Olympics Watch: Americans off to hot starts
by James Mirtle on Nov 2, 2009 2:57 PM CST
17 comments
Following up on a look at the hottest Canadian players in the NHL so far this season, here's a look at which American players may be impressing the Team USA brass so far:
Goal
| Player | Team | GP | GS | W | L | OT | GAA | Sv% | |
| 1 | Ryan Miller | BUF | 10 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1.86 | 0.936 |
| 2 | C. Anderson | COL | 15 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2.11 | 0.936 |
| 3 | Ty Conklin | STL | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2.34 | 0.921 |
| 4 | Tim Thomas | BOS | 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2.66 | 0.910 |
| 5 | Jon Quick | LAK | 13 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2.59 | 0.905 |
| 6 | J. Howard | DET | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3.42 | 0.879 |
Thomas may be the reigning Vezina winner, but it's hard to argue with Miller and Anderson making the team based on their starts. The Americans have the NHL's two hottest netminders so far.
Defence
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | |
| 1 | Alex Goligoski | PIT | 14 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 |
| 2 | Matt Carle | PHI | 11 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
| 3 | James Wisniewski | ANA | 9 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 4 | Ryan Whitney | ANA | 12 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| 5 | Erik Johnson | STL | 12 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
| 6 | Ryan Suter | NSH | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| 7 | Jordan Leopold | FLA | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 8 | Brian Rafalski | DET | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| 9 | Zach Bogosian | ATL | 10 | 5 | 1 | 6 | -2 |
| 10 | Keith Yandle | PHX | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -2 |
| 11 | Matt Niskanen | DAL | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -3 |
| 12 | John-Michael Liles | COL | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -4 |
There will definitely be some interesting decisions to make on the Americans back end, with some of the less-heralded names playing th best to this point. Whitney, Suter, Rafalski and Johnson were the only ones invited to the team's summer camp.
Forward
| Player | Team | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PPG | +/- | |
| 1 | Zach Parise | NJD | L | 12 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 1.17 | 7 |
| 2 | J. van Riemsdyk | PHI | L | 9 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 1.11 | 4 |
| 3 | Ryan Malone | TBL | L | 11 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 1.00 | 2 |
| 4 | Dustin Brown | LAK | L | 14 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 0.93 | 0 |
| 5 | Patrick Kane | CHI | R | 13 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 0.92 | 4 |
| 6 | Tim Connolly | BUF | C | 11 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0.91 | -1 |
| 7 | Ryan Kesler | VAN | C | 15 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0.87 | 0 |
| 8 | Jason Pominville | BUF | R | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0.82 | 2 |
| 9 | Kyle Okposo | NYI | R | 13 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0.77 | 0 |
| 10 | Keith Tkachuk | STL | C | 12 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0.75 | 1 |
| 11 | R.J. Umberger | CBJ | C | 13 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0.69 | -3 |
| 12 | J. Langenbrunner | NJD | R | 12 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0.67 | 6 |
| 13 | Mike Knuble | WSH | R | 14 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0.64 | 7 |
| 14 | Bill Guerin | PIT | R | 14 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0.64 | 5 |
| 15 | Scott Gomez | MTL | C | 14 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0.64 | 0 |
| 16 | Brandon Dubinsky | NYR | C | 15 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0.60 | 6 |
More tough calls here, probably, especially with players young and old like Van Riemsdyk and Tkachuk. Connolly and Pominville were not at the orientation camp but could play their way onto the roster in the next month or so.
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Miller
Finally seems to be playing to his true potential.
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by Rob Luker on Nov 2, 2009 3:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
How could you miss Pavelski James? He’s on a point per game pace!
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by Mr. Plank on Nov 2, 2009 3:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
He didn’t meet the games played minimum. But I bet he makes the team.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Nov 2, 2009 7:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
As insinuated above, Joe Pavelski for San Jose is one of the candidates for Team USA currently injured. He was out with a broken foot, but is supposed to be back with the Sharks in the next week or so.
Other American players of note who are currently out of order:
Mike Modano (DAL) has played just 1 game this season, suffering from a rib injury.
David Booth (FLA) is currently out with a concussion suffered last week.
Paul Martin (NJ) is expected to be out until mid-December with a broken forearm.
Then of course, there’s Phil Kessel (TOR) expected to be back sometime in November.
And finally, there’s Rick DiPietro…
-Kevin Forbes
Hockey's Future
by kforbes on Nov 2, 2009 4:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I’m kinda surprised Malone wasn’t at the camp… given his play with Stamkos, he might pair up really well with Kane.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 2, 2009 4:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Malone was at the camp. Although I’d have to check.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Nov 2, 2009 7:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Malone was invited to US Olympic camp and went … Burke would never turn down a chance to bring in a hard-hitting, tough guy onto his team.
by kaspar_11 on Nov 2, 2009 10:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Paul Martin should still be a lock to make the USA Roster. Tom Gulitti reported that Brian Burke said the injury won’t be a factor shortly after Martin was injured.
Rick DiPietro is the John O’Brien of USA Hockey…except he won’t get a surprise selection to Vancouver. Miller, Thomas, and Anderson, I think, have the inside track so far with Conklin and Quick on the outside.
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by John Fischer on Nov 2, 2009 5:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
And finally, there’s Rick DiPietro…
The interesting thing here (DiPietro being injured isn’t interesting, it’s the default now) is that neither his NHL team nor national team have any particular use for the guy should he surprise everyone and be healthy at some point.
by Malurous on Nov 2, 2009 7:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Connolly has actually been a very good player for a few years now, but he has yet to stay healthy enough to put up the season statistics to get noticed. Without that history how likely is it that he would make the team?
by Ebscer on Nov 3, 2009 10:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
If he’s healthy and producing at a rate close to what he’s doing now when they make the decision…I’m not sure if he can be overlooked. But considering his health problems in the past, that’s not a sure thing.
-Kevin Forbes
Hockey's Future
by kforbes on Nov 3, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Malone will be there. He was at camp and I can’t imagine they could have expected him to get off to a better start than he has. Goligoski is my black horse pick to make the team. He has been one of the best defensemen in the league so far this year, I really hope he gets a chance. Great with the puck, great break out passes and responsible in his own end. He’s not very big, but hes very smart and is great at using his stick to make up for being a smaller guy.
by genomachine-O on Nov 3, 2009 2:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
A look at some Team USA names by TheHockeyWriters.com
http://thehockeywriters.com/usa-hockey-studs-and-sleepers-the-olympic-team-starts-to-take-shape/
-Kevin Forbes
Hockey's Future
by kforbes on Nov 4, 2009 12:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Any chance Burkie looks at a guy like Paul Gaustad from Buffalo? Big, physical presence around the net, was (still is?) the NHL leader in FO%, plays the PK and the PP, big frame, high motor guy who hits hard and blocks a ton of shots.
He wouldn’t have enough pure scoring talent to make an Olympic team normally, but with Burke building the team he seems like a classic choice. Any chance he plays his way on?
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 4, 2009 9:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I really like Gaustad, but I think they have better options. Maybe as the fourth-line centre he gets a shot.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Nov 4, 2009 9:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
My thoughts exactly.
If he was anything other than a 4th-line center, they have serious problems. I just wonder how seriously Burke is going to walk the walk when he says he wants a real checking third line and a real energy 4th line.
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 4, 2009 9:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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