2X WJC Media

Today we will be looking at the team from the Biden ran country, The United States of America.


Forwards:


Dwayne Gretzky - 4 goals - 8 assists - 12 Points - 

Analysis: Gretzky put up decent numbers in limited minutes on a stacked Berserkers squad. Gretzky was more of a playmaker this season as he had 8 assists and showed some great vision with the puck just like his namesake. Gretzky's advance numbers and age will most likely keep him out of any meaningful minutes but this tournament will be a great learning experience for the kid.

Chad Danger - 19 goals - 20 assists - 30 points - 

Analysis: Danger was a very balanced player this season for the Battleborn which should bode well for Team USA. Danger can pass and shoot and his numbers back that up as he finished 2nd on the Battleborn in points and goals. Danger also finished above the 100 PDO threshold while also having solid Corsi numbers. I expect Danger to show up in a pick way and perform even better with a stacked team.

James Hagan - 9 goals - 11 assists - 20 points - 

Analysis: Hagan and the Knights as a whole had a season they would definitely like to forget and I am sure Hagan is hoping this tournament will be the stepping stone to that turnaround. Hagan finished the season with 20 points and an impressive 65 blocked shots, showing some two-way prowess. Hagan was also a victim of advance stats, posting a 96 PDO and a 3.4 GA/60 vs a 1.6 GF/60. Hagan will have to showcase his skillset better or he will be riding the bench for the USA squad.

Grape Fruit - 5 goals - 21 assists - 26 points - 

Analysis: Grape Fruit had a middling season based on the numbers posted in a box score. But you look deeper and his Advance Stats pop off the screen and show just how good Grape Fruit can be. With the Kraken this past season, Fruit had 21 assists and 26 points. What is more impressive however is he had a 102 PDO and a 6.3 CF% Rel. Fruit may not put up big numbers this tournament but he will be someone that does all the important things well.

Zdenko Beranak - 10 goals - 27 assists - 37 points 

Analysis: Beranak was a big reason for the big improvement QCC had following their expansion season as he finished second on the team in scoring with 37 points (1 point behind the leader). Beranak's advance stats are good as well. Despite posting a negative corsi score, he did finish with a 103 PDO. I expect Beranak to be a big contributor for Team USA.

Xavier Doom - 6 goals - 15 assists - 21 points 

Analysis: Doom had a solid rookie season in St. Louis and one that should bode well for his future as he ended the season with 21 points. Doom was also fairly solid from the analytics side as he finished with a 100.1 PDO and solid corsi and fenwick stats. While I don't think Doom will see much playing time this tournament just due to the sheer talent the USA team has, he will be a cornerstone for years to come.

Young Logo - 12 goals - 22 assists - 34 points 

Analysis: Doom's teammate was the shining star for the Crows this season as Logo's 34 points were good enough to lead all players in St. Louis. Logo posted below average advanced stats including a 97.7 PDO, however a lot of that can be chalked up to the bad season that the Crows had. Logo has enough talent and leadership skills to be a big part of the USA squad this tournament.

Sammy Blaze 21 goals - 22 assists - 43 points 

Analysis: We are starting to hit the real sizzle point of the Team USA squad starting with Blaze. Sammy Blaze finished 8th in league scoring as he finished with 21 goals (6th) and 43 points to go along with a remarkable 70 blocked shots. Blaze finished with a 99.5 PDO and tremendous CF and FF numbers (top 10 in both). All of this is a recipe for a superstar showing for Team USA.

Hubert Andrews - 12 goals - 32 assists - 44 points 

Analysis: Hubert is another stud for the Red White and Blue and he finished in a tie for 5th in points in the entire league with 44. His 32 assists were good enough for 2nd most and he also contribute on the other end of the ice finishing with 59 hits and 67 blocked shots. Andrews finished with a 101 PDO and looks poised to be a big help in trying to get Team USA on a deep run.

Ryan Rieley - 20 goals - 13 assists - 33 points 

Analysis: In a world of pure skill, Ryan Rieley personafies the much forgotten Power Forward skill set. Rieley finished tied for 8th in the league in goals with 20 and 8th in hits with 119 which makes him a scary person for any team in the tournament to take on. Rieley contributed more goals while he was on the ice than allowed which is a great sign and he finished with a 101 PDO. Rieley will be the difference maker for Team USA in my opinion.

Luffy Richard - 13 goals - 15 assists - 28 points 

Analysis: In limited ice time (14 mpg), Richard was fantastic, scoring 13 goals and finishing with 28 points on a very good Whalers squad. While his numbers are lower than some of his counterparts, he was more effective than a lot of them in my opinion. From an analytics standpoint, Luffy had a 98.6 PDO but solid GF/60 numbers.

