Olympic Team Predictions (USA)

Team USA orientation camp will kick off Aug. 26-27 in Arlington, Va. Team USA has introduced Nashville Predators General Manager David Poile has the team G.M. Poile and his team of executives have invited 48 players to the camp to hopefully find the key players to represent the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The orientation camp will give the players the chance to spend time getting to know the coaches, management and staff, and also taking part in team-building exercises well spending time with area youth hockey groups. The two day camp will have no on-ice component due to the high risk of insuring the players. Given that it will be close to the start of training camp for the players. Instead, most of the time will be spent educating the players on all the aspects of playing in the Olympics. These aspects would include the layout of the facilities to travel arrangements for the players and their families to the drug-testing and registration programs. 

Legend:

* = Returning Player from 2010

*** = Newly Invited Player

? = Long Shot but could Impact

?? = Long Shot with Slim Chance

List of Forwards Invited:

Justin Abdelkader-Detroit Red Wings (NHL) *** ?

David Backes- St. Louis Blues (NHL) *

Beau Bennett- Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) ***?

Nick Bjugstad- Florida Panthers (NHL) ***?

Dustin Brown- Los Angeles Kings (NHL)*

Ryan Callahan- New York Rangers (NHL)*

Alex Galchenyuk- Montreal Canadiens (NHL)***?

Patrick Kane- Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)*

Ryan Kesler- Vancouver Canucks (NHL)*

Phil Kessel-Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)*

Trevor Lewis- Los Angeles Kings (NHL***

Kyle Okposo-.New York Islanders (NHL)***

T.J. Oshie- St. Louis Blues (NHL)***?

Max Pacioretty- Montreal Canadiens (NHL)***?

Kyle Palmieri- Anaheim Ducks (NHL)***

Zach Parise- Minnesota Wild (NHL)*

Joe Pavelski-San Jose Sharks (NHL)*?

Bobby Ryan-Ottawa Senators (NHL)*

Brandon Saad-Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)***??

Craig Smith-Nashville Predators (NHL)***??

Paul Stastny- Colorado Avalanche (NHL)*

Derek Stepan-.New York Rangers (NHL)***?

James van Riemsdyk-Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)***

Blake Wheeler-Winnipeg Jets (NHL)***?

Legend:

* = Returning Player from 2010

*** = Newly Invited Player

? = Long Shot but could Impact

?? = Long Shot with Slim Chance

List of Defenseman Invited:

Zach Bogosian- Winnipeg Jets (NHL)***?

Dustin Byfuglien- Winnipeg Jets (NHL)***

John Carlson- Washington Capitals (NHL) ***??

Dan Dekeyser- Detroit Red Wings (NHL) ***??

Justin Faulk- Carloina Hurricanes (NHL) ***?

Cam Fowler- Anaheim Ducks (NHL) ***??

Jake Gardiner- Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) ***?

Erik Johnson- Colorado Avalanche (NHL)*

Jack Johnson- Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)*

Seth Jones- Nashville Predators (NHL)***??

Nick Leddy- Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)***??

Paul Martin- Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)***

Ryan McDonagh- New York Rangers (NHL)***

Brooks Orpik- Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)*?

Keven Shattenkirk- St.Louis Blues (NHL)***?

Ryan Suter- Minnesota Wild (NHL)*

Jacob Trouba- Winnipeg Jets (NHL)***??

Keith Yandle- Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)***

Legend:

* = Returning Player from 2010

*** = Newly Invited Player

? = Long Shot but could Impact

?? = Long Shot with Slim Chance

List of Goalies Invited:

Craig Anderson- Ottawa Senators (NHL)***

John Gibson- Anaheim Ducks (NHL) /Norfolk Admirals (AHL)***??

Jimmy Howard- Detroit Red Wings (NHL)***?

Ryan Miller- Buffalo Sabres (NHL)*

Jonathan Quick- Los Angeles Kings (NHL)*

Cory Schneider- New Jersey Devils (NHL)***

Hockey Plex's Forward Picks

TEAM USA

^ = New Comers

Backes                       Kesler                     Kane        

Parise                         Stastny                    Ryan

Van Riemsdyk^          Pavelski                  Wheeler^

Callahan                     Pacioretty^              Brown             

Extra Player: Phill Kessel or T.J. Oshie^

Hockey Plex's Defense Picks

TEAM USA

^ = New Comers

Byfuglien^            J.Johnson

Martin ^            Suter

E.Johnson    McDonagh^

Extra Player: Justin Faulk^ or Keith Yandle^

Hockey Plex's Goalie Picks

TEAM USA

^ = New Comers

Jonathon Quick (Starter)

Craig Anderson (Backup)

Ryan Miller (Extra Backup) 

Team USA will be young just like they were in 2010. Youth is what the NHL is now and I believe with this team they have a strong shot at finishing in the top 3. 

Predicting Finishing: 3rd - Winning Bronze Medal

Anaheim Ducks Future

I'm kicking off the off-season blogging with an article about the Anaheim Ducks. I wanted to take a look at the upcoming talent the Ducks have in their system.

