Saturday Night Hockey: USA Olympic Roster

USA Selects Team For Olympics

While the deadline for actually submitting a team for Sochi is on the 7th, the US decided not to wait and announced their team after the Winter Classic. As with any national team, it all about who was snubbed. This year's biggest snubs to the team were Bobby Ryan and Keith Yandle (as highlighted in Scott Burnside's ESPN piece).

I can't say much for Yandle as I haven't seen him much, but knowing that he is a pretty good offensive defensemen, they should just pair him with a guy like Ryan Suter who is defensively responsible. If he can put up points as a defenseman, then he should be on the team.

For Ryan not to be on the team is ridiculous (unless you're not American, in which case we should all send Poile a "Thank You" card). Ryan is pure goalscorer, a guy who would be on the top line of any NHL team. In a game where goals are the objective, it seems wrong not to put him on the team. One of the knocks against Ryan was his skating*. While skating is more of an asset on the bigger surface, the lack of it can be minimize by linemates who can carry the puck and wait for everyone to set up. Another criticism is that he is soft, made by non-other than Brian Burke. This is mostly a North American (and Burke) thing. You think Russia is going to take Kovalchuk over a third-line KHLer because he's more truculent? Hell no (unless they're GM is named Burkov). To have Ryan over a guy like Blake Wheeler is pretty hilarious. Just because he's versatile doesn't mean he's good. In the column, Poile said he had a dream that leaving Jack Johnson off the team would be a mistake**. By the end he'll be wishing that it was Bobby Ryan in the dream.

*Skating in this sense means speed, since I don't have a clue on what "skating sleepy" means.
**Ok Canada, if the States fail to medal we need to tease them that it was because Johnson wasn't on the team.

USA Roster

Goalies: 

Name	Club
Jimmy Howard	Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Miller	Buffalo Sabres
Jonathan Quick	Los Angeles Kings

Defensemen:

Name	Club
John Carlson	Washington Capitals
Justin Faulk	Carolina Hurricans
Cam Fowler	Anaheim Ducks
Paul Martin	Pittsburgh Penguins
Ryan McDonagh	New York Rangers
Brooks Orpik	Pittsburgh Penguins
Kevin Shattenkirk	St. Louis Blues
Ryan Suter	Minnesota Wild

Forwards:

Name	Club
David Backes	St. Louis Blues
Dustin Brown	Los Angeles Kings
Ryan Callahan	New York Rangers
Patrick Kane	Chicago Blackhawks
Ryan Kesler	Vancouver Canucks
Phil Kessel	Toronto Maple Leafs
T.J. Oshie	St. Louis Blues
Max Pacioretty	Montreal Canadiens
Zach Parise	Minnesota Wild
Joe Pavelski	San Jose Sharks
Paul Stastny	Colorado Avalanche
Derek Stepan	New York Rangers
James van Riemsdyk	Toronto Maple Leafs
Blake Wheeler	Winnipeg Jets

One More Thing

Because I don't trust Hockey Canada, I'll be writing about Subban's snub next week.

Lineup Notables

Winnipeg Jets vs. Boston Bruins

Winnipeg: Jim Slater (hernia), Matt Halischuk (forearm), Paul Postma (blood clot) and Grant Clitsome (illness...I'm not gonna guess what it is) are out. Ondrej Pavelec starts this afternoon.
Boston: Marc Savard (concussion), Loui Eriksson (concussion), Chris Kelly (ankle) and Dennis Seidenberg (leg) are out. Shawn Thornton is suspended. Tuukka Rask might be in net.

New York Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

New York R: The Rangers are healthy. Cam Talbot is expected to start.
Toronto: Dave Bolland (ankle) and Trevor Smith (hand) are out. Jonathan Bernier will start.

Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens

Ottawa: Chris Neil (lower body) is out while Jason Spezza (hip) is questionable. Craig Anderson gets the start.
Montreal: George Parros (concussion) and Davis Drewiske (shoulder) are out. Carey Price is in net.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Vancouver: Alexandre Burrows (jaw), Jordan Schroeder (ankle), Alexander Edler (sprained knee) and Ryan Stanton (high ankle sprain) are out. Roberto Luongo returns to start tonight.
Los Angeles: The Kings are healthy. Martin Jones might be in net.