US Olympic Hockey Roster Thoughts and Musings

by BReynolds on Jan 1, 2010 5:23 PM CST Comment 11 comments

From The Hockey News, the US Olympic Hockey Team for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Make the jump for the roster and some thoughts.

Goaltenders:

Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Ryan Miller	33	1928	21	8		66	2.05	987	921	.933	4

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Jonathan Quick	37	2224	21	13		97	2.62	1007	910	.904	0

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Tim Thomas	24	1439	10	9		58	2.42	711	653	.918	4

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Erik Johnson	39	4	17	21	-1	30	2	0	1	0	80	5.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jack Johnson	40	4	12	16	-11	34	2	0	0	0	69	5.8

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Mike Komisarek	33	0	4	4	-9	40	0	0	0	0	35	0.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Paul Martin	9	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	0.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Brooks Orpik	37	0	14	14	5	28	0	0	0	0	25	0.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Brian Rafalski	36	2	13	15	7	8	1	0	0	0	57	3.5

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	41	2	18	20	5	22	1	0	0	0	44	4.5

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - David Backes	40	9	10	19	-4	52	1	0	2	0	90	10.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Dustin Brown	41	9	19	28	-5	14	3	0	1	0	134	6.7

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Callahan	40	9	10	19	-11	34	6	0	2	0	107	8.4

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Chris Drury	35	5	9	14	-7	12	0	0	0	0	60	8.3

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Patrick Kane	40	17	28	45	14	14	3	0	5	0	129	13.2

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Kesler	41	10	24	34	-1	39	5	0	3	0	116	8.6

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Phil Kessel	29	14	8	22	0	11	3	0	2	0	130	10.8

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jamie Langenbrunner	39	10	22	32	10	22	2	2	2	0	91	11.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Malone	40	19	16	35	8	38	6	0	7	0	106	17.9

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Zach Parise	39	17	25	42	21	8	3	1	2	0	176	9.7

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Joe Pavelski	26	9	12	21	8	14	1	1	0	0	94	9.6

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Bobby Ryan	40	19	15	34	4	20	7	0	2	0	130	14.6

Paul Stastny

#26 / Center / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-0

Weight: 205

Born: Dec 27, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Paul Stastny	42	9	30	39	7	22	3	0	1	0	90	10.0

Looking at the roster a bit, I turn to Dan Myers over at This is the WCHA:

In all, 10 of the 23 members of the U.S. Olympic team played college hockey at a WCHA school.

The 10 selections for the WCHA was far more than any other conference. The CCHA is second with four players, Hockey East has three and the ECAC has one. Overall, 18 of the 23 players on Team USA's roster played college hockey at some point.

Location wise, Minnesota, Michigan and New York all have five natives playing for Team USA. Wisconsin has three players, Connecticut has two and Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania each has one.

So there are five guys on the roster from Minnesota, giving us at Hockey Wilderness at least some reason to stay interested.

As for Nathan's picks yesterday?

Two out of three goalies isn't too bad, and he did say it would likely be Quick over Howard, so I'll give him credit for 2 1/2.

Three out of seven on the defensemen is a bit painful. Nathan did mention that leaving Rafalski off of his list, and he did so for Goligoski, so no half credit here.

Nathan named six of thirteen forwards correctly, if I have my math correct. If we give him credit for later changing his mind on Stastny, he got 7 of 13. He did say this however:

I don't want Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin anywhere near Vancouver.

Well, Drury is on the team. Sorry, Nathan.

All total, Nathan named 11 correct players, and gained half credit for saying that Burke would choose Quick over Howard. 11 1/2 out of 23 is exactly 50%. Not bad in a guessing game, especially when Nathan looked to be trying to change things up, while Burke went with the safe choices. While 50% is still an F on most grading scales, I am going to give him and A for effort and creativity, balancing out the overall grade at about a C+, B-.

Besides, he guessed 11 more players that would make the roster than I did. So he has that.

Personally, I don't feel the US of A has much of a shot this year. Canada and Russia and loaded, as are the Finns. Unless Eruzione is coming out of retirement and Herbie is coming back from beyond to coach, I think they make the medal round, but no way they actually go much further than that.

What say you Wilderness? Like the team? Hate it? Who did they miss on? Biggest surprise? Biggest snub?

-Buddha

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Good except for one

Drury= Fail

by StanleyinMinny on Jan 1, 2010 5:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No Wheeler?

Wondering why Wheeler didn’t get consider. I’d take Wheeler over Langenbrunner. Isn’t Langenbrunner like 50 or something?

I think we definitely got the pick of the Goalies. Thomas is top notch and Miller has been red hot all season. This will be a HUGE advantage for the US.

by darksaga on Jan 1, 2010 7:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Langenbrunner likely gets the nod for some veteran leadership.

As for goalies… Miller and Thomas are formidable to be sure. But Canada has Brodeur, Luongo and Fleury. Not a trio to be scoffed at.

Backs and Kipper for the Finns…

I would bring up the Swedes, but any team that has to offer Gustavsson a spot has to be desperate. Lundqvist is a stud, but having him on three of five fantasy teams has caused my blood pressure to rise a few times this season.

http://www.hockeywilderness.com

by BReynolds on Jan 1, 2010 7:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ehhh,

I dont like the Drury pick, but I am happy that Gomez, Weight and Guerin arent on the team as well, I would have gone with Tkchuck over Drury any day.
I also Dont understand the Callahan pick. What does he offer that Wheeler doesnt? I mean Wheeler is definitely larger, But what makes Callahan a better pick?

by wild32384 on Jan 1, 2010 7:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thomas over Anderson?

Really?

Ryan Miller is an obvious choice. I also thought Jonathan Quick was an obvious choice the way he’s been playing this year. I’d still take Craig Anderson over Tim Thomas in a heartbeat — he’s the foundation for the Avs not being in bottom place of the league this year.

by SpaethCo on Jan 1, 2010 9:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The lack of Okposo to me seems odd...

by Yabbs on Jan 1, 2010 9:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts

The Drury selection is simply outrageous. Not picking Matt Carle is just Ron Wilson being a petulant little snot. Choosing Ryan Callahan over Kyle Okposo, Brandon Dubinsky, Brian Gionta, Paul Gaustad, David Legwand or Tim Connolly is asinine. Callahan is absolutely terrible in his own end, and he will clearly be on a checking line, which thrives on defensive prowess. Gaustad would have been the smart selection for a checking line guy, given his skill in the circle.

This team will not contend for a gold, but they could still be in contention with the Swedes and Finns for the bronze.

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

by nathaneide on Jan 1, 2010 10:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs