Vancouver 2010: One Year Out: Picking Team USA

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 1:23 AM CST in 2010 Olympics Comment 44 comments

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Last week, exactly one year from the next Winter Olympics, I put together my picks for Team Canada. This week, onto some of the other teams.

The U.S. is going to be an underdog in Vancouver, there's no question, but don't let anyone tell you this isn't a strong team. The Americans have underperformed at quite a few of the last major international tournaments, however, and as a result, I don't think they get the credit they deserve as a legitimate medal contender.

There is a ton of excellent young talent coming out of the U.S. system, and four or five years down the line they're going to consistently be one of the top 3-4 countries in the world.

And now they've even got a Vezina-calibre goaltender to put between the pipes.

Forwards

Parise - Stastny - Langenbrunner
Booth - Kessel - Kane
Brown - Kesler - Ryan
Modano - Gomez - Drury
x- Pominville

Those who say the U.S. doesn't have a lot of depth haven't looked at forwards who wouldn't make the team. I'm leaving out Jason Blake, Pavelski, Gionta, Stafford, Wheeler, Malone, Legwand, O'Sullivan, Rolston, Umberger, Okposo, Mueller, Oshie, Stempniak, Cole, Tkachuk, Cullen, Weight, Connolly, etc., etc.

No, that's not depth like the Canadian squad has, but compared to a country like Finland, or even Russia, which will both rely on non-NHLers in the Olympic tournament, it's impressive.

The top-end talent is coming, too. Parise's one of the league's top goal scorers (and has excellent chemistry with Langenbrunner, who would make a good captain), Kesler's a terrific defensive centre (and the perfect player to stick on the third line here in a shutdown role), and Kane and Ryan are emerging as top snipers in their early 20s.

They can score goals, and with the old World Cup '96 guard out of the way, they'll be a handful for a lot of teams.

Defencemen

Ballard - Rafalski
Martin - J. Johnson
Suter - Komisarek
x- Gilbert

If there's a weakness on the U.S. team, this is it. That said, players like Ballard, Martin and Gilbert are all incredibly underrated in the NHL and could finally get some overdue kudos in a best-on-best tournament.

I'm leaving out the likes of Ryan Whitney, Liles, Corvo, Niskanen, Carle and Erik Johnson, who could also be in the mix.

Goalies

Thomas
Miller
x- Conklin

The decision here is easier than the one Canada has to make. Thomas and Miller have both been terrific this season, with one the Vezina favourite and the other a dark horse candidate.

You can call Thomas a flash in the pan all you want, but over the past two seasons, he's had the top save percentage in the NHL among goaltenders with at least 60 games played.

And Mr. Conklin's No. 3.

Coaches: Honestly, I'd take Bruce Boudreau if he'd do it. If not, go with the top hockey mind from the NHL who doesn't opt to work with the Canadian team. There's nothing stipulating the coach needs to be American to lead this team, and after some high-profile disappointments, USA Hockey would do well to bring in fresh blood. Unheralded people like Claude Julien, Barry Trotz or even Randy Carlyle or John Stevens would be good choices.

Limiting their coaching staff to only Americans might not be the best way to go, and many "Canadians" behind the bench have spent their playing and coaching careers in the U.S. anyway.

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It's hard to imagine

Wheeler and Mueller not making the team. Obviously you’re picking them as you see it right now, and I don’t disagree, but if those guys continue to progress, I think they can get in over a Modano and Drury.

by StlBlues67 on Feb 16, 2009 3:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think it's quite easy to imagine

If you told me a year ago Umberger wouldn’t be on this team, I would’ve ….disagreed with you politely. I think Modano should make it, but not Drury.

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by jobe on Feb 16, 2009 8:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gaustad!

12th in the league in faceoff percentage, good size in front of the net. He’d be a pick if you are really skipping the oldsters like Modano and Drury. (they didn’t use Drury right last time around anyway)

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by TheTick on Feb 16, 2009 6:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gaustad does deserve to be on the team

It’s an interesting question to see if Gaustad would make a team like this. He doesn’t have the offensive numbers that these other players have, but is the type of guy you need to have on the team if you want to win. Overall it would make the team bigger, but it that isn’t always taken into consideration enough if you look at how most of these all star teams are put together…

Blue and Gold (of Buffalo)

by Ebscer on Feb 16, 2009 2:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing is all star games are no contact. Whereas the Olympics will see plenty of contact, so a gritty, physical player should have his place on the team even if he doesn’t have quite the same offensive upside as the others.

by Habs on Feb 16, 2009 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Guys like Kesler and Pavelski are excellent defensive players and bigger offensive threats than Gaustad. Still, his size could make him an option.

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 4:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope to God we don't have to deal with Modano again.

Someday they’ll realize it’s not 1998 anymore.

by Mandmeisterx on Feb 16, 2009 6:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

What's wrong with him on the fourth line?

Since his scoring touch has waned over the last few years, he’s transformed himself into one hell of a defensive forward.

