Asunto: US National Team

It looks like at least individual players from the United States are having a successful tournaments. Plummer and Ferguson are among the points leaders. The are also 2 of the most productive defensemen.

Morrell is also up their while Chaff is among the league leaders for goals scored.

The team just needs to put it all together against Norway.

I tried to force some youngsters into the lineup for most of our friendlies.

Goal is to add more youngsters next season.

I will motivate Cory to bring defensive youngsters as we lack depth and the fast we add them less we will suffer later on

we only have 42 players with chemistry. So out of the box, without any penalty we can bring 8 youngsters by dropping the ones that did not see any playing time.

And my hope is that at least 3 players can make into the lineup.

There are a handful of decent 20 year old and 19 year old defensemen. Haus in particular definitely deserves to be a future starter. It's too bad that Antoine Butcher ended up on a team with only a level 13 training center. He used to be one of the best. From this year's U18 team, Chisholm is pretty good, and Knapp in particular should be one of the best defensemen to pass through the U18 team.

I am planning to leave at least 5 spots open on next year's team in case another good team goes defunct. It's probably not as important for the Senior team if you add all the players that will be of interest at the beginning of the season. On the U18 team, there might be good 17- year olds worth adding, but not until the future.

I'm on my phone so can't look easily right now, but outside of players you mentioned, there's a d-man out there I have scouted who's 24 (I think) who has a shot at cracking the top 8. There are "depth" players on the team now that likely won't be returning next season. I'm waiting to take a closer look on Monday after C/L drops to start solidifying any roster projections. Assuming I get the nod for Manager, of course. Even if I don't, I've already been looking at the roster and I've done the scouting so I'll still make recommendations.

very disappointing result .. only 2 goals but at the end it would not matter as Belarus and Slovenia won their matches.

last match conceding a goal with 40 seconds to on on regulation killed our plans to qualify to playoffs.

If you've still been following the games after our elimination from the playoffs, we have won the dubious distinction as "the best of the rest." We were undefeated in all relegation games, beating Norway and Bulgaria in regulation previously and beating Argentina in the shootout today. We knew we weren't going to relegate coming in to today's game, so I swapped in some of the reserves in place of our fourth line to build up chemistry. Even with a couple of the players with very low chemistry, the fresh bodies still put together a formidable (at this stage) fourth line with comparatively great shooting. The line actually connected for our second goal of the game, which was a bonus. This should earn us 9th in Division I. Not what we were going for by any means, but it beats relegating.

All of the players I have scouted are now updated/uploaded.

All but one friendly matches are set. Unlike last season, we will be facing close or lower ranked countries.

this will be a great opportunity to add more youngsters to the lineup while still have good chances of winning matches.

Like Bulls said, with the recent changes to game importance, this season the focus should be on our reserves in friendlies. The elections are still going, so if another manager wins, consider the following strong suggestions.

We have a number of veterans who have lost their spot in the main roster. These players are sitting at 1-2 CL and don't stand to improve to the point where they can win a spot back in the lineup. Bulls and I feel that these players should be replaced by the top US youth prospects who can benefit from the NT bonus and will be able to help us within the next few seasons. This is NOT a rebuild. We are simply adding some new and improved spare parts. Our core lines from last season will be intact, and we may even have 1-2 players challenge for a spot in the main roster.

I'm going to steal a page from capsaicin and introduce my choice for the roster by position in my next few posts.

GOALTENDING

Kevin Clinton ([hockey_team=25546]): Clinton has the career path to be the best goalie the US has seen. His potential pushed him to the number 1 spot on the roster as the experience will contribute to his rise.

Chad Davidson ([hockey_team=19517]): Davidson is our number 2. After last season's tournament, it's probably more accurate to say he's option 1B right now. He has the ability to step in and relieve Clinton as he has shown, and he still has a strong CL.

Mikey Figueroa ([hockey_team=6749]): Figueroa is our depth option. If either Clinton or Davidson is injured, he can step in as temporary backup.

Ulberto Brewer ([hockey_team=25554]): Brewer is the best option coming up right now for US goalies. So far all of them have roughly the same potential and are backups on their respective teams. Brewer gets the nod as he's slightly ahead of the rest and gets a fair amount of playing time.

Cut from the team:
Korey Buckley ([hockey_team=19255]): Long-time star of the Force and US National team, Buckley started falling behind a few seasons back. He was replaced on his original team in favor of a stronger foreign goalie and now resides as a backup on his current team. He's taken the US about as far as he can, and we thank him for all he's done.

DEFENSE

Leon Coleman ([hockey_team=25554]): Great on the left side and still a long career ahead of him at 26. One of the better defenders we have, but more of a stay-at-home type.

Joseph Yong ([hockey_team=11]): This addition is really something that should have happened 1-2 seasons ago. At 25 and 4/6 CL, he is going to be a strong stay-at home defender. If his manager chose, Yong actually has the Q in shooting to progress in to a 2-way type.

