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It’s fair to say that Team USA overachieved four years ago in winning a silver medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
And remember, it could very well have been gold, given that the gold-medal game went to overtime and only a moment of Jarome Iginla-Sidney Crosby brilliance gave Canada the gold medal it wanted most.
Written off as either too experienced or not experienced enough, Team USA used a round-robin 5-2 beating of Canada as a springboard towards their eventual runners-up finish, putting the cleaners through Finland in the semi-finals.
Given that, there will be more pressure on Team USA in Sochi than there has been, arguably, since the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002.
GM David Poile (along with, amongst others, Brian Burke, the architect of the 2010 team, Head Coach Dan Bylsma) spent months putting together the team they think can emulate the surprise success of the 2010 squad.
In part one of this series, here are my thoughts on the eight defencemen and three goaltenders who make up Team USA men’s hockey roster for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Goaltenders
Jimmy Howard
The Detroit favourite got to greet the Michigan Stadium crowd when his name was announced after the NHL Winter Classic – he had just given up the game-winning goal in a snowy shootout.
He is enjoying another solid season in Detroit, but with so much talent in net on the 2014 roster, will likely be competing for backup.
Ryan Miller
The hero of the 2010 Olympics, invoking memories of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” goalie Jim Craig, Miller put together a highlight reel of incredible saves, bailing out his teammates dozens of times each game.
Since Vancouver, Miller’s career has stalled, and perhaps even slipped a little, and he likely earned this spot because of what he did four years ago.
To be honest, I can’t see him starting ahead of Quick.
Jonathan Quick
If I had the power, Quick would be my starter.
He gained fame in 2012, backstopping the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup, and has been amongst the upper echelon of goalies in the National Hockey League ever since.
Returning from a groin injury with just on a month to go before the Olympics shouldn’t prevent him from starting in Team USA’s opener.
If he’s healthy and on his game, Quick, despite a lack of international experience, will likely be in net for every game.
Defencemen
John Carlson
The man who scored the game-winning goal at the 2010 World Junior Championships (and one of three from the 2010 team who made the Sochi roster) has carved out a good niche for himself on the Washington Capitals blue line.
A proven scoring threat and a solid skater. Nothing not to like about the way this guy goes about it.
Justin Faulk
The 21-year-old from the Carolina Hurricanes is only not a superstar in the NHL because he plays on a team that’s not very good in a non-traditional hockey market. Otherwise, you’d hear his name mentioned in the same breath as Chara, Suter and Weber.
A smart guy, who plays regularly against the opposition’s best players, and gets the better of them with similar regularity.
For all the criticism of the eventual roster, this is one selection Poile and co got very right.
Cam Fowler
Smooth and smart user of the puck, the World Junior Gold Medallist in 2010 is another youngster who’s come along in leaps and bounds, turning into a legitimate star in Anaheim, despite falling far down the draft board to 12th.
He, Faulk and Carson really spearhead the youth movement for Team USA.
Paul Martin
It’s likely that Martin will be used in a shutdown role for the American defensive corps, and will find a measure of consistency at Sochi, which not many players can lay claim to.
He should end up paired with his Pittsburgh teammate Brooks Orpik (see below). And, of course, his boss at the Penguins is none other than Team USA’s Bylsma.
A solid, if unspectacular player, and a good selection.
Ryan McDonagh
The New York Rangers defencemen is out of the pro factory also known as the University of Wisconsin.
A solid two-way player who is also a good penalty killer with the Broadway Blueshirts, and can hit with the best of them.
McDonagh figures to be right up there amongst ice time leaders on the blue line. Pairing him with Suter would be a tough combination for opposition skaters to get around.
Brooks Orpik
Another holdover from 2010, Orpik (named for legendary coach/1980 hero Herb Brooks) is a veteran presence and sort of the odd man out – the old guy amongst so many youngsters on the American blue line.
This is a good choice. You get someone not afraid to throw his weight around when necessary, and a player who’s likely to be a steadier at crucial moments in the upcoming big games.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Having a brilliant season with the St Louis Blues – well on his way to career-best numbers in all the important categories – Shattenkirk is another veteran presence in amongst the young faces on the blue line.
Yes, he’s small – 5’11” and just on 91 kilograms – but he’s routinely one of the best defencemen on the Blues, which is no mean feat on a team that boasts Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester.
Deserves his place on this roster.
Ryan Suter
Without doubt, the anchor of the American defense.
Suter is easily one of the best defencemen in the National Hockey League, making a name for himself with the Nashville Predators before a highly-publicised move to the Minnesota Wild.
Played a pivotal role in Vancouver four years ago, and Bylsma will be counting on him to do it again in Sochi. A solid player, whose father, Bob, was a member of the aforementioned “Miracle on Ice” team.