Looking ahead to something big in 2010

by Turd Ferguson on Apr 27, 2009 10:42 AM CDT

...yes, that's right, the Olympics. As someone who always gets caught up wondering why the US can't get over that hump when on foreign soil, last night I took the role of Larry Pleau/Brian Burke and thought about who I'd select to go to a cut-down camp. If anything, I tended to look for good young players who have the speed that could keep up with the European nations.

So, here's Turd Ferguson's Vancouver Games Camp Invitees, with a bit of comment after each group:

Goaltenders - Ryan Miller (Buffalo), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles), Al Montoya (Phoenix), Tim Thomas (Boston), Scott Clemmensen (New Jersey), Ty Conklin (Fuck Detroit)

Notice that the two goaltenders who always seem to pop up on US national teams, Rick DiPietro and Robert Esche, aren't on here because of the fact that they're some combination of crap, over-the-hill or DiPi. Of my picks, Miller and Thomas are no-brainers, Clemmensen was excellent for the Devils this year when he got thrusted into the starting job after Brodeur's injury, Quick has showed a lot of promise on a very young Kings team, and Montoya/Conklin have international experience.

Defensemen - Jack Johnson (Los Angeles), Ron Hainsey (Atlanta), John-Michael Liles (Colorado), Mike Komisarek (Montreal), Matt Carle (Philadelphia), Rob Scuderi (Pittsburgh), Zach Bogosian (Atlanta), Tom Poti (Washington), Brian Rafalski (Fuck Detroit), Ryan Suter (Nashville), Jordan Leopold (Cal/Gary), Matty Niskanen (Dallas), Matt Greene (Los Angeles), Mark Stuart (Boston), James Wisnewski (Anaheim), Erik Johnson (Blues)

You can really see the youth here: the oldest players on the defensive list are Poti and Rafalski, but many of these defensemen have played a lot of international games on the Junior teams/during the Worlds. Komisarek, Poti, Hainsey or Stuart could easily wear the "A" among this group.

Forwards (*asterisk denotes centerman, ALL CAPS means player is under the age of 26) - DUSTIN BROWN (Los Angeles), DAVID BACKES* (Blues), T.J. OSHIE* (Blues), PHIL KESSEL (Boston), MARK PAVELSKI* (San Jose), Mike Modano* (Dallas), Chris Drury* (New York Rangers), Scott Gomez (New York Rangers), KYLE OKPOSO (New York Islanders), PATRICK KANE (Chicago), Keith Tkachuk (Blues), Brian Gionta (New Jersey), ZACH PARISE (New Jersey), Tim Connolly* (Buffalo), JASON POMINVILLE (Buffalo), DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN (Chicago), RYAN KESLER* (Vancouver), BOBBY RYAN (Anaheim), Erik Cole (Carolina), Chris Clark (Washington), PAUL STATSNY (Colorado)

Out of this group of 21, a full 12 are under 26, and we also have 4 NHL captains (Brown, Clark, Modano, Drury) as well as 4 NHL alts (Walt, Gomez, Pominville, Kesler). You can see that I looked for a lot of fast players who have junior international experience (many of these guys have at least medaled in the U18s or WJC), as well as a few "energy" guys like Byfuglien. I could honestly see a few Blues come out of this hypothetical group to an Olympic team, especially if they want Keith to be a leader.

I'd appreciate your views/suggestions on the list, what you want to see Team USA look like, what kind of photos Rick DiPietro has that keep him as the top goalie, etc. This is all speculating, and honestly I don't know if USA Hockey will pick a team based more around an NHL style of play, especially considering they're playing on a 200x85 rink.

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Awfully young group

which I think is the point you’re trying to make.

Team speed on that larger ice is obviously at a premium. Anything to help the squad get more of that, I’m in favor of it.

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Apr 28, 2009 12:31 PM CDT reply actions

Can't wait for the Olympics

I’m an olympic junkie.
My husband calls himself an olympic widower.

by luvhockey on Apr 28, 2009 5:42 PM CDT reply actions

Goalies: I think Thomas and Miller are locks. Conklin would be an interesting third, but we’ll have to see how a guy like Jimmy Howard who is supposed to be the next big goalie in Detroit comes along and develops, and also Craig Anderson down in Florida is a possibiity for that third spot.

Defense: Suter should be in easy, but that is a pretty young/smallish group there. Jack and Eric Johnson should be in, Rafalski maybe for some puck movement, with another year Bogosain could reallly shine, and Hainsey pulls down series minutes against top lines night in night out. Id rather see Komisariek than Liles or Leopold, as of today those would be my top seven.

Offense: Locks: Kane, Kessel, Ryan, Parise, Stasney, Gomez, Cole, Brown, Drury. Would love to see Backes in there, maybe even Oshie but I think theyd be asked to be, essentially, the same player on this roster and their primary role would be to hit/grind and I think backes is better suited there. Personally Id rather see guys like Pominville, Pavelski, and Connolly in there as opposed to Walt and Modano, the old guard has had their chance to shine, its really time to move on, its easy to say where’s the leadership come from but thats kind of a bullshit way of not wanting to turn the page on the roenick/modano/walt era.

I dont really see the US medaling this year, Sweden will still have a strong team, Canada, of course, will fight on their own turf, and Russia, shit have you looked at Russia’s potential roster? If this Varlamov kid gets any kind of depth to this post season run plus next season with the Caps, thats another option for them behind nabokov/bulin/bryzgalov in net, not to mention the fact that they could have a sack of potatoes in goal and still win gold becuase that offense looks like it could put up 15 a game.

by bzgea2 on Apr 29, 2009 1:00 AM CDT reply actions