Frank Mott (HC StoneHUNters ): A veteran presence on the right side, Mott is one of our few 2-way defenders.

Myron Thomas ([hockey_team=23902]): Another stay-at-home guy, Thomas is young. At 23 and still a strong 4/6 CL, he'll be a linchpin on this defense for a while.

Christopher Plummer ([hockey_team=12688]): Plummer is a 2-way player on the right, and is another one of our veterans looking to come back for another go at the Division 1 tournament.

Ryan McManus ([hockey_team=33352]): McManus is the oldest member of the defensive corps and one of the team’s leaders on the ice. Even so, he still keeps hanging in there at 2 CL.

Vincent Ferguson ([hockey_team=25546]): Another player hailing from one of the top US teams, Ferguson is a solid 2-way guy who has a few years ahead of him yet at only 26.

Lyle Davis ([hockey_team=24260]): Davis is our best universal defender. Combined with his ability to find the back of the net, he is a good player to have around.

Steve Dexter ([hockey_team=56942]): One of the veterans of the team, he’s nearing the end of his national team run. His development has stagnated with the team he was last sold to and he’s clinging to 1 CL. His experience is what is keeping his spot.

Geoffrey Whitman ([hockey_team=20807]): Another one of our veterans. Whitman may have had a higher (albeit more penalty-prone) ceiling if his technique had been neglected accordingly with his low Q there. Even so, he still managed to turn into a strong defender.

Neo Mathews ([hockey_team=25554]): 22 year-old 4 CL universal defender who has some shooting too? Yes please!

Will Rupp (Royal City Redshift ): Speaking of young universal defenders, Rupp is remarkable as well. 24 year-old 4 CL who truly is a 2-way player.

Shawn Burke ([hockey_team=20642]): That’s right, it’s not Sean Burke. This new addition would be another complement to a bevy of young universal defenders. While Burke’s shooting isn’t as strong, he can take a shot if called upon.

Jarrod Haus ([hockey_team=25554]): Another new addition, Haus has a lot of potential on the right side. His shooting likely won’t get any better, but we can afford to have some homebodies on the team.

Daniel Carter ([hockey_team=22353]): I didn’t have Carter scouted, but it appears Cap did. Great 2-way type on the right side and still 5 CL at 22. Yeah, we can make room.

Kraig Dean ([hockey_team=14799]): If anyone was our Phil Housley (or Paul Coffey for our Canadian readers), it’s Dean. He has the strongest shooting of any defender on the team, and at 23 and 4 CL, he’s going to be burying biscuits for a long time for us.

Clint Davis ([hockey_team=15673]): Davis is another prospect addition. With his youth and shooting, he could well become the other truly offensive defender on the team. 2 should be plenty, we don’t want a team full of Mike Greens.

Cut from the team:
Cornelius Deisig (Reflex de Montréal ): His lack of experience never truly allowed him to overtake the veterans on the team. At 26, you would think his best years are ahead of him. Except for the part where he dropped to 1 CL. His poor career path has put him on the outs as he’s peaking too young and at the wrong time.

Elroy Waters (Razorback Thugs ): Although a strong player in his own rights, his experience wasn’t enough to keep from losing out to the young guys coming up.

Jude Cordova ([hockey_team=87133]): Cordova came up at a time when the best facilities weren’t available. His ratings have suffered and he’s simply nowhere near comparable to some of the players now.

Billy Ayers ([hockey_team=32180]): Ayers is admirably holding on to 2 CL at age 30, but he’s still far below the ceiling of the youth being added.

Gerald Rubin ([hockey_team=1405]): Speaking of the Fountain of Youth, Rubin is clinging to 2 CL at age 31. Like Cordova and Ayers, he still falls far under the ceiling of the players replacing him.

WING

Kent Yost ([hockey_team=20698]): 25 year-old 4 CL wing. Yost is on target to be the highest OR player the US has ever produced. Unfortunately, he can shoot about as well as a storm trooper. A slight modification to his training could turn him in to the most dangerous player the US has ever seen.

Elvis Davis ([hockey_team=5570]): Like Yost, Davis can’t hit the broad side of a barn. However, he has been to a passing clinic to help make up for it. Naturally, Davis and Yost won’t be paired together.

Joseph Jean ([hockey_team=25563]): A good shooter, his ratios are just slightly off from what I normally like to use. He’s getting some time in the friendlies to see if it works for him.

William Guinn ([hockey_team=14576]): A well-balanced player and fair amount of experience makes him a great offensive force.

Darryl Chen (HC Dynamo Detva ): Veteran winger with strong scoring capabilities. 2 CL at 30 will keep him around for a while.

