stickboy1956

I don't get the "anti-Sid" stuff. I know he gets lots of hype. I remember we had a player that got lots of hype, too. I think they have similar games, too. Not great size but will go to the net to get garbage goals. Sid's good - let's give him his due.

USA hockey tends to pick all star teams rather than choosing a team that has some role players (face-offs, pk, grinders, etc). Hopefully Brian Burke will not be influenced by the USA Hockey insiders and not be afraid to hurt some feelings if he has to when chosing his Oly team.

Kovalchuk >>>> Gaborik, there's no doubt.

His loss was huge last year - he was playing important minutes before he got hurt. His injury eleveted other up the depth chart and it showed during playoff time.

Must not have been true - he assisted on Oshie's goal yesterday.

Funny how things work out. About 4 years ago, Matt Niskenen and TJ Oshie were playing in the Class A Minn State Hockey Tournament - not the NTDP or USHL. Today they are wearing the USA at the WC. Funny how things work out. PS - Mr. Hockey from that year is not playing in the WC.

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-rai-sport.html The feed is choppy, though. USA 1-0 , 1st per.

Wings take face off's all the time (I think Langenbruner and Parise switched off depending on what side the draw was on). That's not the main factor when determining Wing v Center. You usually want your center deep in your zone helping the D. Wings can stay high in the zone and be ready to use their speed to get up the ice and stretch the other team to create more space for the D/C. Once on the attack, positions are generally interchangable. On PP the wingers usually set up wide on their off wing and let a C or another big body bang in front with the opposing D. An aside - it's too bad we didn't have the depth at center and had to move Duncan to C. I think it wore him out a little to play deep in our D zone instead of out high waiting for the breakout pass. He handled the switch well, but he was a better wing than a center.

Redwing had the Hawks dead and buried after game 4 in series one. And it also looks like he didn't watch much of the Ducks/Sharks series either. No one that paid attention expects the Wings to blow the Ducks out of the water.

Drew Shore will be a nice addition to DU as well.

Kristo needs to play on the wing to take advantage of his speed and explosiveness. We don't want him stuck down deep in Dzone coverage.

Just remember - Kozek and Duncan played together at the end of 07-08. Did they play a shift together last year?

Austia - USA playing now in the WC. Live box score here. http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/200/live/2314.html I don't know if the linechart at the IIHF site is accurate but the USA has an interesting, all-WCHA 2nd line. 9 F OKPOSO Kyle 42 F BACKES David 74 F OSHIE T J

If Blais were allowed to really "take over" the NTDP, he would blow up the current system and make NTDP focused on summer training and exposing more kids to the training/experience. I know if Herb Brooks were in charge this is how the program would have been run. There are plenty of high-quality Jr./Prep programs for elite U18 kids to play in during the winter if they feel they need to move from their current hockey situation. The current framework of the NTDP would make more sense if Olympic hockey were still an "amateur" tournament.

Sometimes even the top 15 is a crapshoot - ask the Wild about Pouliot

I had a feeling he would be asked to play. A good showing in Swiss could put him in the running for a spot on the Oly team next year. It's a good sign Brian Burke wanted him on the WC team. He is a long shot for the Olympic team but he has been underestimated before. I wouldn't count him out.

I wonder if Osh is a candidate to join Team USA for the WC in Swiss?

Looking at the rosters, it's shows how the game has grown - there are kids from all across the US, plenty from sun-belt states.

People have told me that the current owner has high regard for Dave Hakstol.

Didn't say he did - just that it didn't hurt his career/development to stay at EP. He could play for us next year. Maybe he could have improved his draft ranking a bit going to NTDP. Hard to say. The NTDP is one option for high end players. USHL is another as well as staying in HS. Each kid chooses his own path - none are silver bullets. Some in Canada wondered if Toews was making the right choice bypassing the CHL to play at SSS/UND. It's turned out pretty good for him so far. After reading the story on Forbort, it could be that he is tired of playing for Randolph and wanted a change of scenery for his last year of HS.

Vancouver fans should remember an Oshie visit to their city a few years ago.

USA World Tourny Roster set http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usahocke...3&id=260856 Stafford and Blake are on it - Matt Greene is not. IMO Greene > Hainsey

I believe Lee is too old to play in this tourney - he will be the top goalie on the next USA WJC team.

Actually Randolph makes some good points - Oshie Lee and Niskanen did just fine without NTDP - so did Leddy, Gardner and McDonough. There are plenty of former NTDP players that turn out to be average/below average college players. There is no silver bullet. The one point Randolph made about UND coaches pushing him to make this decision because they will need him "right away" doesn't make sense. In fact there will be a log jam at D without early departures in 2010. 1. LaPoint - sr 2. Marto - sr 3. Blood - jr 4. Fienhage - jr 5. McWilliam - so 6. Gleason - so 7. Nick Mattson - fr Unless they calculate LaPoint as a flight risk. Even so, there's still plenty of talent there without him. He wouldn't have to play "big minutes." Maybe Derek got tired of Randolph - he's had an interesting coaching career to say the least. It also looks like Randolph and his Bantam coach aren't always on the same page.

I forget - where did Oshie play HS hockey?