Carle for Martin if need be, on team USA.

by eric88 on Jan 14, 2010 10:00 AM EST

Matt Carle was not named to team USA as we all know. There is a chance Paul Martin who certainly deserves to be on the team won't be healthy. The pundits like to name Ron Hainsey, Ryan Whitney, and Rob Scuderi as possible replacements for Martin. The case for Matt Carle is easily made. He is first among US born defensemen in plus minus and first in points. Not lost in these stats is the fact that he as the fewest goals against 21 of any defensemen on team USA or in consideration. His total GVT at 7.6 is also the highest. Statistically, this season in the NHL Matt Carle is the best American born defensemen.

Everyone likes to point out how playing with Chris Pronger has improved Matt Carle's game. This is not a valid reason to leave him off the team. For starters his partner on team USA though maybe not as good as Chris Pronger should still be an elite defensemen. Secondly, I don't think it matters how someones game improves just the fact that there game did improve. Finally, look at some of the other defensive pairing members of team USA have. Brian Rafalski gets to skate with Nick Lindstrom one of the all time best defensemen. Ryan Sutter gets to skate with team Canada defensemen Shea Weber and neither of these players is putting up the numbers that Carle is.

I'm not going to go into the choice of Jack Johnson and is minus 17 with 15 points for team USA. Only to say that the only reason he is on the team is because he was a national development team player.

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Good work

While I think it was quite the snub to not have Carle on the team (Johnson is extremely overrated), I’m quite alright with him getting a two week vacation.

Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Jan 14, 2010 10:46 AM EST reply actions

i’d like to see those guys in the Olympics but at the same time i’d much rather have a healthy roster ready to go after the break. we don’t need any silly injuries happening. not now

you callin me a know-nothin? sir, i'll have you know i happen to know very little.

by hockey punk on Jan 14, 2010 11:29 AM EST reply actions

Not to nitpick, but...

Weber has really been coming on of late. His numbers are actually better than Carles.

by philiafan14364 on Jan 14, 2010 5:56 PM EST reply actions

Weber’s Canadian though. Don’t know how much of a shot he has making the US team :)

by Ben Feldman on Jan 14, 2010 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe if he says something to the effect of “I play on North America’s Team” then he’ll have a shot.

/TO

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Jan 14, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

I was just talking about when Eric said…

Ryan Sutter gets to skate with team Canada defensemen Shea Weber and neither of these players is putting up the numbers that Carle is.

by philiafan14364 on Jan 14, 2010 6:53 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that was to show how a good partner shouldn’t automatically mean one is simply riding a good partner.

Analogy: Sutter : Carle :: Weber : Pronger

Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Jan 14, 2010 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, Sorry

I meant neither Rafalski or Sutter are putting up numbers like Carle. Also, if we are nick picking Scuderi also only has 21 goals against put only a handful of assists.

by eric88 on Jan 14, 2010 8:25 PM EST reply actions