WHO IS THE BEST AMERICAN HOCKEY PLAYER?

by Rich Baiocco


I love that USA hockey has passed the torch from veteran NHL-ers to young and hungry talent when it comes to representing America in International play. Denying the young-at-heart though perpetually immature underachieverScotty Gomez a roster spot at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was the definitive cut from tradition, but now the question remains: who is the best American hockey player?



ZACH PARISE--My (and Chico Resch's) number 1 choice is this gamer Zach Parise. American college hockey pedigree at North Dakota, Parise is a spotlight scorer with big game stage presence and a strong work ethic that would gel perfectly in a Ranger uniform. Though he missed most of the 2010-2011 campaign with a torn meniscus and his immediate future is a bit shaky, he's only 26 and has pumped in 30+ goals in his last four full seasons, including a career high 45 in 2008-2009. The biggest goal of his career may have been in the gold medal game against Canada to send the final into overtime with 25 seconds left to play. Clutch.



RYAN KESSLER--Vancouver's Ryan Kesler impressed me during the Olympics when he dove past Canada's Corey Perry to out-hustle in an empty goal and secure the top spot for the US in the preliminary round. His career offensive numbers may give you pause, but he broke out with a 41 goal effort this year and had 11 points in the Nashville series(!!!)-- you figure he'll just continue to get better. If you watched this series, you must've noticed the Michigan native as an absolute dominant force, making plays at both ends of the ice, outshining both Sedin brothers and orchestrating game breaking plays when his team needed them. He has an edge to his game that exemplifies the type of player Team USA is all about and If he can perform deep into the playoffs and build on a strong season next year, I don't see why he wouldn't be America's best all around.



PATRICK KANE--I'm sure Kaner was the type of rink rat you wanted to beat the shit out of in high school, and I'm sure he made the varsity as a 6th grader or something, but the fact is he is one of the most gifted stickhandlers the NHL has ever seen. He has that rare Datsyukian ability to make something out of nothing and obviously excels under pressure as we all saw in the Stanley Cup winning overtime goal against the Flyers. Kane had a solid Olympic tournament for team USA in Vancouver and was on the ice for Parise's game-tying goal against Canada. Unfortunately he couldn't elevate his game in the playoffs against the Canucks the way his contemporary Jonathan Toews did, but maybe that's why PK doesn't wear the C. On the other hand, Toew's individual effort, compete level and determination was almost superhuman in that series.



TIM THOMAS
Personally I don't care for this chubby gay bear's whole deal, but I can't deny his talent at all. Here he is doing his best fat man in a little coat impression. While USA Olympic goaltending is synonymous with Ryan Miller, it is Tim Thomas and his Boston Bruins who are still in the playoff hunt and a legitimate contender to come out of the East. Thomas has an unorthodox, desperate style where he really flings his body at pucks, but he's worked on keeping his body under control and as a result is not beat on as many rebounds. I don't think Tim T is as good as Miller, or the other Vezina finalists, but he's just as competitive and considering that he barely played in the Olympics and last year wasn't even the starting Bruins goalie in the playoffs shows his resiliency to come in this season and pretty much dominate in the East. And I can respect that. Nice career at UVM also, with fellow NHL-er Marty St. Louis.



JOE PAVELSKI--Little Joe or the Mighty Joe? Whichever way you look at it Joe Pavelski is better than Joe Thorton and once he inherits this team with his buddy Logan Couture and people in San Jose get over the Thorton/Marleau/Heatley thing I can see the Sharks making a legit underdog run to the cup. As it is now, they've been chased by Detroit into a game 7 showdown and either Pavelski or the TMH line will have to step it up. For my money, bet on Pavelski. This kid is an all situations hockey player, a reason Brian Burke nicknamed him The Swiss Army Knife, but he also has unbelievable hands and unbelievable instincts in the offensive zone. Did you see that goal where he bat a rebound out of the air while crashing the net? Last year he led his team in game winners. This Wisconsinite was more of a 2nd/3rd liner for Team USA but won the key faceoff on the Parise gold medal game tying goal. Give him another season to develop and he can be in the top of the class.



