USA's defense line-up 2010 Olympics

So who's gonna be there? I am suspect that Chelios and Scheider won't be around then. But who knows Cheli's going to play until he's 50, I think.

I say:

-Erik Johnson
-Jack Johnson
-Ron Hainsey
-Rafalski
-Leopold
-Liles

Not sure who else I might be missing, maybe Suter?

Mike Komisarek, Matt Niskanen

Oh yes, those guys definitely. Can't believe I missed them!

Who would you negate them with? Leopold, Liles?

I would probably take out Hainsey and Leopold. The offense is already there with Rafalski, the Johnsons and Liles, you need some kind of stay at home types.

Hainsey is coming off a career year. But he's kinda soft. He'll get better though. Leopold is a good two way guy who can play the body, but injury prone.

Exactly. Knowing Leopold's track record, he'll be injured anyway, so the US can just throw him out of the equation.

Either way it's going to be tough to decide. It's a nice problem to have.

Not sure who else I might be missing, maybe Suter?

Suter over JJ.

Maybe include one of Gilbert, Komisarek, Niskanen, and a young D-men yet to emerge.

JMFJ will be decent by 2010. And he brings some grit, it was his rookie year, he's learning his place and fine-tuning his game, on a pathetic Kings team that can't play defense. But still, he'll make the big hit, drop the gloves, you can't say that about too many other American defenseman on the roster we're considering.

I thought about Gilbert, but thought the others were better.

No Paul Martin, one of the best dmen at the entire World Championship this year?

JMFJ will be decent by 2010. And he brings some grit, it was his rookie year, he's learning his place and fine-tuning his game, on a pathetic Kings team that can't play defense. But still, he'll make the big hit, drop the gloves, you can't say that about too many other American defenseman on the roster we're considering.

I thought about Gilbert, but thought the others were better.

EJ was a rookie too, but played about 10000x better. Same with Niskanen. I maybe biased, because I just don't see the hype behind JJ. I like to call him Brad Stuart 2.0.

Oh yeah, Paul Martin for sure.

Like I mentioned in another thread, and yes, it's probably a homer view, but Brian Lee has transitioned quite well to the pro game and looked great in Ottawa. Who knows where he'll be in a year and a half.

Martin - Komisarek
Johnson - Johnson
Suter - Rafalski
Ballard

Martin - Komisarek
Johnson - Johnson
Suter - Rafalski
Ballard

That would be my guess.

As other posters have said, Gilbert and Martin would be solid additions, but I think the 07-08 season for Matt Carle and Ryan Whitney were aberrations and the two should receive some consideration for 2010. Overall, though, I think the US defense corps will be awfully young and it's not like their offense is exactly explosive or their goaltending is particularly elite. Unless a coach can convince these guys to play blue-collar, workmanlike hockey night in, night out, I can't say I like their chances.

The two Johnsons, Rafalski and Komisarek are all more or less locks. Hainsey, Whitney and Carle all have shots, I'd put them ahead of Niskanen personally.

Kevin Shattenkirk is the best U.S.-born DMan I saw on the college level this year.

As other posters have said, Gilbert and Martin would be solid additions, but I think the 07-08 season for Matt Carle and Ryan Whitney were aberrations and the two should receive some consideration for 2010. Overall, though, I think the US defense corps will be awfully young and it's not like their offense is exactly explosive or their goaltending is particularly elite. Unless a coach can convince these guys to play blue-collar, workmanlike hockey night in, night out, I can't say I like their chances.

That's true. USA hockey is still kind of in a transition phase between the old studs (Cheli, Modano, JR, Schneider) to the new ones (Kane, JVR, Parise, and this current defenseman crop).

There would be nothing more that would please me than to see USA defeat Canada in Vancouver, since Vancouver won in Salt Lake in 2002, but the odds are stacked against us. Forwards and defense will get better, but we lack the elite #1 goalie.

Still I am extremely proud of USA hockey. Bogosian might be the #2 or 3 overall pick this year, and Wilson could also be at top 10 pick as well. And, there are others too.

