The NHL approved The World Cup of Hockey and Team USA looks to avenge a poor showing at the Olympics and this is the roster to do just that.  

By Steven Cifuentes

Team USA invested a lot of time in trying to construct the perfect roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics. David Poile, current GM of the Nashville Predators, led a large group of great hockey minds to put together the 2014 USA Roster.

Considering the USA did not even medal in the Sochi Olympics maybe it is time to take a step back and do a little less planning. Team USA seemed to overthink the Olympic size rink and picked players to fit roles, instead of the best talent from the USA.

There is no other way to explain it, when a player like Dustin Byfgulien and Keith Yandle are left home and a player like Brooks Orpik made the cut. How good would Byfgulien have looked on the point of the power play when Team USA lost 1-0 to Canada in the semi-finals? While there is no shame in losing to Canada, coming out flat playing for a Bronze medal and losing 5-0 to Finland is inexcusable.

In 2016 Team USA hockey has a lot to prove and it starts by taking the best players and not just the right players for certain roles.

Let’s take a look at who should make the final 25-man roster for the 2016 Team USA World Cup of Hockey team.

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Team USA Forwards

  • Zach Parisie – Joe Pavelski – Patrick Kane
  • James van Reimsdyk – Tyler Johnson – Phil Kessel
  • Max Pacioretty – Ryan Kesler – Kyle Okposo
  • TJ Oshie – David Backes – Bobby Ryan
  • Extras: Blake Wheeler,  Derek Stepan

While team USA has an impressive group of forwards it is time to right one wrong from the 2014 Olympic Roster, and that is leaving Bobby Ryan home. The guy can flat out score and keeping him home, because of the large ice surface, proved to be the wrong decision. When you score no goals in the Semi-finals and Bronze Medal games taking goal scorers has to be a top priority.

Two names that jump out in the forward mix are Tyler Johnson and Kyle Okposo. Johnson had a coming out party during the NHL postseason and is a lock to make this roster. Team USA gets an instant infusion of offense down the middle with Johnson. If they could only figure out how to get all of the Triplets to play for Team USA we would have something.

All I hear about Kyle Okposo is he is only good because he plays with John Tavares. Well last time I checked, playing with Team USA you are playing with top end talent. It is time to give him a shot over a Ryan Callahan type player and see if he can shine as a two-way forward that can actually bury the puck.

The Patrick Kane rape allegations could have a say in who plays top line RW.  Hopefully for Team USA’s sake, Ryan Callahan is not taking Patrick Kane’s spot on the roster.

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Team USA Defense

  • Ryan Suter – Ryan McDonagh
  • John Carlson – Justin Faulk
  • Keith Yandle – Kevin Shattenkirk
  • Extras: Dustin Byfuglien, Eric Johnson

The defense was handled completely incorrectly in 2014. The powers that be worried way too much about defense and not enough about putting pressure on your opponent. Do you think anyone was scared when Paul Martin or Brooks Orpik jumped over the boards?

Now let’s replace those names with Keith Yandle and Dustin Byfuglien. I am an opposing coach I am nervous when Big Buff is screaming down the ice, or when Keith Yandle sets up on the Power Play.

Ryan Suter and Ryan McDonagh proved that they are the best overall United States born defensemen. They deserved to be paired together again, but should have some power play pressure taken off their shoulders with the inclusion of offensive minded defenseman.

The rest of the D is predictable and if I am the coach I try to find a way to get Byfuglien in the top 6 and make other teams worry about how to stop him.

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Team USA Goaltending

  • Jonathan Quick
  • Corey Schneider
  • Ben Bishop

I have heard a lot of rumblings that is time to let Corey Schneider take the reigns for Team USA and see what he has got. While he did have a great season last year, it was his first full season as a number one goalie and how many high pressure games did he play in?

Jonathan Quick has proven he can win on the international stage and during the NHL playoffs. Quick has not done anything that warrants he lose the top spot in net. He wins big games and is the masked man I want between the pipes when Sidney Crosby and Canada is trying to eliminate Team USA.

Rounding out the goalie trio is a well earned invite for Ben Bishop. While Ryan Miller has backboned some memorable Team USA runs, Bishop deserves a shot as the third goalie only to be used in an emergency situation.

There you have it Team USA needs to find a new identity and that identity is talent prevails over roles. The best players need to be chosen over the best players that fit a certain role.