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.