I think Gilbert will be in the running for a starting spot. As an Oilers fan, I got to watch him a ton this year, and he definitely impressed. He is very calm and collected defensively, but also likes to jump up in the play offensively. He will at least be in contention.

That's true. USA hockey is still kind of in a transition phase between the old studs (Cheli, Modano, JR, Schneider) to the new ones (Kane, JVR, Parise, and this current defenseman crop).

There would be nothing more that would please me than to see USA defeat Canada in Vancouver, since Vancouver won in Salt Lake in 2002, but the odds are stacked against us. Forwards and defense will get better, but we lack the elite #1 goalie.

Still I am extremely proud of USA hockey. Bogosian might be the #2 or 3 overall pick this year, and Wilson could also be at top 10 pick as well. And, there are others too.

Don't want to get too OT here, but what do you think are the chances VanRiemsdyk makes the team? I see the team's forwards as this:

Brown--Stastny--Kane
Parise--Gomez--Pominville
Mueller--Drury--X
Cole--Kesler--Langenbrunner

Now the X could be Chris Higgins, Patrick O'Sullivan, Ryan Malone, perhaps Cole moves up to the third line and David Booth takes his spot -- but JVR could fit in as well. What do you guys think?

X could also be RJ Umberger.

You may want to consider Kessel for a spot as USAH has high regard for him.

The US team has great speed and playmaking. The problem is there is no answer for guys like Ryan Getzlaf. When it comes right down to it, there will need to be some players to step up.

Don't want to get too OT here, but what do you think are the chances VanRiemsdyk makes the team? I see the team's forwards as this:

Brown--Stastny--Kane
Parise--Gomez--Pominville
Mueller--Drury--X
Cole--Kesler--Langenbrunner

Now the X could be Chris Higgins, Patrick O'Sullivan, Ryan Malone, perhaps Cole moves up to the third line and David Booth takes his spot -- but JVR could fit in as well. What do you guys think?

Kessel.

The problem with the forwards is that a number of the top players are very, very young.

Kane and Kessel seem fairly certain but even those I would not say 100%.

JVR, hmmm, I dunno, I am pretty sure he will return to UNH next year or play a year in the AHL like Okposo did rather than join the Flyers. That would give all of one year of NHL experience, I doubt he makes the team.

my defence for 2010

Martin - Komisarek
Johnson - Johnson
Suter - Rafalski
Stuart, Niskinan

Kane-Statsny-Kessel
Parise-Gomez-Brown
Kesler-Drury-O'Sullivan
Mueller-Oshie-Ryan-i no its early but he has been tearing up the ahl playoffs
cole,legwand, gionta, JVR are also in the running.

The problem with the forwards is that a number of the top players are very, very young.

Kane and Kessel seem fairly certain but even those I would not say 100%.

JVR, hmmm, I dunno, I am pretty sure he will return to UNH next year or play a year in the AHL like Okposo did rather than join the Flyers. That would give all of one year of NHL experience, I doubt he makes the team.

Kessel is far from 100%, but Kane? He just scored 72 points in his rookie season as an undersized 18-year-old. There's no doubt he is the best American player in the world come 2010 and where Kane goes, Team USA will go.

Kessel is far from 100%, but Kane? He just scored 72 points in his rookie season as an undersized 18-year-old. There's no doubt he is the best American player in the world come 2010 and where Kane goes, Team USA will go.

Kessel has played for, and dominated at every level for USA, and scored 20 goals at 20 years old, one year removed from Cancer. Then topped that off with 9 points in 6 games at the World Championships. USA has made it clear that Kessel is one of the keys to their hockey future, there is no reason for him to be left off the team.

Kessel has played for, and dominated at every level for USA, and scored 20 goals at 20 years old, one year removed from Cancer. Then topped that off with 9 points in 6 games at the World Championships. USA has made it clear that Kessel is one of the keys to their hockey future, there is no reason for him to be left off the team.

100% correct. usa hockey tends to take guys who have played in their program and kessel has excelled in international tournys.