U.S. Olympic hopefuls short on experience
Miller vs. Thomas battle in goal top battle heading into orientation camp
 | Boston Bruins goaltender and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas is battling to be the top netminder for Team USA in next year's Olympics. |
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Ron Hainsey didn't like the sound of the term: changing of the guard. It doesn't take a trained journalist to recognize a cliche.
So the Olympic-hopeful defenseman corrected himself and described Monday's USA Hockey Olympic orientation camp as the first look at Team USA's changed nucleus.
There are only five players invited who have Olympic experience.
"It's definitely a changing of the nucleus of the guys you're going to count on," Hainsey told Sporting News.
Longtime American warriors — as Team USA GM Brian Burke likes to call them — such as Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk won't be battling for roster spots when the camp opens Monday in suburban Chicago. Instead, it's a younger, faster, American team that hopes to spend a few days developing chemistry and learning coach Ron Wilson's system.
Factor in the expected appearance of Patrick Kane, who was arrested following an incident with a Buffalo cab driver, and there's plenty to watch for during the three-day camp, including:
1. Will Patrick Kane talk?
The American players know that there might be a little more media coverage surrounding the Olympic orientation, thanks to Kane's arrest and the proximity of the event to Chicago.
"If there were going to be 20 (media) guys there, now there will be 40," said Hainsey, a key member of the improving Atlanta Thrashers defense. "From our side, we don't have a clue about what happened."
Hainsey said he doesn't anticipate any potential circus being a distraction for Team USA. As of Friday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks weren't sure how the media situation surrounding Kane was going to be handled. So far, the only comments from the Kane camp regarding the cabbie incident have come from his lawyer and his agent, Pat Brisson.
2. Cramming in team chemistry
One challenge of Olympic competition for the U.S. team is the limited amount of ice time together. There are few teammates in the group, although with the signing of Rob Scuderi, the Kings have three players invited to orientation.
Spending time together off the ice will be just as important as learning systems and developing chemistry on it. Especially considering all the new faces.
"It is important to get to know some of the other guys," goalie Tim Thomas told SN shortly after the orientation invitations were released. "At the world championships, you get to meet the guys and (at) NHLPA meetings and other stuff. I know more now than I did before. At the last world championships, I didn't hardly know anybody."
3. How healthy are the Johnsons?
Two young defensemen, Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson, are expected to be important part of the American defense corps for the next decade. Whether that starts now could depend on their health. Last week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Erik Johnson has been cleared to return to the ice after missing all of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee.
The orientation camp will be a good opportunity to show off how healthy he really is.
"I'm really pumped," Johnson told the Post-Dispatch. "Along with winning the Stanley Cup, winning a gold medal has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid ... . I'm definitely looking forward to the chance of making the team."
Jack Johnson played in 41 games last season because of a shoulder injury and was working back into form before the season ended.
"He pushed through it at the end of the year, his game went in the right direction," Kings coach Terry Murray told SN.
Now, Jack Johnson presumably 100 percent and looking to have a breakout season at 22-years-old. It could start on Monday.
4. Ryan Miller vs. Tim Thomas
The best positional battle will be in goal, where Buffalo's Ryan Miller and Boston's Tim Thomas will go head-to-head to try and earn the No. 1 spot for Team USA. It's not a decision that will be made anytime soon, but positive first impressions certainly don't hurt.
Thomas is coming off his best season in the NHL, winning the Vezina Trophy after leading the NHL in goals-against average (2.10) and save percentage (.933).
Miller's ankle injury is probably the biggest reason the Sabres didn't make the playoffs and despite the injury, Miller won at least 30 games for the fourth consecutive season.
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