McDonagh Might Be Left Off US Olympic Team
Ryan Lambert at Puck Daddy tries to predict the 2014 US Olympic team and says Ryan McDonagh could find himself on the outside looking in...
"I'm a little gutted to leave out a number of very good young defensemen, including Ryan McDonagh and American Hero John Carlson, but they've got plenty of Olympics ahead of them."
Here is Lambert's expected defensive corps...
Ryan Suter - Kevin Shattenkirk
Keith Yandle - Dustin Byfuglien
Paul Martin - Justin Faulk
Brooks Orpik
...obviously, I'm going to be biased, but I'm taking McDonagh over Martin and Faulk all day. Not sure how Lambert can talk about leaving McDonagh out because he's got plenty of Olympics ahead of him, but then insert the youngster Faulk who's numbers are very similar to McDonagh's but has zero playoff experience. And while Martin has the experience over McDonagh, the Rangers defenseman has better numbers across the board.
Lambert does redeem himself by stating Ryan Callahan should be a returning member of the team.
Meanwhile, Harrison Mooney at Puck Daddy did a far superior job predicting Team Canada stating Rick Nash and Marc Staal should be members.
Here's his thought process on Staal...
"It's for that same reason that Marc Staal gets the nod as my extra defender. He's already going to be in the mix, since he's big and strong and crazy skilled, but the fact that he's a lefty gives him the edge."
...if you're a member of Team Canada's Olympic squad that's impressive. So even if Staal is only the extra defender and doesn't get much PT, he should still be proud. Can't expect him to be playing over guys like Drew Doughty, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.
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Lambert's operating on half a tank at best. He takes Byfuglien and Martin but not McDonagh and Jack Johnson. There's a reason he's not on the selection committee.
In defense if Faulk, he has the international experience over McDonagh. And 2/3s of the defense probably as well... This is still a long way away though. No sense in jumping to judgment over a very premlinary guess to a roster. Of which might be moot if the NHL decides not to allow its players to participate.
Meh let them all rest - I'd rather no one went and we're fresh for the run to the post season
Martin, Suter, Yandle, Shattenkirk, and Faulk are all crap. Byfuglien is overrated. Fuck this guy.
I thought this was a legitimate article but its just a prediction... These predictions are never right especially for Team USA. Remember everyone didnt think Cally or Drury would make the roster or help them very much
Dustin Byfuglien? Really? I know he's a big hitter with a big shot, but did he make the team because the team has to weigh a certain amount?
@GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG LOL! I'm a big Byfuglien fan. Guy has an absolute cannon from the point.
@KevinDeLury @boogiepicker @GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG Always been a fan of Byfuglien myself. Guy has the same amount of power play points as we do goals this season. Also shocked to see him averaging 26 minutes a game...for a monster...that's impressive...
@boogiepicker @GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG His only role could be point man on the power play. Let his defensive partner retrieve pucks and just feed him all day.
ONe guy I didn't mention for Team Canada is Girardi. Anyone feel if he doesn't make it he's being snubbed? I don't. Not sure his game is conducive to international play. Not as good of a skater as others who will likely make it.
Ya, big ice surface doesn't suit him. whatevs, let him rest and nurse all of his shot-block boo-boos
I agree, I think McD should definitely get the nod over Faulk. Faulk is a great talent, no doubt. But I think McD's slow start may have something to do Lambert's reasoning. Faulk is only 20, and while McD is only 23, he's still got more experience. Faulk has been moved up to the top defensive pairing for the past few games, but McD spent some of his rookie season and all of last year against team's top offensive lines and has been stellar.
@GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG @boogiepicker Yeah that would be amazing. He has flashes of Leetch-esque skating and puck-handling displays and I can't wait til he starts rushing with the puck more.
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McDonagh is kind of under appreciated with players like petrangelo and karlsson being about the same age. But he's the best pure defender for his age and he had good offensive sense when he's looking to play that way.
