Will Any Sabres Make the American Olympic Roster?

Tim Connolly, Jason Pominville, Paul Gaustad.  Three challengers for 13 forward spots on the USA Olympic team.  Drew Stafford all but played his way out of a chance (and out of the Sabres lineup last night), while Connolly and Pominville possess the talent that Team USA would need, Paul Gaustad provides the intangibles that Brian Burke loves.

Well it’s a call that might see the most unlikely of the 3 make the team; that being Gaustad.  Eddie Olcyzk, when opining on roster spots during a Versus broadcast, wholeheartedly supported Gooses case, but that’s about the only place.  His injury a few weeks ago certainly didn’t help his case.  But, there’s no doubt in my mind the roster could use the NHL’s leader in faceoffs, but do they need another power forward PK player with Ryan Kesler and Dustin Brown presumptively having spots on the team?   That’s the question.

A lot of prognosticators, mainly written, have supported Connolly’s bid to join Team USA, just because he’s been able to stay healthy this year.  After being mired in a terrible slump over the past few weeks, off the top of my head, I feel it was 13 games without a goal and 2 goals in his last 25.  That is, until over the past three contests he’s totaled 5 points (3 G, 2 A).  Will it be enough to warrant a call from Burkie?  Well, assuming that Paul Statsny assumes the top pivot role, and Kesler the shutdown role, that leaves 2 C positions for Joe Pavelski, Connolly, Gaustad, and perhaps even Scott Gomez.  Good chances, but depends on who you’re rootin’ for (I’m all for Goose myself).

Now Pominville is an interesting option.  When it comes to right wings you essentially have two locks; Patrick Kane and Bobby Ryan, Jamie Langenbrunner is damn close, and there’s a couple viable options for that last spot.  You’ve got guys like Ryan Callahan, or even Kyle Okposo (does Scott Gordon as an assistant coach give him an edge?) and Pominville.   Out of all the open position battles, this one is the toughest to call, and the least likely to see a Sabre make the roster.

What do I think?  Well if I was Burke, I’d take Goose and Connolly.  Pavelski’s a nice player, but he doesn’t get top pairings trying to shut him down day in and day out.  When you’ve got to focus on shutting down Thornton and Heatley, you’re going to see a lot of open ice.  Another advantage these Sabres have is their penchant for team play.  Burke has gone on record saying he wants a team, not the best players just mashed together in some amalgam of talent.  If that’s the case, I’m taking Goose.

What’s really going to happen?  We’ll just be seeing Ryan Miller in between the pipes, while our boys get to rest.  And in the end, wouldn’t that really be best, keep the goalie sharp and the players rested?  I like it.

Tags: Jason Pominville, Olympics, Paul Gaustad, Team USA, Tim Connolly