burke will still keep some of the geezers

40 votes

CHELIOS SMASH!!!!!

8 votes

71 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 20 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Anderson will probably get the nod over Howard. Blake Wheeler probably shouldn’t make this team, WCHA highlight goal or not. Going all-youth isn’t something we should do.

Rafalski is a good defenseman and should definitely make the team.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 31, 2009 10:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ick

I had a hard enough time picking Ryan Suter. I can’t have more than one Badger on my team. :)

As for Wheeler, I’m going young, and he’s still one of the top 2-way American forwards. Callahan and Umberger are out because they are terrible defensively. Frankly, Wheeler is my bubble pick here. He could be switched with Dustin Brown.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Dec 31, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Here’s the NHL stats page for every forward from the US:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20102ALLFAFUSA&sort=points&viewName=summary

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 31, 2009 10:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d like Jamie Langenbrunner to get a pick, but I’m fairly biased since we’re both products of C-E-C hockey.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Dec 31, 2009 10:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Some USA players got calls saying they didn’t make the team today. Langenbrunner apparently didn’t get one.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 31, 2009 10:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Langenbrunner has to make the team

And he’d be my captain too.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Dec 31, 2009 11:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nate! How Could you?

Where is Rizzo? Jimmy Craig? If you want a winning team, you need players who have been there before. Oh, I also ran into Broten in the skyway a few weeks ago, he said he is in…so, get him on the list!

by mbennett on Dec 31, 2009 11:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, if we're going with youth

Otherwise, Broten O’Callahan and Eruzione have just as much right to make the squad as Drury, Gomez, Weight, Modano and Tkachuk

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Dec 31, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Modano....

I think he should make it, he is much better suited than Drury, Gomez and Weight. Tkachuk would be a good pick too. he would add grit.

by wild32384 on Dec 31, 2009 10:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome! Rizzo… I love it.

http://www.hockeywilderness.com

by BReynolds on Dec 31, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Statsny and Backes

I think you just conceded Statsny via Twitter, so that’s good.

Backes hasn’t had a great year, but let’s face it, neither have the Blues. He has started individually producing better in December—I see that continuing on into January. Also, he was on that 2004 WJC team as well, IIRC.

The other reason Backes makes this team is that USA Hockey already has had him out doing press for Team USA (e.g. NBC’s Today show where he taught Merideth Bakster(sp) some puck handling skills, hehe). I suppose they have no reason to guarantee him a spot because of this and could leave him off the team, but I don’t see it happening.

I’d like to see more youth this year as well—it can’t hurt the US chances any more than the alternative, IMHO. Why not let the kids that are going to be there in 2014 have a shot.

However, I’d bet good money two or more of the veterans on your list will be there. It will happen. One other veteran that many pundits see making the team is Mike Modano. I’m not sure where he fits?

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Dec 31, 2009 11:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Stastny is the weird one for me

I mean, the kid is definitely in, but I had forgotten his Adam Deadmarsh/Brett Hull situation and nhl.com has him listed as Canadian because they go by country of birth.

Backes hasn’t had a very good year, but then again neither has Wheeler really, especially Dec.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Dec 31, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That, and Stastny scores against the Wild all the time, and we don’t want to have to cheer for that guy.

http://www.hockeywilderness.com

by BReynolds on Dec 31, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wheeler fell off at the end of last year and hasn’t really gotten back on, per se. I’d love him to get back into last-season form, though.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 31, 2009 12:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"sense"

Nathan makes no “sense.” He doesn’t “bathe regularly.” He doesn’t “fit in with society.”

Ah, Chris Farley, we do miss thee.

Your team looks like one that would need Herb Brooks to coach them. Young and proud, fast and entertaining, but maybe some vets are needed. Not saying youth is a bad thing, but someone needs to kick their ass when they don’t listen.

http://www.hockeywilderness.com

by BReynolds on Dec 31, 2009 11:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs