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It's time - to predict 2014 Team USA

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Should be another good run for team USA. Will be shocked if they don't medal

Agreed. Really good depth at forward, pretty good overall depth at D, and quite possibly the best all-around goaltending in the world. This squad could definitely get back to the gold medal game.

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Agreed. Really good depth at forward, pretty good overall depth at D, and quite possibly the best all-around goaltending in the world. This squad could definitely get back to the gold medal game.

I agree. They definitely should medal. Finland probably has the edge on the U.S. in goal, though.... Rask, Rinne, Niemi, Backstrom, Lehtonen...

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Only downfall I see for the Americans is your centremen seem kind of weak for an Olympic team. Everywhere else is insanely strong. Gonna be hard for the crew to cut guys from that roster. I'm not seeing DeKeyser make it this time around, and with guys like Callahan and Brown, Abdelkader's chance of making the team is slim as those guys do the same thing as he does, but have more scoring talent in their arsenal. Howard will be #2 behind Quick.

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I agree. They definitely should medal. Finland probably has the edge on the U.S. in goal, though.... Rask, Rinne, Niemi, Backstrom, Lehtonen...

Yeah Finland's goaltending very strong too. Hard to say which team's goalies are better, it really is that close. Safe to say no one else is as deep between the pipes than those 2

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Only downfall I see for the Americans is your centremen seem kind of weak for an Olympic team. Everywhere else is insanely strong. Gonna be hard for the crew to cut guys from that roster. I'm not seeing DeKeyser make it this time around, and with guys like Callahan and Brown, Abdelkader's chance of making the team is slim as those guys do the same thing as he does, but have more scoring talent in their arsenal. Howard will be #2 behind Quick.

Gotta disagree with you on that. Our weakest centerman is Paul Stastny, and despite his slight decline in production the last few seasons, he is one of the Avs best faceoff guys, and is a really good skater. I do agree about Abby tho. I see almost no chance of him making the team. And as much as I'd like to hope Howard will be Quick's backup, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Craig Anderson or even Ryan Miller get that spot. I see Jimmy being the 3rd goalie for sure

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Gotta disagree with you on that. Our weakest centerman is Paul Stastny, and despite his slight decline in production the last few seasons, he is one of the Avs best faceoff guys, and is a really good skater. I do agree about Abby tho. I see almost no chance of him making the team. And as much as I'd like to hope Howard will be Quick's backup, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Craig Anderson or even Ryan Miller get that spot. I see Jimmy being the 3rd goalie for sure

In my eyes Jimmy should be starting OVER Quick. Don't get me wrong Quick is an elite goaltender. But so is Jimmy, and Jimmy consistently makes amazing, game-changing, highlight real saves (at least more often than Quick)

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I don't know why people pick Miller. So he did well back in 2010 but Howard is better by far.

I actually agree completely. But I have a feeling after the heroics Miller displayed in 2010 that he'll at least be in the top 3 (if not backup). But yes as of now Jimmy is definitely the better goalie

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Guest The Axe

I don't know why people pick Miller. So he did well back in 2010 but Howard is better by far.

I agree. Miller is declining. Howard is improving.

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Just for fun's sake, how many of USA's players could crack Canada's roster in terms of talent?

Maybe Kane, Kessel and Parise?

I would say Quick, Anderson, Howard, Miller, Schneider, Kane, Kessel, Parise, Ryan, Byfuglien, Suter, Yandle (and possibly Kesler with his 2-way skills) would all have a very good chance of cracking Canada's lineup. Although the great thing about the direction USA hockey is going, in another 4 years that number should grow big time. So much young American talent coming up the ranks. Hopefully most of them will develop accordingly.

Edited by TheDetroitRedWings

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And that's not even counting all the young talent emerging from the USA World Junior squad that just won gold. The future of USA hockey is certainly as bright as ever.

So true. USA has NEVER been as stacked as they are now and will surely continue to get deeper and deeper.