I don’t think they should count on him to put up a point a game, but he’s certainly got some value despite his age.

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by RPT on Feb 16, 2009 11:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's just necessary as a passing of the torch thing.

I think that whole generation has seen it’s ship sail in international play. It’s time to get the young guys some experience.

by Mandmeisterx on Feb 16, 2009 7:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cheli?

James, where is Chris Chelios? Next year he will only be 48 years old!

by RedWings on Feb 16, 2009 7:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Put him on the coaching staff.

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 12:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s actually the best idea I’ve heard so far.

by Afino on Feb 16, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve heard him say he wants to fill some sort of role, and that’s the only one that makes sense at this point. His playing career is essentially over.

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I know he's been out most of the year ...

but I can’t be the only one who thinks Rick DiPietro is still one of the top 3 American-born goalies.

by colonial.red on Feb 16, 2009 9:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

He just tore a hamstring muscle merely by you saying that.

by Afino on Feb 16, 2009 10:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lol. He’s from Boston – that’s a different world.

BettorFan

by BettorFan on Feb 16, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thomas and Kessel

You said great things about Thomas, people seem to want to write him off, he’s remarkable. Being a B’s fan I get to watch him a lot. kessel might not be a great choice yet, good player, not mature enough.

I love that Dirty Water, OH Boston you're my home!

by banter_man9630 on Feb 16, 2009 10:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pavelski was the Sharks biggest big game scorer in last season’s playoffs, and depending on his recovery it would be hard not to slot Erik Johnson in your top six. Wheeler or Malone are also physical forwards you might want to add if you want the matchup with Canada to go that direction.

The drive and the heart have not been there this season for Gomez and Drury, I would choose one but not both. Give the nod to Drury.

by pj48 on Feb 16, 2009 11:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thomas, Miller, Conklin sounds like a perfect depth chart in goal.

by pj48 on Feb 16, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thomas also provides the most “European Style” experience

by cubanpuckstopper on Feb 16, 2009 11:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I really wanted to fit Pavelski in there, perhaps instead of Pominville. He deserves it.

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Take it from a Sabres fan

Pominville hasn’t shown up since the New Year. One goal in 19 or 20 games now.

I’d gladly put Pavelski over him.

by Afino on Feb 16, 2009 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One of the writers on my blog, Max Giese, is from Wisconsin where Pavelski is from. He said that Pavelski has won at every level he has partipated in, from high school, to USHL, to NCAA. He had a brief stint in the AHL, but you have to believe he is going to have a couple of chances with San Jose. Last year Pavelski and Clowe were blazing hot in the first round, but Pavelski was the only consistent scoring threat through both playoff series. You might not hear enough about him in the media, but he brings leadership qualities and intelligence to the ice, he is a top faceoff guy, he is devestating on the PK with Patrick Marleau. I kind of compared him to a very young Chris Drury.

When I saw the Rangers try to battle back in San Jose earlier this year, it was a weird almost disjointed NYR effort on the ice. Some lines were throwing their bodies around, really attacking the sticks and trying to get the game tying goal in the third period. Gomez was joking around with a linemate, and even smiling and talking to the ref and his faceoff opponent prior to the drop of the puck. This is the same guy who basically paid 40-50k insurance-wise to play for the Alaska ECHL team during the lockout, and who was behind the bench as an assistant coach a few days after fracturing his hip in the ECHL playoffs. It just looks like his head is not in the game right now as much as it has been in the past.

The other decisions are how do you want to structure the team. Myself, I don’t care about a gold medal I just want the team to smash Canada. E.Johnson-Komisarek would be good shutdown pairing, Ballard-J.Johnson would be the all-hate duo, Martin-Rafalski would be a smooth veteran #1 pairing that can help initiate the attack. Mueller is going to be a keeper, if not in this Olympics then the next one. Fill out the forward lines with players capable of playing a smashmouth style, and bring in a coach who can keep the team focused. No more WJC-style implosions.

by pj48 on Feb 16, 2009 5:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Pavelski was fabulous as a Badger. Guy scared the hell out of me.

by J. Michael Neal on Feb 16, 2009 6:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Playing on one of the best teams in the NHL, you wouldn’t think he’d be underrated, but he absolutely is. Would be a first liner on a lot of teams.

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I appear to have whiffed on Oshie (though I’m still going with Toews as the best player on that line by a good margin), but I nailed that Pavelski had a better future than Robbie Earl or Jack Skille. The guy I’m surprised by from that team is Tom Gilbert. I thought of him as a solid, but not spectacular, d-man at Wisconsin. Then again, he did score the goal to win the NCAA final.

by J. Michael Neal on Feb 17, 2009 3:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Liles

Even though the Avs have been miserable this season, Liles is clearly the Avs most improved player. He has been pretty strong on defense, and team USA would be hard-pressed not to choose him over a guy like Gilbert or Suter. For what it’s worth

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Feb 16, 2009 11:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gilbert plays more of a defensive role, and Suter’s had his own coming of age season. You could go Liles instead of Komisarek if you’re going for a strictly puck-moving blueline.

