US Olympic Hockey Roster Thoughts and Musings

From The Hockey News, the US Olympic Hockey Team for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Make the jump for the roster and some thoughts.

Goaltenders:

Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

Defensemen:

Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues

Jack Johnson, Los Angeles Kings

Mike Komisarek, Toronto Maple Leafs

Paul Martin, New Jersey Devils

Brooks Orpik, Pittsburgh Penguins

Brian Rafalski, Detroit Red Wings

Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators

Forwards:

David Backes, St. Louis Blues

Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings

Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers

Chris Drury, New York Rangers

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks

Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs

Jamie Langenbrunner, New Jersey Devils

Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay Lightning

Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils

Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks

Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks

Paul Stastny, Colorado Avalanche

So there are five guys on the roster from Minnesota, giving us at Hockey Wilderness at least some reason to stay interested.

As for Nathan's picks yesterday?

Two out of three goalies isn't too bad, and he did say it would likely be Quick over Howard, so I'll give him credit for 2 1/2.

Three out of seven on the defensemen is a bit painful. Nathan did mention that leaving Rafalski off of his list, and he did so for Goligoski, so no half credit here.

Nathan named six of thirteen forwards correctly, if I have my math correct. If we give him credit for later changing his mind on Stastny, he got 7 of 13. He did say this however:

Well, Drury is on the team. Sorry, Nathan.

All total, Nathan named 11 correct players, and gained half credit for saying that Burke would choose Quick over Howard. 11 1/2 out of 23 is exactly 50%. Not bad in a guessing game, especially when Nathan looked to be trying to change things up, while Burke went with the safe choices. While 50% is still an F on most grading scales, I am going to give him and A for effort and creativity, balancing out the overall grade at about a C+, B-.

Besides, he guessed 11 more players that would make the roster than I did. So he has that.

Personally, I don't feel the US of A has much of a shot this year. Canada and Russia and loaded, as are the Finns. Unless Eruzione is coming out of retirement and Herbie is coming back from beyond to coach, I think they make the medal round, but no way they actually go much further than that.

What say you Wilderness? Like the team? Hate it? Who did they miss on? Biggest surprise? Biggest snub?

-Buddha