Courtesy: Howard How/Getty Images
With the NHL and NHLPA still talking about the NHL’s participation in the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, I was wondering, if the NHL were to partake, who would represent Team USA? Hockey in the United States has flourished in recent years and this coming NHL Draft could put an American, Seth Jones (yes that former NBA star Popeye Jones’ son), at number 1. The U.S. has a good chance to win the gold this year as they have in the last few Olympics. In 2010, the U.S. lost to Canada in O.T. in the Gold Medal game as Sidney Crosby, who didn’t do much else in the tourney, slipped the puck passed goalie Ryan Miller, who received tournament honors as MVP. USA Hockey just came off a win at the World Junior Championships this past January and the future has never been stronger.
There is actually a lot to choose from in the NHL in regards to who I would want to represent the U.S. and it took some thinking. Take a look for yourself:
Forwards:
Ryan Kesler – Vancouver Canucks
Kesler is a big guy with a lot of talent. He would be more useful as a second line center, but with the lack of depth in this position, he’ll have to step it up.
David Backes – St. Louis Blues
One of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. Backes is one of the leaders of this team and can put up points as well as shut down opposing scorers. One of my three picks for Captain.
Joe Pavelski – San Jose Sharks
‘Little’ Joe is having a great time playing with ‘Big’ Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau and will bring a scoring touch to Team USA.
Zach Parise – Minnesota Wild
The next generations Mike Modano. He’s who you think of when you think of USA Hockey. He brings leadership and scoring and some grit. He’s one of my three picks for Captain.
Bobby Ryan – Anaheim Ducks
Grit and determination are keys to Ryan’s game. He’s got great hands and can battle behind the net. He’s been a great compliment to Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf in Anaheim for a few years.
Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks
Probably the most talented American player since Pat LaFontaine. Speed. Hands. Creativity. He’s getting better and better each year and his maturity level is rising both on and off the ice. He’s won a cup and now wants Gold.
Phil Kessel – Toronto Maple Leafs
Kessel is struggling this year, but that doesn’t mean he’s not the purest sniper that Team USA has. All Kessel does is shoot and create chances and as long as he does that then the pucks will go in. Like the others, he’s been here before and knows what he has to do to win.
Dustin Brown – Los Angeles Kings
He lead the Kings to the Stanley Cup last year. He knows how to win. He’s grit and determination all over, and he also knows how to score. He leads with his play.
Ryan Callahan – New York Rangers
If you want sacrafice and determination, look no further than Callahan. The Captain of the Rangers will dive in front of a shot, beat you up then skate down the ice for a goal. He’s gritty, hardnosed, and will not stop until he wins. One of my three picks for Captain.
T.J. Oshie – St. Louis Blues
He’s small and tenacious. Fast and skilled. He brings a high energy game to the St. Louis Blues and he’s maturing into a great two-way player.
Max Pacioretty – Montreal Canadiens
Not as pure a goal scorer as Kessel, but still a big threat on the ice. He lends the Americans a scoring punch.
Jason Pominville – Buffalo Sabres
The long time Sabre has been playing well on a bad team in Buffalo. He wants to win. He’s a great puck mover and can score.
Sub: Alex Galchenyuk – Montreal Canadiens, Paul Stasny – Colorado Avalanche, James Van Riemsdyk – Toronto Maple Leafs, Derek Stepan – New York Rangers
Defense:
Ryan Suter – Minnesota Wild
He made a stink last summer with Parise in the FA market, but he’s struggling with his new team so far in Minnesota. He’s still one of the best D-men in the NHL and can lead a team from the backend with his play.
Keith Yandle – Phoenix Coyotes
He’s a good two-way defenseman who can lead a power play unit. Yandle also will lead this defensive core by eating up minutes. He can move the puck.
Kevin Shattenkirk – St. Louis Blues
Another great puck moving defenseman the US can utilize. He’s still developing but he’s maturing fast. Great transitional player and doesn’t make many mistakes. Makes simple plays and doesn’t think too much.
Dustin Byfuglien – Winnipeg Jets
He’s a big man. He can clear the crease and be an imposing figure. He can also score. His shot will be great on the power play and he can move the puck very well for a man his size.
Brooks Orpik – Pittsburgh Penguins
A stalwart on the blueline for Team USA as of late. Orpik is mean and is one of the hardeset hitters in the NHL. He’s intimidating, can clear out he crease and battle in the corners punishing opposing forwards. He’s also one of the leaders on this team.
Ryan McDonaugh – New York Rangers
He’s coming into his own in New York and is playing a lot of minutes under Tortarella. He can move the puck and is a solid shot blocker.
Sub: John Carlson – Washington Capitals, Zach Bogosian – Winnipeg Jets, , Matt Carle – Tampa Bay Lightning, Jack Johnson – Columbus Blue Jackets, Erik Johnson – Colorado Avalanche
Goal:
Ryan Miller – Buffalo Sabres
He’s struggling in Buffalo but the team is letting him down a lot. Miller is still the best American goalie in the NHL. He was the 2010 Olympic MVP and he doesn’t want to go home with Silver again.
Jonathan Quick – Los Angeles Kings
The reigning Conn Smythe winner in last years playoffs. Quick is just that. He can be the hardest goaltender to beat when he’s on his game. He’s struggling this year, but that will change. He could steal the show in Sochi like he did in the playoffs last year.
Cory Schneider – Vancouver Canucks
He could be the starter in Vancouver if it wasn’t for Luongo. Same goes for Team USA. Schneider is a great goaltender who will get his time in the spotlight. If either of the other two fail, he can pick up the pieces and settle things down.
Sub:
Jimmy Howard – Detroit Red Wings, Craig Anderson – Ottawa Senators
Coaching Staff:
John Tortarella – New York Rangers
Peter Laviolette – Philadelphia Flyers
Courtesy: NHL/Sports Illustrated
What do you think? Am I leaving anyone out?
Team USA will be as strong as any team we’ve ever put together. The future is strong as well. Players like Galchenyuk , J.T. Miller, Seth Jones and John Gibson will be on this list in 2018 no doubt. Hockey in the U.S. has never be higher and is still growing at an obscene rate.
This team will compete and they could very realistically bring home Gold against a very strong competition.
The big question is: Should the NHL participate? In my opinion: Yes.
The NHL can’t afford not to join. NBC owns the broadcasting rights and it wouldn’t be very good business for the NHL to deny their best sponsors. Especially after a lockout. It’s a two week hiatus in the middle of the season and all it will cost is the All-Star Game, which no one gives a hoot about anyway. Owners are concerned about injury to their start players, but that is something they’ll have to figure out with the NHLPA. The NHL needs this to make their league a boomtown again. Besides, the KHL is doing it.
More to come…
