Is Team USA going to be THE best program in the world by 2014?

[Guest blueadams]

Hate to bring this up on the day of a semi-final game (in which we have a real shot to win), but I was getting into 2014 with my buddy last night, and couldn't keep it to myself. Do you think that team USA will have the best hockey program in the world by 2014!? I think that we're going to pass the Sweedes and Russians, for sure. The Canadians...eh...more of a close call. Here's a very very (stupid-early) look at what the team might consist of:

FORWARDS:

Parise - 25 (29) - Stastny 24 (28) - Langenbrunner - 34 (38)

Ryan - 22 (26) - Kesler - 25 (29) - Kane - 21 (25)

Malone - 30 (34) - Pavelski - 25 (29) - Kessel - 22 (26)

Brown - 25 (29) - Drury - 33 (37) - Backes - 25 (29)

Callahan - 24 (28)

Okposo - 21 (25)

Oshie - 23 (27)

Byfuglien - 24 (28)

Booth - 25 (29)

Gomez - 30 (34)

Modano - 39 (43)

Connolly - 28 (32)

Umberger - 27 (31)

Cullen - 33 (37)

Guerin - 39 (43)

...There are only three forwards on the 2010 squad that are going to be 30+ in 2014 - Langenbrunner (38), Drury (37), Malone (34). I'd say that Malone probably has a good chance to make the squad again in 2014, but Langenbrunner and Drury are probably done. The most likely replacements for those two are probably Okposo (25) and Oshie (27). Byfuglien (28) and Booth (29) are also most definitely going to be on the radar though. Not a lot of great young american forwards in the NHL that aren't on this 2010 team, but there's sure to be a lot of great prospects developing over the next few years. But with that being said, it's going to be hard for any of them to knock these established guys going into their primes out of the lineup.

DEFENSEMEN:

Martin - 28 (32) - Rafalski - 36 (40)

Suter - 25 (29) - E. Johnson - 21 (25)

J. Johnson - 23 (27) - Orpik - 29 (33)

Komisarek - 28 (32)

*Gleason - 27 (31)

*Whitney - 27 (31)

Gilbert - 27 (31)

Hainsey - 28 (32)

Scuderi - 31 (35)

Myers - 20 (24)

Yandle - 23 (27)

Goligoski - 24 (28)

Carle - 25 (29)

Greene - 27 (31)

Wisniewski - 26 (30)

Liles - 29 (33)

Bogosian - 19 (23)

Butler - 23 (27)

Leopold - 29 (33)

Ballard - 27 (31)

...Four of the defensemen that were originally named to this team are going to be 30+ in 2014 - Rafalski (40), Orpik (33), Martin (32), Komisarek (32). Of those four, I really think that Rafalski is the only one that is done. Both of our injury replacements - Whitney (31) and Gleason (31) - are going to get a shot at replacing Rafalski. Gilbert (31), Hainsey (32), and even Scudieri (35) might also be on the watch list. If I had to guess right now though, I would say that Tyler Myers (24) and Keith Yandle (27) are both going to make the 2014 squad. Both have been very impressive this season, and are only going to get better. Goligoski (28) is going to be another guy to watch closely. I'm sure that there are going to be a lot of great prospects developing as well, but really, Rafalski's spot is going to be the only one that's really open. It'll be tough for a kid to come up and surpass Myers, Yandle, and the relatively young injury replacements getting experience right now.

GOALIES:

Miller - 29 (33)

Thomas - 35 (39)

Quick - 24 (28)

Howard - 25 (29)

Anderson - 28 (32)

...Miller is going to be 33, but hopefully, he is still able to be our guy. Tim Thomas is most likely out though. So, the backup battle will probably be a three man race between Quick (28), Howard (29) and Anderson (32). I'm guessing that both Quick and Howard make it.

Edited February 26, 2010 by blueadams

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

:beerbuddy:

Also, I expect Howard as a goalie for the team by then.

[Rufio 29]

Good analysis but maybe you could compare USA to another nation for a second if you want to evaluate if they're the world's best. If you do that, it's obvious the answer is no.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

No, but since this is another blueadams line combo thread.....

I'll have a Samuel Jackson!

DRINK *****!!!!!!

[grwingfan 21]

What kids from the USA Junior Hockey team have a good shot at 2014?

[Guest lilja4mvp]

myers plays for canada.

Edited February 26, 2010 by lilja4mvp

[cjm502 165]

Byfuglien, Booth, Bogosian, Ballard, and Carle have just ag good of a shot at making the team than any other guy. It is all going to come down on how they perform that year.