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I would say Quick, Anderson, Howard, Miller, Schneider, Kane, Kessel, Parise, Ryan, Byfuglien, Suter, Yandle (and possibly Kesler with his 2-way skills) would all have a very good chance of cracking Canada's lineup. Although the great thing about the direction USA hockey is going, in another 4 years that number should grow big time. So much young American talent coming up the ranks. Hopefully most of them will develop accordingly.

No to Kesler for sure, Ryan and Yandle.

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I'm currently watching Winnipeg and Chicago and if Blake Wheeler isn't on team USA there's a problem. That guy is a serious beast. If Mantha turns out to be a Wheeler type forward I'd be thrilled. Dude is big, fast, and has a killer shot.

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Any team with Ryan Callahan and Dustin Brown on it is going to be pretty awesome.


I'm currently watching Winnipeg and Chicago and if Blake Wheeler isn't on team USA there's a problem. That guy is a serious beast. If Mantha turns out to be a Wheeler type forward I'd be thrilled. Dude is big, fast, and has a killer shot.

One of my favorite players. I've wanted him on the Wings for some time now.

Edited by Dabura

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Any team with Ryan Callahan and Dustin Brown on it is going to be pretty awesome.

One of my favorite players. I've wanted him on the Wings for some time now.

Yeah, I'm really pumped in general for team usa, but I definitely want to see Wheeler on there. Guy is all over the place against Chicago. For a while now I"ve been pining for E. Kane. But after watching them for a bit it's pretty clear that Ladd and Wheeler are the bosses on that team.

p.s. Don't forget Backes! Callahan, Brown, and Backes. Prepare to get hit every single time you touch the puck.

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Ah, that's who I was forgetting! Backes! Brown, Backes, Callahan, et al. Love it.

What I really like about Wheeler, beyond the obvious, is that he's growing, progressing, pushing himself to be better and better. He has a scoring touch now that I don't think he had several seasons ago. He's worked on his intensity, he's become a good leader, and I think he's actually gotten faster, quicker. I believe he has the potential to be one of the best players in the league, and I'll be very surprised - and pissed - if he isn't there in Sochi. Also, I'd take back all the bad things I've ever said about Holland if he were to somehow land Wheeler in a trade.

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Wheeler

I would cry.

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Burnside gives a good look behind the scenes. It's pretty lengthy, but interesting.

http://espn.go.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/10195703/how-us-hockey-team-bound-sochi-olympics-was-named

Even reading through it, Ryan is still a headscratcher to me. Their knock against the guy seems to be that all he can do is score?

Jack Johnson I can understand more. He's a talented player but is hockey sense just isn't there. All the good he does can unravel in one inexplicably stupid decision. So I can understand them not trusting him.

Yandle is still a surprise though too. They make him sound like he's awful defensively.

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Thought this was the best thread for it, but I'm really shocked that Keith Yandle and Ryan have been snapped wow. Well when you have the GM of the Preds picking the team what do you expect :eh:

Agreed but I thought Burke would be picking the team? Going to read through the article but so far not impressed with this roster.

Wow I'm really surprised how can ESPN feature such a great article? Easily one of the best and longest *g* articles I've read in years. One thing that's clear is, that Burke really comes off as a "know it all" guy Keith Yandle a disaster waiting to happen? *lol* pair the guy with Ryan Suter on the PP and wow. Yandle may not provide the best defensive play but he certainly is levels ahead of guys like Karlson when it comes down to defensive responsibilites. I think this decision is going to hurt team USA big time.

Jack Johnson given his poor play I can somewhat understand, as for Ryan again *lol* for taking Pacioretty over him. The guy has 18 goals on a very average this season and has scored 30 ever since joining the league, what more can you ask from a young player?

As for Poile man was this guy pushing a 19 old defender, while completely ignoring some no brainers.

Sure this is still a strong roster but I think it could have been much better. In terms of picking some shutdown defenderes I agree with Burke, despite the poor play I'd rather have JJ than Orpik who is only on this team because Bylsma is the coach.

Edited by frankgrimes

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