Anthony Young ([hockey_team=25554]): Young was one of the youth prospects we were giving playing time in friendlies last season. He was so good he earned a spot on the roster for the WCH games. He’s managed to turn into a consistent scorer on the team.

Jackson Morrell ([hockey_team=673]): The current highest OR player in the US and the team captain. Amazing shooter and he can play either side. Here’s hoping for a long career.

Wayne Little ([hockey_team=25546]): He’s 25 and 4 CL, so he’s going to be around for a while. That’s a good thing. It’s looking like the Saints and Psychos are vying to have the entire senior team comprised of players from their rosters.

Victor Medrano ([hockey_team=18585]): Another sniper with a wealth of experience. Last season he played opposite Morrell. This season they may be split up to spread the snipers with the playmakers like Davis and Yost.

Richard McGrath ([hockey_team=23902]): A good shooter, but still lacking some experience. It’s a shame his name wasn’t Mark.

Roscoe Saylor (Razorback Thugs ): Another good sniper. I’m running out of things to say on some of these guys. The nickname earns him points.

Clint Connelly ([hockey_team=20634]): 23 year-old universal winger with 4 CL. He has a good future, but his experience is holding him back.

Harry Burnell ([hockey_team=23921]): Another young universal winger lacking experience.

Harry George (Razorback Thugs ): Veteran sniper with a lot of experience.

Darnell Jones ([hockey_team=25554]): Another young addition with 4 CL. I swear we have more than just players on the Psychos scouted.

Michael Robertson ([hockey_team=25563]): The prodigal son returns… kind of. I sold him right after I pulled him. He went to a team with great facilities but never saw the ice. When that team went defunct, he came back to the US to another team with great facilities and this time a chance to play. He’s 21, a universal winger, and 5 CL with an amazing EQ.

Stanton Staton ([hockey_team=8]): Speaking of 21 year-olds with 5 CL, Staton isn’t terribly far behind Robertson. However, he’s a leftie and his offensive Q is a bit below Robertson’s.

Cut from the team:
Travis Houck ([hockey_team=16645]): Veteran presence who was displaced last season. The ceiling on the players who came in last season and now this season are higher.

Zane Crews (Hamburg Crocodiles ): He was already a backup last season and dropped to 1 CL this season. We have a bunch of younger universal guys, so the one card he was holding in his favor is useless.

CENTER

Reid Chaffin ([hockey_team=25554]): Chaffin is one of our top veteran centers. Unfortunately like most, he was trained under the idea that shooting isn’t important for centers.

Waldo Gould ([hockey_team=25546]): Gould is the Saints’ contribution to our veteran centers. Anyone keeping track of the count on Psychos vs. Saints team members?

Freddy Lee ([hockey_team=25546]): Lee doesn’t have the experience of Chaffin or Gould, but he’s up there. With his shooting Q, it’s a shame his shooting isn’t higher.

Parker Ryan Trejo ([hockey_team=22353]): A younger center, Trejo missed out on some experience while he was being developed.

Zachariah Mohr ([hockey_team=17794]): Mohr’s Qs may not be the strongest, but he was pulled as a high OR player and has benefitted from excellent facilities.

Dre Thibodeau ([hockey_team=22224]): Thibodeau was a youth addition last season at 21. He got a lot of playing time in friendly games and still has a lot of potential. He dropped from 4 to 3 CL this season, but it’s not going to be a major setback.

Rodger Baker ([hockey_team=33914]): Baker was a youth addition last season with Thibodeau at 21. He trains shooting, so he has a good chance of winning a spot down the road in the lineup.

Douglas Cardwell ([hockey_team=20709]): Cardwell is a 21 year-old with a lot of potential. Unlike most of our prospects, he can shoot. Yes, there’s a trend in center prospects we’ve been picking.

Joakuin Fellows ([hockey_team=8]): While we have a lot of prospects at center between 21 and 23, Fellows gets the nod. He’s 5 CL and trains shooting to a good point and is a solid OR for this point in his career.

Cut from the team:
Willie Ford (Razorback Thugs ): This veteran center had fallen behind a little bit. He may have more experience, but younger players have passed him and he was relegated to a reserve position.

Fredrick Smith ([hockey_team=7820]): I’m fairly certain Smith was added at the 11th hour by bulls4ever before our friendly with Canada on Friday as I don’t recall him on last season’s roster. In a pinch he was a fair addition to try to absorb some ice time with prospects as we planned. However I think I’d like to go younger, which is why he’s not staying.

I think Frederick Smith was so bad we didn't notice him ....

As well as the two you asked, in the last minutes I added 21 yo prospects Joakuin Fellows and Stanton Staton . Both made the team

My last minute criteria was a player 22 years old or under with tons of effective quality while some current high effective OR.

I could have called, instead, other players as
Douglas Colbert and Drew Gallant that at the end did not make the team.

But Frederick wasn't for sure a type of last minute call ...