Seriously, I’m pretty sure most Americans who see any type of significant ice time get invited, if only so they can ice 2 full squads for practices…not to mention, a rash of injuries might make getting a Byfuglien sweater ready. Hell, I’m actually surprised Burish didn’t get an invite, if only to play against the first line in scrimmages.

Buff over Gionta, Umberger and Wheeler?

wow, near realized Parise was American. Cool, at least we have one near elite level American born player…if only for one year…although I expect him to remain an elite scorer.

not yet

EPIC FAIL. So elite players in your book are 25 goal scorers and are excused from defense….record -8s in the playoffs to go along with the team’s worst PPvEL -8.3 and has the same BTN and Corsi ratings as Ryan Clowe eh. Yeah he’s 20… the main factor in keeping him from being an elite player as of now. We’ll know in two years where he stands.

O.K. team strong your asking? It looks like Burke has put together a team that will most likely have its core group around the same age with any number of players on any particular line being the go-to line. It looks like a team that can easily bond quickly and has no over-the-top essential #1 guys that if he doesn’t score their team is in trouble. I like their group especially their goaltending with Miller, Thomas, and eventually DiPietro. Yes the Byfuglien pick is mind-boggling but keep this in mind if a defencemen gets thrown out or injured in a medal round game Byff is one guy that Wilson can rely on and put back on D, his versatility as well as his size makes him an asset on Team U.S.A. as strange as that sounds.
Canada will most likely be the favourites, but as in Olympics past its always fizzled into failure and if it wasn’t for the newest version of “Miracle on Ice” with Belarus beating a stunned Tommy Salo and Sweden 4-3, Canada would be still medal-less at the Olympic tournament since the inception of professional athletes included in the ice hockey competition. It will be interesting to see how this goes down this time around for I’m not completely sold on Stevie Y and his all-over-the-map coaching squad. I mean Babcock and Lemaire? Could they two other coaches with more contrasting styles? It’s already starting out to be a complete mess and the players haven’t been picked yet and even then we all know that it will become Crosby’s team and that basically worries me. It definitely a wait and see thing with Canada that’s for sure!