Mitch Wahl not going back to WJC for Team USA

[icarus]

This news is over a week old and as far as I can tell never got reported on here. Mitch Wahl was cut as Team's USA national junior camp pared down its selection roster after having made the team last year. The USA camp played six games against Russia but Wahl only appeared in three, scoring 1g and 2a and amassing 12 PIM. The leading scorer in the matches for USA was Canucks 1st round pick Jordan Schroeder.

Three players from the 2009 U.S. WJC team that finished fifth in Ottawa are among the 29 staying.

Change of direction?

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=469838

[simmer2]

As far as I understand it, they kept players off the ice that were more or less guaranteed a spot. I'm not sure if Wahl physically leaving the entire camp is proof of this or if it's more of a bad sign...couldn't tell ya.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Since the final selections camps are usually in December it doesn't really make sense for them to be making cuts in the summer does it?

[simmer2]

^^^^

The coach stated he wanted 15 confirmed roster spots before summer evaluation ended. It seemed kinda odd because a lot of it will depend on how the player performs the first part of the year, but hey he's the coach so he must know what's best.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by simmer2

^^^^

The coach stated he wanted 15 confirmed roster spots before summer evaluation ended. It seemed kinda odd because a lot of it will depend on how the player performs the first part of the year, but hey he's the coach so he must know what's best.

It's Hockey USA, the coach/management seem to never know what's best. From the infighting among their elite players, to the leaving of players off their rosters for leaving their respective NCAA team (they left the CHL Defencemen of the Year once off their roster because he broke his commitment to Maine), that program is just f'ed.

[Vulcan]

This is surprising to me, I though Wahl was one of their best forwards last year at the world juniors and this should have been a break out tournament for him. The guys not spectacular but is a very steady two way player, reminds me of Langkow or Boyd.

[simmer2]

Originally Posted by MJM

It's Hockey USA, the coach/management seem to never know what's best. From the infighting among their elite players, to the leaving of players off their rosters for leaving their respective NCAA team (they left the CHL Defencemen of the Year once off their roster because he broke his commitment to Maine), that program is just f'ed.

That's a good point. John Carlson was left off their roster; convenient timing for that considering he had just commited to the London Knights.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by simmer2

That's a good point. John Carlson was left off their roster; convenient timing for that considering he had just commited to the London Knights.

They left Keith Yandle off a few years ago (QMJHL defencemen of the year) because he backed out of going to Maine. They've also been long been rumored to suggest to high-end players that if they opt out of the National Development Program (IE play in the CHL) they won't be considered for the WJHC team. Some players they can't ignore (Kane, etc.), but they've screwed some pretty good players over the years.

[Vulcan]

Yeah, they don't much like anyone going the CHL route over their college programs.

[SebC]

Point per game isn't good enough?

[dustygoon]

Find it hard to believe they didn't mind the WHL choice last year when he was 18....now a year on, he should be a lock. Maybe he just sucked in this camp?

Sounds like Jordan Schroeder was solid.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Sounds like Jordan Schroeder was solid.