RYAN MILLER--It's hard to talk American hockey players without throwing Ryan Miller into the mix--he was astounding in the Olympics--but it's hard to consider the best when you play on a team that has no cup winning potential. The bottom line is that as good as Miller is, and as valuable to his team, he'll need to win a Cup to prove himself to the critics. Sound a little like Lundqvist? The two are pretty similar. World class talent, over achievers but on teams that can't put it together to go deep in the playoffs yet. I think Buffalo will start building a better team now with new ownership, and I know the Blueshirts are on the right track so the future is open for both Hank and Miller to achieve what they deserve. As for Miller and American hockey, I'm comfortable putting him on the short list but I don't think he's the best.



RYAN CALLAHAN--This blog wholeheartedly endorses Ryan Callahan. Although I don't think he's the most talented forward on the list, I won't sell him short because the kid continues to impress and exemplify what USA hockey is all about (Fast, tough, talented). People think he's just an energy guy out on the ice, which is true, but he's also capable of being a game breaker with a big check and the ability to turn a forecheck into a goal. Sorely missed in the playoffs due to Heart Of A Lion's Disease (blocked a slapper by Chara) (apparently the disease took hold of quite a few Rangers this year), Cally should be wearing the C next season and was argued onto the 2010 Olympic team by assistant coach John Tortorella. The move, which may've surprised some, clearly headed the team in the direction of younger, hungrier and rougher, was a huge confidence boost for Cally who jumped into this past season with aspirations and execution of a career year minus two big injuries he had to fight back from. His offensive skills also clearly developed and his pretty 4 goal game against the Flyers prompted the starting of this blog so all in all I throw #24 on the short list and say let Time prove me wrong. The Rochester native has proven doubters wrong his entire career.


BRIAN LEETCH--I know we haven't mentioned any defensemen yet, and the NHL has some good American specimens like Brian Rafalski, Jack Johnson, Ryan Suter, and in time I'm sure Cam Fowler, but I don't think anyone has touched Brian Leetch since #2 retired. He was that rare bird who could combine a very physical, dogged and almost impenetrable defensive game with a puckhandling, rushing shiftiness that hinted at Bobby Orr. Of course he won the Conn Smyth during the 1994 Cup Run (aka best year of my life) and even though he didn't have as many points as his fellow Blueshirt blueliner Sergei Zubov he was a more well rounded defensemen. And who could forget him joining the rush and getting the Rangers on the board first against the Canucks in Game 7? He wasn't a physically intimidating player, wasn't nasty like a Chris Pronger, but knew all the tricks in the book to play effective defense and made the most of his talents. Shea Weber likes to tack on points with his big shot, but I haven't seen a defenseman carry plays up ice like Leetch did. I wish the Blueshirts could still put him on the PP. High candidate for best American hockey player

HONORABLE MENTION
* Brandon Dubinsky--if Dubi can continue to develop and show he can rise to the occasion in big games I can see him being to the Blueshirts what Kesler is to the Canucks. Big if. Can he score 40+ goals?

* Mike Modano--I know Brett Hull (half American) and Joey Mullen scored a lot of goals, but Mike Modano was the best. When kids closed their eyes and thought of an offensive hockey player, there mind flashed to the Mighty Mo going water bottle in either a Stars or North Stars jersey. Still has a chance to close out his career with a Cup in Detroit, would not count him out for scoring a big game 7 goal.

*Chris Drury--I know he's had a rough go in a Rangers uniform, but this guy is an American hockey legend. American collegiate, Stanley cup winner, big game player, big goal capabilities.

*Derek Stepan Is it too early to start including Drury's protege in the mix? Have you seen what his International stats have looked like? Big game player who will only get better as he gets stronger for the Rangers.

*Jeremy Roenick--I'll probably catch flak for this, but I have a soft spot for JR since his days on the Blackhawks. Think about it? If he led his team past Mario Lemieux and the Penguins in the 1991 Cup Finals he could've basically been Patrick Kane. Instead he had an admirable career, then got caught up in the injury holding pattern and was washed from team to team including short stints in Philly, San Jose and Phoenix. He seems to be rebounding as a broadcaster on Versus but for a moment in time could've easily been the Best American hockey player. Probably a dark horse in this race, I won't even mention that he cried on National Televesion. Okay...I will. But I will also mention that I didn't even mind witnessing that kind of emotion. Playoffs baby!

So who am I missing? Who's the best?? Leave your answers in the comments section