The Anaheim Ducks now have one of the top prospect system rankings among teams in the National Hockey League. Before July 5^th the Anaheim Ducks weren`t at the top but since a major trade happened, they are now. The Ducks General Manager Bob Murray traded star right winger Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators exchanged for right winger Jakob Silfverberg, right wing prospect Stefan Noesen and a 2014 first round draft pick. Both players were top five prospects for the Senators and Silfverberg just finished his rookie season for Ottawa.  Silferberg started the season in the AHL playing in 34 games for the Binghamton Senators. The Swedish winger registered 13 goals and finished with 29 points. After the lockout was lifted, the 22 year old played in all 48 games for the Senators. He scored 10 goals and had a total of 19 points. Jakob Silfverberg played very well in the Swedish Elite League before coming to North America last season. The Ducks acquired a strong prospect that’s ready to become a full time NHLer. His skill should fit in nicely with the Ducks this season. The other prospect forward the Ducks received was Stefan Noesen from the Plymouth Whalers of OHL. He skated in 51 games registering 25 goals, and finishing with 53 points. Noesen was a two time 30 plus goal scorer for Plymouth and has shown his physical and skillful sense for the game. Stefan Noesen was drafted 21<sup>st</sup> overall by the Senators in the 2011 draft. The Anaheim Ducks have believed in him since that draft. The Ducks had the 22<sup>nd</sup> pick, and were going to choose Stefan Noesen with that pick. Once the Senators drafted Stefan, the Ducks then decided to shift gears and traded the 22<sup>nd</sup> pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 30<sup>th</sup>, and 39<sup>th</sup> pick. Noesen comes to the Ducks with knowing a familiar face among the prospects. Centre Rickard Rakell was his line mate in Plymouth and was selected with the 30<sup>th</sup> pick from the Maple Leafs. Rickard Rakell is a skillful, strong, hardworking two way player. He played in 40 games last season for Plymouth and tallied 44 points. Rakell showed he was an effective top player in the 2012 and 2013 World Juniors. He helped his team capture gold in 2012 and in 2013 earn a silver medal. Rickard Rakell has the potential to become a solid second line player. The Ducks used him in 4 games this past season, but he was pointless with a -2 rating. Look for Rakell to be given the right amount of time to blossom into that strong second line player he can be. He`ll see some games in a Ducks jersey, but for the most part he`ll be in the AHL next season. The Ducks top prospect is right winger Emerson Etem who had an explosive final year in the WHL in 2012. He scored 61 goals with a total of 107 points in just 65 games. He ranked in the top 10 among prospects for the CSS rankings. He`s skilled with the puck but also can play defensively. Last season he played in 45 games for Norfolk of the AHL and scored 13 goals with a total of 16 points. The Ducks did test him at the NHL level by putting him in 38 games. He registered 10 points and 3 goals.  Etem will most likely start the season with the Anaheim Ducks but if his play isn`t up to pair, don’t be surprised if he has a few development stints in the AHL. The Ducks need to be smart with Etem, he has a lot upside and a lot of talent. Looking at the Anaheim Ducks blueline there is two defenseman among their prospects that really standout. The first is 2012 6<sup>th</sup> overall pick Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks are being smart with his development by putting him in the AHL last season. The longer he develops in the AHL and gets use to this style of hockey, the better he will be for them in the future. He had 11 points and had a plus 5 rating in 44 games for Norfolk. The 2013-2014 season look for Lindholm to see some NHL action, but at the same time the Ducks want to develop him correctly. The other top prospect defenseman Sam Vatanen. The 22 year old was 4<sup>th</sup> round pick in 2009 for the Ducks. He has great offensive skill and speed. Vatanen is a strong puck moving defenseman and knows how to score. His previous year in the Finnish professional hockey league, he totaled 42 points in 49 games as a defenseman.  He was third among scores on his team for JyP . Last season he traveled to North America and played in 62 games for Norfolk of the AHL. In his rookie season in North America he totaled 45 points and was second among scoring leaders for Norfolk. The Ducks did suit him up in 8 games, and he registered 2 goals. Look for him to crack the Ducks roster for the 2013-2014 season. He has a lot of skill and is almost NHL ready. The Ducks have a strong goaltending prospect in John Gibson. He was drafted in 2011 with the 39<sup>th</sup> overall pick from the Maple Leafs. John Gibson has shown that he`s a mature goalie for his age and has proven success under pressure. He proved it for team USA in this past World Juniors tournament that he can be a number one goalie in the future. He broke records on his way to winning a Gold Medal for team USA. He was also very strong for Kitchener of the OHL the last two seasons, posting a .928 save percentage both years.  The future for Gibson is very bright within the Anaheim Ducks organization. He`s a complete goalie who should see a minimum of 30 games for Norfolk of the AHL. If injuries do occur to the Ducks goaltending, then look to Gibson getting a few chances at the NHL level this coming season. The Anaheim Ducks have numinous prospects that could make an impact on the NHL in the future. The Ducks are making the right decision to give these players the right amount of development to better there NHL chances. Players like Devante Smith Pelly, Peter Holland, Max Friberg, newly drafted defenseman Shea Theodore and goaltender Frederick Andersen. The Anaheim Ducks have built a strong future for this organization. They have young talented players on the roster already, and these prospects will slowly be formed into NHL ready players and join these skillful players in the near future. 

Rating:
The Ducks are solid at Center and Right wing, but their weakness is among the Left Wingers. Their depth comes at Defense with alot of key young prospects coming up through the rankings. They've improved that over the past few drafts with taking strong defensemen. Goaltending for the Ducks is solid with the likes of John Gibson between the pipes. He's shown his talents for team USA and at the OHL level.

Ducks Future Prospect System Rating- 8/10 (Solid Depth)

Back At It

Hey Everyone, Hockey Plex is BACK! I've been away for sometime and Im sorry for that. I'm back and better then ever! A lot of Blogs on the way so keep checking back and I promise you won't be disappointed.

Alex (Hockey Plex)