Every time a conglomeration of the national hockey media occurs, like it is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Winter Classic taking place on New Year’s Day, it creates a melting pot of discussion and speculation with ideas getting thrown around more than an undersized Montreal Canadiens forward.
The latest ‘news’ is speculation by Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski that Senators forward Bobby Ryan may be left off the U.S. Olympic team because USA Today’s Kevin Allen, left Ryan off of his projected roster.
Allen, who Wyshynski described as having his finger on the pulse of USA Hockey’s braintrust, explained his decision to leave Ryan off.
The most difficult decision was leaving off Bobby Ryan (Ottawa Senators). He might be en route to his fifth 30-goal season. His hands are exceptional. But the Americans are deep on the wing, and other players have more to offer. Ryan is not a skater, nor a defensive zealot. Wheeler was my pick over Ryan because of his speed, size and reach. All are important on the wider surface.
So yeah, an American writer left Ryan off of his roster, so I guess this could be a thing…
However, this is the same group that regularly selects Jack Johnson to participate, so who the hell knows?
It does sound more like speculation than anything else but maybe there is some substance to it.
Whatever.
It’s not like the Team USA isn’t loaded with guys who play a two-way style anyways. Bobby Ryan will never be in contention for a Selke Trophy and he does not play shorthanded minutes, however, it is worth pointing out that he’s put together some reasonable puck possession metrics this season playing alongside Clarke MacArthur and Kyle Turris.
While I do realize that those two players are probably more responsible for driving Ryan’s possession metrics than he is theirs, if USA Hockey wants to keep their nation’s third leading goalscorer and a player who is one point removed from being tied for second amongst Americans in points on the sidelines, well, that’s fine by me.
Other news and notes…
- After Chris Neil suffered an injury colliding with Alex Ovechkin during the first period of last night’s game, the Senators announced this morning that Mark Stone has been recalled on an emergency basis.
The Ottawa Sun is reporting that Neil has a “leg muscle injury” that will keep him out of action for at least seven to ten days.
In 19 games with Binghamton this season, Stone has nine goals and 18 points. He also has four goals and two assists in his last five games.
- Senators 2013 draft pick, Vincent Dunn, has been suspended for six games for an illegal blow to the head of Emil Aronsson during Saturday’s game versus the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
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