A look at Team USA's defensive prospects

November 3, 11:00 PMNashville Predators ExaminerJim Diamond

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Ryan Suter (20)
AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus

USA Hockey announced Tuesday that the roster for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team will be announced New Year’s Day during NBC’s broadcast of the Winter Classic game at Boston’s Fenway Park. In the game, the Boston Bruins will face the Philadelphia Flyers.

When USA Hockey held its Hockey Orientation Camp in suburban Chicago in mid-August, twelve defensemen were among the 34 players invited to take part in the camp. Nashville Predators blueliner Ryan Suter was one of the 12 defensemen to take part in the camp.

Here is a look at the numbers the 12 invitees have put up so far for their respective NHL teams:

Tom Gilbert – Edmonton Oilers

Games Played: 15, Goals: 0, Assists: 2, Penalty Minutes: 4, Plus/Minus: -1

Tim Gleason – Carolina Hurricanes

Games Played: 8, Goals: 0, Assists: 2, Penalty Minutes: 19, Plus/Minus: Even

Ron Hainsey – Atlanta Thrashers

Games Played: 9, Goals: 1, Assists: 2, Penalty Minutes: 2, Plus/Minus: +2

Erik Johnson – St. Louis Blues

Games Played: 12, Goals: 0, Assists: 7, Penalty Minutes: 6, Plus/Minus: +3

Jack Johnson – Los Angeles Kings

Games Played: 15, Goals: 1, Assists: 3, Penalty Minutes: 16, Plus/Minus: -5

Mike Komisarek – Toronto Maple Leafs

Games Played: 13, Goals: 0, Assists: 0, Penalty Minutes: 31, Plus/Minus: -10

Paul Martin – New Jersey Devils

Games Played: 9, Goals: 0, Assists: 2, Penalty Minutes: 0, Plus/Minus: +1

Brooks Orpik – Pittsburgh Penguins

Games Played: 14, Goals: 0, Assists: 3, Penalty Minutes: 14, Plus/Minus: -3

Brian Rafalski – Detroit Red Wings

Games Played: 12, Goals: 1, Assists: 5, Penalty Minutes: 2, Plus/Minus: -1

Rob Scuderi – Los Angeles Kings

Games Played: 15, Goals: 0, Assists: 1, Penalty Minutes: 4, Plus/Minus: -2

Ryan Suter – Nashville Predators

Games Played: 13, Goals: 2, Assists: 5, Penalty Minutes: 8, Plus/Minus: +2

Ryan Whitney – Anaheim Ducks

Games Played: 12, Goals: 1, Assists: 6, Penalty Minutes: 10, Plus/Minus: +3

Seven defensemen will likely be named to the Olympic team when it is announced January 1st. Players who were not invited to the Orientation Camp are also eligible to be named to the team. Team USA’s general manager is Brian Burke, the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Assisting Burke is Predators general manager David Poile. Burke and Poile have two more months of NHL action to sort out which players will suit up for Team USA in Vancouver. Over 50 US-born defensemen have suited up for at least one NHL contest to date this season.

Grading defensemen on their numbers is in no way a comprehensive measure of their game or the impact that they have on their teams. At the same time, there are some disappointing numbers for some players who should be putting up better stats. Chief among these players (of the Orientation Camp invitees) is Gilbert. After recording 13 goals and 20 assists in 2007-08, Gilbert had five goals and 40 assists last season. With just two assists on the season, Burke and Poile may be looking elsewhere for offensive-defensemen when it comes time to name the roster.

Entering the season, Suter appeared to have an Olympic spot locked up, and his play so far this season has only confirmed that theory. One question to ponder is whether or not Poile will make an argument for Suter’s fellow-Pred defenseman Francis Bouillon’s inclusion on the team. While it is a long shot, Bouillon has had a strong campaign to date. Signed just before the season started, the Cube currently sits fourth among U.S.-born defensemen in hits with 37.