[Guest blueadams]

myers plays for canada.

tyler myers...he's listed as being from texas?

[Guest lilja4mvp]

tyler myers...he's listed as being from texas?

but he plays for canada.

[Guest blueadams]

What kids from the USA Junior Hockey team have a good shot at 2014?

like i said...its going to be tough for a young kid to break into this lineup. there are really only three guys on the team that are going to be worse four years fron now than they are today - rafalski, langenbrunner, drury and thomas - and there are plenty of great young kids making things happen in the nhl that are going to be ready to replace them - myers, okposo, oshie, howard.

[Guest blueadams]

but he plays for canada.

gross. "an american-born canadian hockey player" per wikipedia.

[cr00d 26]

gross. "an american-born canadian hockey player" per wikipedia.

Much like Brett Hull, though in reverse.

[Serapth 3]

No, with a caveat.

If for some reason, like say full out nuclear war, Canada ceases to exist, then yes.

Otherwise, no.

.... and don't go getting any ideas.

[Serapth 3]

Much like Brett Hull, though in reverse.

Just not quite as big a d-bag.

[redwingfan19 293]

Just not quite as big a d-bag.

yet.....

[newfy 695]

You guys are getting to be tops in teh world ill give you that. But you won't match Canadas development and depth anytime soon. Sure you guys are gettings ome superstars, Parise and Kane but Team Canada is pretty much all superstars. I think America has heart though alot of it, so come 2014 they'll be a team to reckon with

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

You forgot about Brian Gionta. That guy's one of the best American players out there.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

[evilmrt 636]

Good thread. I think you could have left off some of the old-timers...what is Modano doing on there, for example? But yes, 2014, Team USA will be even better. I think it depends on who is GM though, we should get Brian Burke to come back. Hes assembled a great squad.

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

I absolutely love how Americans are like "harumph, Tyler Myers is from Texas but plays for Canada? Booooooooo!" and in the same breath can mention 24 year old Paul Stastny, their top-line center, as a cornerstone of USA hockey for years to come.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

tyler myers...he's listed as being from texas?

Myers is a traitor! At least with Hull, he was born in Canada but immediately raised in the U.S. In Myers case, he was born and raised in Texas and didn't move out to Canada until he was 10 years old! Damn you Myers! We need every young talented American defenseman we can get! TRAITOR!

[lightthelamp13 0]

I guess comparing to another country is a good way to assess how you're program is doing. But with the Americans, I would think that getting better every year is their goal. Doesn't really matter what the other countries are doing.

but, anways:

Nash-Crosby-Stamkos

Heatley-Thornton-Carter

E.Staal-Getzlaf-Perry

Toews-Richards-Duchene

extras: jordan staal, john tavares, taylor hall.

Doughty-Myers

Weber-Green (barf)

Keith-Seabrook

Phaneuf?

Luongo

Fleury

Ward

Crosby will only be 26. That is mind boggling. Him, Stamkos, Toews, Getzlaf, Carter, Perry all in their primes. The entire defence too lol.

P.S - when it came to the World Juniors, thats where Tyler Myers decided which country to play for. He said that he felt that Canada was much much more important in his development as a hockey player, so he chose Canada. When you think about it, it's actually pretty surprising. Most players take the opposite route so that they have a better chance of making a team.

[mad dingo 6]

Myers is a traitor! At least with Hull, he was born in Canada but immediately raised in the U.S. In Myers case, he was born and raised in Texas and didn't move out to Canada until he was 10 years old! Damn you Myers! We need every young talented American defenseman we can get! TRAITOR!

How wrong you are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Hull

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

How wrong you are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Hull

Oh my bad. I thought they moved back to Chicago for a lot longer than that. But still, Hull's entire family is American. All of them being American born. Just so happens Brett's parents were in Ontario when his mother went into Labor. And then lived during Bobby's tenure with the Jets. No way Hull can be viewed as a traitor. Now Myers on the other hand. Definitely a traitor. Although, it makes sense that he wanted the best development possible for his future NHL career. But still, sorta sucks that we can't use him even though he was born and raised here for 10 years before he moved to Canada.

Edited February 26, 2010 by TheDetroitRedWings

[Original-Six 254]

I was just thinking about this the other day. The USA and Canada will be the only teams that wont be completely different in 2014, and Its looking like the USA will be the only one improving. On paper at least.