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 12:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Komisarek

I don’t watch him enough to know how good he is defensively, but one of the biggest improvements in Liles’ game has been the work in his own zone. He has been one of the Avs best defenders this season, to go with his impressive points total. (impressive being that it’s for a last place club).

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Feb 16, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well Komisarek used to be a sure value in terms of shutdown defensive defender, but this year he’s been flat out terrible – ever since coming back from his shoulder injury.
Depending on the selection process, if his play doesn’t improve before the end of this season, I can’t see him on any Olympic Team.

by Habs on Feb 16, 2009 1:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True, I was kind of counting this season as an aberration for Komisarek. Who has had the worse freefall, Montreal or Pittsburgh?

by pj48 on Feb 16, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d say Montreal, if only because of the depth the roster/farm has, as opposed to Pittsburgh. The team SHOULD by all accounts be doing fairly well with the kind of overall talent it has (albeit no real superstars)

by Habs on Feb 16, 2009 9:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Keith Yandle will make the team on defense. Book it.

by godot10 on Feb 16, 2009 1:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hmmn. All seven defensemen are NCAA products. Of the others named, so is Niskanen, Erik Johnson, and Liles. Hell, so is Chelios. The list is dominated by weasels and rodents.

All the goalies come from the NCAA. Only half of the top 13 forwards do, but 16 of the 19 James lists as honorable mentions played there.

The college game has changed a lot in the 30 years I’ve been watching.

by J. Michael Neal on Feb 16, 2009 2:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The hopeless homer Blues fan in me really wants to see David Backes make this squad. He’s a crasher and banger who’s developing some decent hands (18 goals so far this year). But given the depth up front I don’t see him making the cut.

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by ZarleyZalapski on Feb 16, 2009 4:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Regarding coaching, if there’s an even remote possibility that a Canadian coach could win a Gold medal for Team Canada, I’m not sure how many would purposely decide to coach another team and shut the door completely on their home country. While I understand many coaches aren’t tied down to their nationality exclusively (we routinely see coaches all over the world ply their trades elsewhere even in the Olympics), I do think there is a preference in American and Canadian national sports of using natives as much as possible. Heck, there are many soccer nations competing in the World Cup that have used foreign coaches in the past going back to domestic coaches now.

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by bkblades on Feb 16, 2009 4:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think someone like Boudreau’s going to be blackballed if he coaches the Americans in 2010. Maybe he gets a shot with Team Canada at the next tournament?

The names coming up to coach Canada are likely to be Babcock, Sutter, etc. I don’t know that Boudreau has a “remote possibility” at this point (unless the Caps win the Cup).

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 4:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think someone like Boudreau’s going to be blackballed if he coaches the Americans in 2010. Maybe he gets a shot with Team Canada at the next tournament?

If Boudreau does indeed get chosen for the Team USA post, unless he fails spectacularly, wouldn’t that by default leave him off the possibility for Team Canada in the future? I like to think that the Team Canada brass wouldn’t be that petty to blackball Boudreau, but once he gets selected for Team USA that would likely be his only possibility for some time. He either stays on Team USA for the duration or gets let go by Team USA, which wouldn’t make him a very attractive commodity for other teams either. I guess it ultimately depends on the coach himself if he still wants that potential (however remote) or opts for the immediate prospects.

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Feb 16, 2009 5:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let’s say Boudreau wins silver with the American team. If Canada wants him in 2014 and that’s what he wants to do, why can he then not switch teams? It happens in other Olympic sports all the time when it comes to coaches.

by James Mirtle on Feb 16, 2009 5:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just don’t coach Mexican soccer if you are an American. There might be a few problems.

by pj48 on Feb 16, 2009 5:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boudreau would be fantatic

And at this point I’d leave Modano, Drury, and Gomez off.

Stafford deserves a spot. Bobby Ryan is doing everything he can to claim a spot as well. I like Pavelski too. Not to mention Backes, and Mueller.

Go younger, with Langenbrunner as the captain and pray Thomas is hot. This could be a medal team because I don’t see much quit in the youngsters.

by Hull Fan on Feb 16, 2009 4:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

fantatic = fantastic

proof reading is my friend.

by Hull Fan on Feb 16, 2009 4:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Coaching Team USA as a Canadian

I agree James, I don’t think a Canadian coach would be blackballed for coaching TEAM USA but, to be honest, I don’t know how many NHL coaches would be willing to make such a move. I think at the end of the day the Canadian blood and passion to the national team runs pretty deep and it would be tough to go up against the team they have almost assuredly been rooting on for the last 40+ years.

by Illegal Curve on Feb 17, 2009 2:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Size and Grit on D

If we think we need more size/grit on D, Matt Greene should get a look. If we want to go toe-to-toe with Canada we will need some beef on the blueline.

Also remember that the Olympics will not be played on a big sheet – Vancouver convinced the IOC it would cost too much to convert their existing rink to 200 × 100.

by stickboy1956 on Feb 18, 2009 10:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs