Watching Team USA struggle to beat a depleted Russian team (FYI, they couldn't), you couldn't help but think about how many NHL managers are so taken with the past.
If you're a Rangers fan, you're kind of used to seeing NHL stars skating past their prime. But watching the US struggle has been almost worse than watching the Rangers, since the Red, White, and Blue don't have to be that bad (the Rangers are contractually obligated to suck).
For instance, the Russians are as fast as anything. It's like they're skating on Crisco. You can't dump-and-chase on them. They get to the puck too quickly. So you have to carry the puck into the zone. And who is a better puck carrier than Scott Gomez from the Devils? He's one of the best puck-haulers in the league. And yet, he wasn't the key to U.S.'s gameplan. Instead the increasingly lethargic Mike Modano racked up the ice time. The reason? He's a familiar name. After all, Gomez is only playing because Jeremy Roenick couldn't.
And not to sound too New York-centric, but Islander Jason Blake also would have been a huge weapon against the Russians. Blake certainly isn't the most elegant player, but he's got speed and anger. He's awful to play against. He could have kept the Russians on their heels.
In fact, the only asset Team USA has taken advantage of has been goalie Robert Esche, who's been playing the best hockey of his career. But if Mike Richter hadn't retired due to injuries, there's no doubt Richter would be starting for the US. Because he's just about always started for the US.
Team USA has a huge talent pool to draw from (except for defenseman). They should be digging deep for players who are tough and versatile. They shouldn't look at the 1996 Cup-winning roster and think that these players have the same skills they had eight years ago.
Of course, having said all that, I still don't know why old-timer Brian Leetch isn't being used more offensively. Sad and as crazy as it sounds, defenseman Leetch might be Team USA's best pure goal scorer. His puck-handling wouldn't look out of hand on the Russian team. His shot is still net-seeking. Sadly, because the US is so thin defensively, Leetch is forced to concentrate on defense. If I were US coach Ron Wilson, I'd have used Leetch like a forward, letting him go deep into the Russian zone, with a forward or third defenseman covering up for him. I also would have had two bodies in front of young Russian goalie Ilja Bryzgalov at all times. The Americans just weren't good enough to score a pretty goal. Their only real chance was to clog the lane and wait for an opportune deflection.
And while it's not really Wilson's domain, if I were him, I'd get Roenick out of ESPN's booth. Three-man booths are annoying enough in hockey. It's almost unbearable with Roenick talking over everybody and missing the commercial cues. We get it. You know Esche. You're his friend. That's fantastic. Is there anything else you can tell us? Does Roenick's mic always have to be on?

I've got to admit it. I wasn't the biggest Robert Esche fan coming into the World Cup. I thought he was a bit overrated and his success in the playoffs was more a matter of luck than form.
But watching him against the Canadiens, I've got to change my opinion. Esche is the real deal. He was stunning in the U.S. loss to Canada. The Canadians should have won by at least five goals. But Esche was always in position, keeping square to the shooter. And when he was out of position, he was able to scramble like Dominik Hasek. It was truly a sight to behold.
The Canadians were sharp and the US was dull. There's no doubt about that. But at least US coach Ron Wilson knows he has a true number one goalie. I'm guessing he'll give his other two goalies some work during the next few games, but I can't see how anyone could possibly outplay Esche.
And what was with Canada's Shane Doan? He had a ton of great looks and great chances and he couldn't do anything with them. You can't help but wonder how Keith Primeau, who basically didn't make the team because Doan filled the bruiser role, would have done with those shots.
I'm guessing he would have buried them.
And the U.S.'s weakness on the blue line was painfully obvious. Defenseman Brian Leetch could hardly get out of his own zone. What's the point of having Leetch on your team if he's forced to play like a regular defenseman? Leetch needs to roam. Leetch needs to work down low. He's not going to score a goal from his own blue line.
Not regularly anyway.

Every day I'm more and more taken with the WHA. Especially on days like today (or yesterday, depending upon when you're reading this) when the WHA has lots of great gossip running around.
For instance, the NHL Web site is practically beaming that the WHA has pulled the plug on the Quebec franchise. Apparently they didn't have the financing. So the WHA will soldier on without the Quebec Nordiks.
I love the idea of killing a WHA franchise, though. No players are signed. No rinks are booked. All you really have to do is cross a name off a list.
The WHA also issued a press release denying they're being sold to the NHL. What would the NHL be buying exactly? Team names? But still. It's good they cleared the air.
Evan Weiner says the WHA's fatal flaw is that there's no need for it. Hockey is pretty prevalent in the states, now. There are tons of minor league teams in non-traditional markets, like the South and Southwest. The WHA isn't bringing anything new to the table. Unless you consider a league with no players something new. Which it is. I just don't know if that's going to put people in the seats.
Oh. And in actual hockey news, Finland blanked the Czech Republic 4-0 in the World Cup. Finnish goalie Miikka Kiprusoff seems to have kept the hot pads he wielded in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It also helped that he saw only 12 shots.

I'm going to be honest. This has nothing to do with hockey. I'm just trying to sell a printer cartridge on Amazon. Check it out. I bought one for my wife's printer and then the stupid printer died. So now I'm able to pass the savings on to you.

When is a first-round draft pick not a first-round draft pick?
When it's the Penguins' Evgeni Malkin.
It seems Malkin is renegotiating the contract with his Russian team. But with the transfer agreement between the NHL and Europe expired, there's no guarantee the Penguins can spring him, even if wants to leave Russia. One of Malkin's agents said the Penguins haven't even really tried to sign their top draft pick. So it's pretty weird in Pittsburgh. If they didn't want to use their top pick, they probably should have traded it. I'm sure there was at least one other team interested in getting Malkin in an NHL uniform.

The New York Post has an interesting take on the potential lockout.
Mark Everson guesses that if there is a salary cap, it'll be somewhat more than the $31 million per team that's been mentioned everywhere. He puts the potential cap in the $50 million per team range. The reason? That's where GM Lou Lamoriello, one of the league's most respected and fiscally responsible GMs, has the Devils' payroll. Lamoriello wouldn't risk going over the cap so he must have a pretty good idea of what it will (or won't) be.

How old is the US World Cup team?
Toronto Maple Leaf (and Team Canada) coach Pat Quinn thought he was their coach.
You know. Because the Leafs are old.
But seriously. You've been great.