In the aftermath of the US Olympic hockey debacle in Torino, it's time to take a good hard look at the roster. And then blow the hell out of it.
There are some who pine for a return to the days of an all amateur lineup. Tim from Colorado is one:
Now that the Soviet Empire has been broken for a decade or so, can we please go back to letting true amateurs participate in the Olympics, including hockey, and basketball?
If I'm only going to see one goal scored, I'd rather see it scored by a kid who, at that moment, is living the dream of all dreams.
Is that so wrong?
Yes Tim, it is. Very wrong. Don't misunderstand. Watching these overpaid, oversexed NHLers go over there and then bitch and complain about having to make their own travel arrangements is not exactly my idea of the Olympic ideal. But from what I understand they will be participating in the 2010 games in Vancouver. And I'm not real crazy about the amateur angle either. Why?
Because you gotta consider where this amateurs would come from. College hockey teams. Good college hockey teams. Which means that the WCHA would be stripped of many of its top players for most of the season. Oh sure, just to be nice that's probably throw a token player in from the ECAC, Hockey East, and the CCHA. But c'mon, we all know that the best hockey and therefore the best players in college hockey are in the WCHA. And I don't want to ruin a season of WCHA hockey just for the Olympics. No sale.
So we're back to a Team USA composed on NHL players. But not the current crop of desiccated husks that have long since withered on the vine. It's time for fresh blood. It's time to go Logan's Run on the roster:
GOALIES
Rick DiPietro--Not an impressive performance in Torino, but he's young. Keeper.
Robert Esche--Esche? Meh. He's cut.
John Grahame--He's thirty so he's the cutting edge. But with such a boring name, why keep him? Cut.
DEFENSEMAN
Chris Chelios--Old as the hills, but what a warrior. It's been a great run Chris and we thank you for service. But it's time to hang 'em up.
Derian Hatcher--His best days are far behind him. Cut 'em like he cut Selanne.
Jordan Leopold--Probably the second best USA defensemen in Torino. Definite keeper.
John-Michael Liles--Another good young blue liner. He stays.
Aaron Miller--Cut
Brian Rafalski--I like your hustle Rafalski. That's why it's so hard to cut you.
Mathieu Schneider--Cut.
FORWARDS
Jason Blake--Known as "Rat Boy" in college. Another hustler, but just a bit old. Cut.
Erik Cole--Part of the wave of the future.
Craig Conroy--See ya.
Chris Drury--On the edge, but worth keeping.
Brian Gionta--How can you not love this guy's work?
Scott Gomez-Ditto.
Bill Guerin--Bye bye Bill.
Mike Knuble--Later Mike.
Mike Modano--I like Modano's speed, but after his whining about not being treated "princessy enough" I'm don't want to see this primodano again. You won't have to worry about your hotel in Vancouver Mike, you'll be at home.
Mark Parrish--Keep him, but get him on the ice more.
Brian Rolston--Rolston played well in Torino, but he's just a tad too old.
Keith Tkachuk--Thanks for showing up Keith. I noticed that you even made it on the score sheet a few times. By taking lazy, dumb penalties. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Given your lethargic play in Torino it wouldn't surprise me if it did.
Doug Weight--Time to toss this dead weight overboard.
It's high time for a youth movement for Team USA. They might not necessarily win, but at least they would play with passion and intensity.
UPDATE--Modano skips final meeting for U.S. team and heads home:
Mike Modano packed up his stuff and left Italy on Thursday morning, skipping a final meeting with his Olympic teammates after they were eliminated a night earlier in the men's hockey quarterfinals.
USA Hockey spokesman Dave Fischer said the longtime Dallas Stars forward -- who sharply criticized team management after the Americans' elimination Wednesday -- was the only member of the 23-player squad not to gather at the arena where the Americans were knocked out by Finland.
Classy Mike, real classy. I guess he had to catch an early flight. That's what happens sometimes when you have to book on Priceline.
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