For one day, I’m pretending to be Dan Bylsma, head coach of the American hockey team. Here are the lines that I would roll out for Team USA in the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Forwards
Zach Parise – Ryan Kesler – Patrick Kane
Captain Parise plays with a great two-way forward in Kesler, and the best scorer on this team (Kane). This line will be dynamic, and Kane will need to play well for USA to flourish.
Dustin Brown – Joe Pavelski – Phil Kessel
Here’s another line that features two players that are great in both the offensive and defensive categories. Kessel can light the lamp with the best of them, and his production is another key for the Americans.
James Van Riemsdyk – David Backes – Ryan Callaghan
Good luck scoring on this third line. Backes and Callaghan are two gritty players who will be put out there in big situations such as penalty kills. JVR adds more speed to this line.
Max Pacioretty – Paul Stastny – TJ Oshie
This fourth line will score goals. Pacioretty is a natural goal scorer, and Stastny and Oshie will get him the puck. This fourth line is fantastic.
Extras: Derek Stepan (C) and Blake Wheeler (RW)
Overall, the American forward lines are stacked. The first two lines offer a plethora of snipers and two way forwards. In fact, all four lines can keep the puck out of their own net. I would be confident enough to put this third line on the ice against Crosby’s Canadian line with a one goal lead in the Gold Medal game.
Defense
Ryan Suter – Kevin Shattenkirk
Team USA’s best defenseman will play on a line with Shattenkirk, a great two-way player. This pair will play the shut-down role on the penalty kill, and might chip in a goal or two along the way.
Ryan McDonagh – John Carlson
This is a great offensive second pairing. Carlson is a very good puck-mover who will help on the powerplay. McDonagh is one of the best blue-liners in the NHL.
Paul Martin – Justin Faulk
Here’s another pair of shut-down defenders for the United States. This team is loaded with defensive defensemen.
The United States defensive core is very strong, and they might be able to score a few goals as well. Suter and Shattenkirk will play on both the power-play and the penalty kill, along with McDonagh and Carlson.
Extras: Cam Fowler and Brooks Orpik
Goalies
Ryan Miller
USA’s goalie in the Vancouver 2010 games deserves the nod in America’s first game against Slovakia. This is his net to lose, and I don’t see him faltering. He is truly one of the best goalies in the NHL.
Jonathan Quick
The man who played like an octopus in the 2012 NHL playoffs will be Miller’s back-up in net. Quick might be the best net-minder in the NHL, and he might sneak into the starting role if Miller falters.
Jimmy Howard
Howard likely won’t play in many games unless an injury occurs to Miller and/or Quick. Howard’s above average, but is having a terrible season with his Red Wings.
America has one of the best net-minder cores in the world. Miller took the United States to overtime in the Gold Medal game in 2010. Quick has the ability to be the best goalie in the world.
The United States is loaded. That sums it up. They have four great offensive lines, three great defensive pairings, and one of the best groups of goal-tenders in the world. Anything besides Gold in the Sochi games would be a huge disappointment for this team. They won’t lose until the Gold Medal game to the best team in the world.
Prediction: Silver Medal
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