What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

USA 2010 Olympic Team

Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

PrezdeJohnson09 said:
Sounds about right to me.

I laugh at the Buffalo fans that were booing Max Afiniganov last night.

Last i checked, you guys didn't want him! So boo him when he comes back after he's having a good season with Atlanta? Be happy for the guy that he got a chance with another team and is doing well with it.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

He did play like a dog in Buffalo the last year or two. He also complained a lot. The Sabres also couldn't unload him on anyone else because others feared said dogging. If he played with the same effort he's shown in Atlanta while with Buffalo, he'd still be a Sabre.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

I just figure if they boo a little kid wearing a Kessel jersey, they probably say crap to the 12 year old walking down the street wearing a year out of date Kessel jersey, too.

Which tells me all I need to know about them.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

forsberg21 said:
I do not consider USA to be the favorites but I do believe they can win. Brian Burke is doing a good job of sandbagging. It's not like we're sending a bunch of scrubs to Vancouver.

Russia, canada, and Sweden have more talent and more experience at this point in time. 4th is a reasonable expectation for USA.
Click to expand...

I tend to trust the XM NHL Home Ice guys. They basically broke the field into:

Tier 1: Russia and Canada
Tier 2: Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic
Tier 3: USA

but noted that the US has great goaltending, with all that implies.

I'm going in thinking anything below 6 is a disappointment, while anything above is cake.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

Kepler said:
I'm going in thinking anything below 6 is a disappointment, while anything above is cake.
Click to expand...

That's a fair place to put things I'd say. Miller is the key to the team, if he gets hot they can absolutely medal. If he's off even a little... Look out.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

GreatLakerMohawk said:
That's a fair place to put things I'd say. Miller is the key to the team, if he gets hot they can absolutely medal. If he's off even a little... Look out.
Click to expand...

Very fair assesment. Pretty much my thoughts exactly.

The USA team needs to build around Miller and defend before attacking. Call it an Isles or Devils system whatever but that's the style this team is built to play and would most likely be the most successful with.

They've got a lot of good third and fourth line guys that should be able to buy into their roles and not concentrate on all offense like some other countries will be doing.

I'm optomistic about this team's chances but it certainly hinges on Miller playing well though and staying healthy.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

Assuming that Martin won't be back in game-playing form by the time the olympics come around, do we assume that Ryan Whitney takes his spot? Of the other defensemen from the evaluation camps (Whitney, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Tom Gilbert, Rob Scuderi), he's easily the closest in playing style to Martin (other than Gilbert, who isn't having a great season). Beyond that, I'm not sure who you'd turn to. Andy Greene?
 
Last edited:
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

Langenbrunner announced as team captain.

Parise, Rafalski, and Suter named alternates.

Not a bad choice. It was basically between Langenbrunner and Drury i thought. Surprised that Drury didn't even get an A but whatever.

Lets go USA!!! Can't wait.

Between the world juniors title, the 18U championship last year, and the 17U championship this year, this has the chance to be one of the greatest moments in USA hockey if the national team does well in Vancouver.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

Drury is fortunate to even be on the team, slapping a letter on his shoulder would've been extra stupid.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Assuming that Martin won't be back in game-playing form by the time the olympics come around, do we assume that Ryan Whitney takes his spot? Of the other defensemen from the evaluation camps (Whitney, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Tom Gilbert, Rob Scuderi), he's easily the closest in playing style to Martin (other than Gilbert, who isn't having a great season). Beyond that, I'm not sure who you'd turn to. Andy Greene?
Click to expand...

Matt Carle. Having a great year with Philadelphia playing with Pronger.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

It's kind of amazing how many hockey fans pick Olympic teams to win or lose based on their perception of players' NHL talent levels relative to each other and to their NHL stats.

Newsflash: The most talented team rarely wins in a short tourney like this. This is not an NHL season, nor is it a 7-game playoff series, where the best talent eventually rises to the top.

In one game elimination Olympic play on the small ice, like the NCAA tourney, all you need is a hot goalie and some smart and gritty forward play where guys can play effective and specific roles, and a less talented squad can easily take out a more talented team. You don't need to beat teams 4 times - you only need to beat them once in the medal round.

In other words, the USA team has a great chance to do well. Miller and Thomas are high level goalies who can shut down anyone when they are on their games. And the US team has enough speed and grit to bag a few goals along the way. Don't count us out. Games aren't played on paper.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

What helps the US out is the NHL-sized ice being used this time around. Never mind that it's completely backwards that they're doing things like this because the folks in Vancouver couldn't/wouldn't alter GM Place to make it work, but this goes a LONG way to benefit Canada and the USA.
 
Re: USA 2010 Olympic Team

Puck Swami said:
In other words, the USA team has a great chance to do well. Miller <strike>and Thomas are</strike> is a high level goalie<strike>s</strike> who can shut down anyone when he is on his game. And the US team has enough speed and grit to bag a few goals along the way. Don't count us out. Games aren't played on paper.
Click to expand...

FYP.:cool:

Other than that, I completely agree. I think the USA has a great team built for a Olympic Tournament. If they play a blue collar style of hockey they can and WILL be successful IMHO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top