Lord Raiden - 20 goals - 23 assists - 43 points :

Analysis: The star of the show is back to lead the Americans to promise land. Raiden finished tied for 8th in goals with 20 and tied for 7th with 43 points on a Raptors team that underperformed all season. Raiden also produce some bone crushing hits on his way to 70 in total. Raiden is the marquee guy on the offense and I expect to perform at the level he has his entire career.


Defense:

Michael Scotch - 0 goals - 12 assists - 12 points  / Sean Gatez - 3 goals - 6 assists - 9 points 

Analysis: I put these two together as they are strictly rotational players in case of injury or fatigue. Neither Scotch or Gatez are fully ready for this tournament and this is strictly a learning experience for them.

Zebulon Leavitt - 7 goals - 15 assists - 22 points - 101 hits - 71 SB 

Analysis: Leavitt had a very good season with the Whalers. He finished 3rd in scoring for a Defender while finishing first on the team in hits with 101 and first in +/- at an astounding +32. Not only were his on paper numbers great, he also posted a 102.7 PDO and a great GF/60 vs GA/60 (3.9 vs 1.6). Leavitt should slot in nicely in a 3rd or 4th pairing role for the Americans and will not doubt leave some players picking themselves up off the ice.

Jed Mosley Jr - 12 goals - 8 assists - 20 points 

Analysis: Mosley had a solid 2nd full year with the Raptors but has a lot of room for improvement. On the positive side, Mosley was 4th on his team in goals and 5th in the entire league for Defensemen in that category as well. Outside of that though, there was not much else to say positively as Mosley was not great defensively and put up a 98 PDO. Mosley will be a great leader on the Power Play and has a knack for scoring which may be beneficial if he receives sheltered minutes.

James LeBlond - 14 goals - 15 assists - 29 points - 60 SB - 

Analysis: LeBlond finished 2nd in goals by a defender as well as finishing 4th in that category on his team. LeBlond also provided help on the other end of the ice, blocking 60 shots and finishing with a respectable 2.9 GA/60. LeBlond's 101.3 PDO helps illustrate why he has been a much better version of Mosley Jr and why he is suited to take up those specialty minutes over him.

Elwulf Jericson - 10 goals - 15 assists - 25 points - 68 SB - 

Analysis: Jericson was okay this season and that will probably mean a lower place on the depth chart as he didn't excel at one thing. His 10 goals and 68 blocked shots are good benchmarks to hit but there isn't much else there. I expect Jericson to fit in that fringe 4, solid 5 spot.

Johnny Shuffleboard - 9 goals - 15 assists - 24 points - 

Analysis: Shuffleboard was a calm and cool presence on the backend for the Whalers and Team USA hopes that continues on in this tournament. Shuffleboard finished with decent offensive number and had a 101 PDO. What makes him a great player for this USA squad is that teams scored just 2 goals per game with him on the ice per 60 minutes. That calm demeanour will help the USA team quite a bit.

Colin Lambert - 6 goals - 21 assists - 27 points - 91 SB - 

Analysis: Lambert will be wearing the "A" for Team USA this tournament and his defensive capabilities and general leadership qualities make him a perfect fit. Lambert had a respectable 27 points for the Scarecrows, but it is his job on the defensive end that make him so good as he finished 7th in the league in blocked shots with 91. Lambert's 103.3 PDO was good for 5th in the league for a defender.

Pojo Biscuit - 10 goals - 17 assists - 27 points - 93 hits - 76 SB - 

Analysis: The Captain for Team USA, Pojo Biscuit plays a lot like his father (?) Bojo Biscuit, one of the greatest defensive dmen of all time. Bojo finished with 10 goals which is a good benchmark number for a defender, but also performed on the other side of the game, finishing with 93 hits and 76 blocked shots to go along with a 101.2 PDO.


Goalies:

C.K. Supernaw - 25 GP - 15 wins - 8 losses - 2 otl - 2.58 GAA - .917 save - 

Analysis: The net is definitely the biggest question mark for Team USA heading into this tournament as neither player on their roster were the bonafide number 1 guy on their respective teams. Supernaw was solid in the action he saw, finishing 3rd in GAA for all goalies who played at least half the season and first in Save Percentage under that criteria as well. The question will be whether he can sustain those numbers as the guy.

Tyler Ward - 15 GP - 9 wins - 3 losses - 1 otl - 2.28 GAA - .923 save - 

Analysis: Ward's raw stats show a lot of promise as his goals against and save percentage would be tops of the league if he played at least half the season. However without much substance there, I suspect Ward will back up Supernaw and we will have to see next season where he is at with more playing time.





1878 words.

Nice stuff here!

Zebulon Leavitt, Defense

Number:24

Finally, someone appreciates Luffy’s greatness :p good analysis.