USA: No miracle needed for Olympic hockey medal

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Va. - Both the public and private American hockey message is that a miracle is no longer necessary for the men's team to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

"What they told the players in a meeting last night was that this is going to be the toughest team you are ever going to try to make," said Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson. "They said this is probably the best group they ever assembled."

USA Hockey invited 48 players to its orientation camp at the Washington Capitals' practice facility, and no effort is being made to conceal the fact that there are high expectations for this American team That's different from 2010 when then-GM Brian Burke embraced the underdog role, saying no one would "bet a cent on Team USA in Vegas."

"Brian in Vancouver gave players great cover," Team USA general manager David Poile said. "He said the U.S. team was in transition. There were no more Billy Guerins…no (Chris) Chelios, (Mike) Modano, (Mike) Richter, etc. What he really did was lower expectations outside the room, meaning with the fans and media. But I can tell you, inside the room, we knew we had a chance to win."

The Americans won the silver medal in 2010, and four years later, they have no use for the underdog role.

"I know we are at the point when we enter a tournament and put on the U.S. jersey we expect to win," Poile said. "We are not going into Sochi as an underdog. We are going in as a team that expects to do well."

Oddsmakers have picked Russia, led by Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk, as the team to beat in a tournament held in its country. In the hockey world, Canada is always considered at least a co-favorite.

The read on the Americans is that they will be exceptional in net, strong on defense and very good on the wings. The only question is whether their center collection measures up to other countries.

"The biggest thing that USA Hockey has done is improve the depth and width of the player pool," Burke said. "And that's going to continue. The under-18 (national team development) program in Ann Arbor has been the single driving motor behind that. We will have much harder decisions picking this team than we did in 2010, and that's what you want."

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller was the star of the 2010 team, and now he will be in a battle just to make the 2014 squad. Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is now acknowledged as the top American goalie and Miller must battle with Craig Anderson (Ottawa Senators), Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings), Cory Schneider (New Jersey Devils) and Anaheim Ducks prospect John Gibson for one of the other two spots.

"This is wide open," Miller said. "This is a situation where certainly your body of work is what got you invited. How you're playing is going to be the big factor. It was last time. I'm just going to go about my business. I want to make the team. I want to be the guy who's there stopping pucks in Sochi. I want to start. I want to play."

Miller, 33, has struggled with his consistency over the past couple of seasons, while Quick has been a playoff star, winning a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2012.

"(Quick is) is a very unique goaltender," said Dustin Brown, a Los Angeles Kings teammate and one of the leaders of the U.S. group. "He's very structurally sound, but he relies on his reflexes. What makes Quick unique is his attitude about the game. He'll make a save that he has no business making and he'll flip the puck out to the dot for the faceoff like it's just another day. That confidence, that quiet arrogance, kind of trickles down. It definitely rubs off on guys."

Teams will carry three goalies. 'It's going to take something special, a great start to the season to make this team," Howard said.

Poile's approach will be slightly different from Burke's approach, mostly out of necessity. The 2010 tournament was played on an NHL ice surface and the 2014 tournament will be played on the wider European ice rink. Burke talked about having a physical team, while Poile has been talking about having a fast team.

But Burke will be part of Poile's management team, and he has kept Burke's approach of having a committee of general managers selecting the team. Stan Bowman (Chicago), Dale Tallon (Florida), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia) and Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) are in that group. Shero has the added title of being Poile's associate general manager. Former NHL GM Don Waddell, now a pro scout with Pittsburgh, is also in the group, along with USA Hockey's Jim Johansson.

Also, Poile shares Burke's belief that he must build a team, instead of finding the best 25 players. The selection committee plans to take players based on building lines that will work well together and having players who can adjust to their new roles.

"I don't think we are sneaking up on anyone," said Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, who played for the 2010 team. "(Last time) we had every intention of winning. We weren't going to take a back seat to anyone . And that attitude isn't going to change this time around. It's just a little bit more out in the open."

The Americans are a team with unfinished business. Canada beat the USA in the gold medal game in both 2002 and 2010. In Vancouver, the Americans lost in overtime on a goal by Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby.

"I don't think a day has gone by where I haven't thought about that overtime," Jack Johnson said. "We were just one goal shy."

Contributing: Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports