This team is not meant to be popular, but one that will grind out wins. I'm sorry, but Debrincat, Guentzel, Gaudreau and Oshie will not win you a gold medal. They will help you go 4-0 or 3-1 in the prelims, but they will not win you anything in the elimination rounds. Canada, Sweeden, Russia will eat them alive.
Base the team the same way you build playoff teams; Speed, Size, Strength, and role players.
You have scoring in Kane, Matthews, Connor, and the most offensive back end of any team. You do not need more scoring in the bottom 6.
The list is pretty organized here. The Scratches are the two extra players you can have. The IR players are my cuts that could go either way to round out the bottom 6. The taxi squad are guys who are on the radar but don't make the team.
The team will get you to a gold medal game in my opinion. Your bottom two centers have better FOW than your top two. Even the bottom two lines have wingers who have a better FOW than the top two centers. But each of the bottom 2 lines have the ability to put pucks in the net, while being considered "shut down" lines or "identity lines" for the team.
Compare this team to Vancouver that won Silver. Burkie built a team that will grind you down. In 2014, Poile built a team that relied on scoring more vs grind you down style. That team didn't medal at all. If you'd like to have Debrincat, Gaudreau and the rest of those guys, then that's fine, but I doubt that team will medal.
So to finalize, my team is built similar to the 2010 team, but the defense is a little more offensive than that team. I believe this group will get you in the final game.
Oh and I love the 3rd line. You should be able to put that line out against the best from any team and they will not only shut them down, but also push the pace and be that "identity line" that each team needs.
Oh did I mention, I'd love to see the first powerplay unit?!? That sure would be fun to watch! This team should have a bit of nastiness to it!
At this point I would agree that he isn't even making the team - just not enough experience in high importance games and defensively isn't quite good enough yet.
At this point I would agree that he isn't even making the team - just not enough experience in high importance games and defensively isn't quite good enough yet.
I agree,the usa should bring and play worse players over better ones
I'm a Hawks fan and I'd take Wheeler over Debrincat , Guentzal, Gaudreau, and Oshie ANY DAY. Hell I'd take Kreider, Nelson, Lee, Pacoriretty over those guys......
Defense wins you championships. Not small players who can get thrown around. Luckily Kane has enough talent that won't be an issue.
I like the points on Suter over Hughes. That leaves me on a torn decision though.... McDonagh vs Suter. Tough call because McDonagh sure looked solid in playoffs and Suter hasn't looked like he used to. Players in their prime, I'd take Suter all day.
I agree,the usa should bring and play worse players over better ones
Look at the history of USA teams. The two years they brought teams that are tough grinders (1997 WC and 2010 OG) they either won gold or silver. All other years you have smaller more (talented) players, they hardly medaled. It's too bad Stan would rather have a team based on talent and not a team meant to win in the games that are battles.
I like the points on Suter over Hughes. That leaves me on a torn decision though.... McDonagh vs Suter. Tough call because McDonagh sure looked solid in playoffs and Suter hasn't looked like he used to. Players in their prime, I'd take Suter all day.
Domoulin, Martinez, suter, McDonagh, krug, schmidt, hanifin before I even bring up Hughes name.
Look at the history of USA teams. The two years they brought teams that are tough grinders (1997 WC and 2010 OG) they either won gold or silver. All other years you have smaller more (talented) players, they hardly medaled. It's too bad Stan would rather have a team based on talent and not a team meant to win in the games that are battles.
Or they just lost other times because it's a short tournament where randomness can take over.
You bring the best team you can and hope foe the best, every other country hopes like hell the usa thinks gritty hockey over skill is the direction taken by that team
Apparently, you don’t watch playoffs. How’s Toronto or Colorado doing?
Oh yeah, two of the most talented teams were ousted early in the playoffs.
Tampa bay is talented, but they also have a good amount of grit in their game.
Dallas didn’t get to the finals with just talent, Montreal didn’t, Nashville didn’t.
The common theme here.
You need top-end talent though to win.
Kane and Matthew’s are your top-end talent.
Canada has a lot more as well, but going with the guys I keep referencing will get you a winning record in preliminarys and knocked out quickly after that.
Or they just lost other times because it's a short tournament where randomness can take over.
You bring the best team you can and hope foe the best, every other country hopes like hell the usa thinks gritty hockey over skill is the direction taken by that team
If you look at the long list of Stanley Cup Champions, each one had a combination of Grit/Role Players and Talented Players. If you add Oshie, Gaudraeu, Debrincat then you will have an lopsided mix of talent.
On top of this, if you want to play the style of game that has the "most talented players" then you better compare them to who you are playing against. Canada would destroy the US on talent alone. Russia would beat the US on Talent. Sweeden and Finland would probably do the same in my opinion. Does anyone not remember 1980?
