Team USA

First off, a very happy 2010 to everybody. We now begin a new decade with a great Olympic games approaching us. Today, we had our last roster for the Olympic Hockey Tournament announced. Team USA. Here we go!

Goalies:
Ryan Miller (Sabres), Jonathan Quick (Kings), Tim Thomas (Bruins).

The third spot was the one that nobody was quite certain who it was going to be. It was down to Quick and Anderson (Avalanche). Both are basically the reasons that their teams are succeeding as much as they have in the Western Conference this year in the NHL. The USOC just gave the nod to Quick. At any rate, still a pretty good collection. 52 wins between the 3. Average goals against is at 2.36. Average Save % at .918. Combined 8 shutouts. Thomas is the reigning Vezina trophy winner, but is having a rather average year this year. Played very well in the winter classic today, but has yet to find his consistency. The same cannot be said for Miller who has just been stellar all year, and Quick has been very good for the surprising Kings. Plan on Miller being #1 and playing most of the time. Thomas will likely take up the second spot.

Defense:
Erik Johnson (Blues), Jack Johnson (Kings), Mike Komisarek (Maple Leafs), Paul Martin (Devils), Brooks Orpik (Penguins), Brian Rafalski (Red Wings), Ryan Suter (Predators).

I must say that the defense does not impress, in this case. Komisarek and Rafalski are really the biggest names on this blue line. The group is a combined -3, which isn't horrible but is far from excellent, and only 2 of them have 20 or more points this year. Clearly this group isn't one that we are expecting anything exciting from, and it really isn't one that poses much of an offensive threat. That would be something that they would definitely have from somebody like John-Michael Liles, who was left off of the team this time around. I think they were going for size with this group, more than anything, because Rafalski is the only one that is below 6 ft tall, and only 2 of them way less than 200 lbs. Could be a smart tactic to have big, strong defensemen to help keep the front of the net clear. But this could also backfire as they may be slower than teams like Canada and Russia, teams that they will absolutely have to beat if they hope to medal. Not a huge fan.

Forwards.
David Backes (Blues), Dustin Brown (Kings), Ryan Callahan (Rangers), Chris Drury (Rangers), Patrick Kane (Blackhawks), Ryan Kesler (Canucks), Phil Kessel (Maple Leafs), Jamie Langenbrunner (Devils), Ryan Malone (Lightning), Zach Parise (Devils), Joe Pavelski (Sharks), Bobby Ryan (Ducks), Paul Stastny (Avalanche).

Again, kind of an underwhelming group here. Not bad, but not really that great. The leading scorer of this group is Kane, who has 45 points. Only one other player on the team has more than 40. The top goal scorers are Ryan Malone and Bobby Ryan (both with 19). I mean, this is really a pretty lackluster group. Chris Drury is probably the biggest name amongst them, but he has been injured a good deal of the season and hasn't really performed that great since going over to the Rangers. They aren't as physical of a group as Canada and Russia, nor anywhere near as skilled. They're alright, but I really can't see them keeping up with Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, or even Slovakia. They'll probably have to be able to beat most of those teams in order to hope to get a medal. Really some puzzling picks.

Team grade: B-. Their best spot is goaltending, and Miller will have to be amazing to keep this team in it, but they are just so far behind the other power house teams that I just don't see anything meaningful happening from them. But, as Chris Berman would say, that's why they play the game.

They may make it to the quarterfinal rounds, but I would not count on Team USA even coming close to winning a medal this time around. I just don't see it.