If you look at the long list of Stanley Cup Champions, each one had a combination of Grit/Role Players and Talented Players. If you add Oshie, Gaudraeu, Debrincat then you will have an lopsided mix of talent.
On top of this, if you want to play the style of game that has the "most talented players" then you better compare them to who you are playing against. Canada would destroy the US on talent alone. Russia would beat the US on Talent. Sweeden and Finland would probably do the same in my opinion. Does anyone not remember 1980?
One, the Olympics are not the cup. It's a one game tournament format where goal differential means something.
Two, discounting oshie as a skill guy when he's one of the most big stage clutch players the states has ever had is hilarious
Three, just because some teams have slogged their way to wins doesnt mean that is how you build a winner. Canada isnt going to care if the usa wants to grind it out, they will just cycle the worse players into dust faster than a speedier more skilled team that lacks counter punch.
The usa will have by far the strongest goaltending in the tournament and they should use that to lean the other way.
I'm a Hawks fan and I'd take Wheeler over Debrincat , Guentzal, Gaudreau, and Oshie ANY DAY. Hell I'd take Kreider, Nelson, Lee, Pacoriretty over those guys......
Defense wins you championships. Not small players who can get thrown around. Luckily Kane has enough talent that won't be an issue.
Defense is what got them to OT of the gold medal game against canada in 2010. Rafalski was a beast in that olympics. Hellebuyck has the ability to match or better Ryan Millers performance from that year. I think speed and grit is the way to go as well. I think you're lineup is pretty ideal. But many will disagree and thats the way it goes. I still say Suter over Hughes as Suter can munch huge minutes and his defensive game is so strong especially against Canada and Russian offenses.
One, the Olympics are not the cup. It's a one game tournament format where goal differential means something.
Two, discounting oshie as a skill guy when he's one of the most big stage clutch players the states has ever had is hilarious
Three, just because some teams have slogged their way to wins doesnt mean that is how you build a winner. Canada isnt going to care if the usa wants to grind it out, they will just cycle the worse players into dust faster than a speedier more skilled team that lacks counter punch.
The usa will have by far the strongest goaltending in the tournament and they should use that to lean the other way.
I can see you’re now a troll. Who cares about point differential in olympics? It might help you not play Canada in the first round of preliminaries.
Oshie was clutch one time on the national stage, but was still on a team who didn’t Medal ( I think). Maybe bronze.
But point is, you might be in it to have a good record, but I’m focused on winning the gold medal.
I can see you’re now a troll. Who cares about point differential in olympics? It might help you not play Canada in the first round of preliminaries.
Oshie was clutch one time on the national stage, but was still on a team who didn’t Medal ( I think). Maybe bronze.
But point is, you might be in it to have a good record, but I’m focused on winning the gold medal.
Outside of the shootout Oshie only had one goal in 2014, hardly the definition of clutch. If the olympics were just non stop shootouts then he would be there.
I can see you’re now a troll. Who cares about point differential in olympics? It might help you not play Canada in the first round of preliminaries.
Oshie was clutch one time on the national stage, but was still on a team who didn’t Medal ( I think). Maybe bronze.
But point is, you might be in it to have a good record, but I’m focused on winning the gold medal.
ah yes, the "nuh uh, youre a troll because you disagree with me" reply. Always a good sign you have nothing. And goal differential, not point differential, you see when teams are otherwise tied, teams that score more goals get the tie breaker, it's pretty common knowledge for anyone who knows anything about international hockey.
Im also not saying you should have oshie on the team, just that not putting him there because he's a "skill" guy is a dumb reason.
And if you dont make the gold medal game then you cant win the gold medal game, if you are bringing grinders over more skilled players you're reducing your chances of making that gold medal game
ah yes, the "nuh uh, youre a troll because you disagree with me" reply. Always a good sign you have nothing. And goal differential, not point differential, you see when teams are otherwise tied, teams that score more goals get the tie breaker, it's pretty common knowledge for anyone who knows anything about international hockey.
Im also not saying you should have oshie on the team, just that not putting him there because he's a "skill" guy is a dumb reason.
And if you dont make the gold medal game then you cant win the gold medal game, if you are bringing grinders over more skilled players you're reducing your chances of making that gold medal game
Are you telling me that USA might not get into the quarter-finals with this team while playing Canada, Germany and China? Wow I didn't realize how back USA Hockey was that they can't beat China and Germany?!?!?
Once you get to quarter-finals, it's a grind bud.... The USA has shown time and time again that talent won't get you gold medals.
2006- No medal - team had little talent and grind
2010 - Won Silver - Good combo of talent and physical play
2014 - No medal - talented team lacking grit/size/speed
2018 - No medal - No identity for this team and hard watched.
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