USA seeking new Olympic blood

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Dustin Byfuglien (center) has been invited to ride shotgun for his Blackhawks teammate, sniper Patrick Kane (right). Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images Sarah Kwak's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Sarah. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

Take a look at Team USA's Olympic training camp roster, and the message is clear: Out with the old for the Red, White and Blue.

Only five players from the 2006 Turin team, which finished in eighth place (tied for USA Hockey's worst Olympic finish), have been invited back to vie for a trip to Vancouver next February. They include Mike Modano, Chris Drury, Brian Rafalski, Scott Gomez and Jamie Langenbrunner. And of the 34 invitees, 18 have four or fewer years of NHL experience, including 12 forwards that only know the post-lockout NHL.

"We're going to be an underdog in Vancouver. We know that," says Olympic team GM Brian Burke. "There's not going to be a penny bet on us in Las Vegas. We know that. We're probably going to be the youngest team in the tournament. We know that. But we are going there to win and we've tried to identify a group that will give us the best chance to do that."

The relative inexperience could be troubling, but a green bunch probably beats a grey one. Burke said the executive committee reached out to those veteran Americans, who have filled the roster for over a decade -- "the old warriors," he called them -- and they understood. Stars forward Modano, the country's all-time leading scorer, made the cut not because he's still lightning quick at age 39, but because he's adapted, taken on more of a defensive role in Dallas, and maintained his relevancy. He'll fill a different role in Vancouver than he did in 1992 or even 2002.

"A hockey team has job descriptions, and we've tried to fill those specifically, and we think we've got a good blend," Burke said. "We've got some first violins, some cello players too."

Those first violins are set. Nobody needs to tell Burke that Zach Parise and Patrick Kane are sublime scorers. What Team USA seems to be searching for are its right combination of grinders. For that, they're bringing in some heavy hitters to test drive, including Chicago's Dustin Byfuglien -- a 6'-3", 247-pound winger who resembles a linebacker and sometimes polices the ice for teammate Kane -- and Kings winger Dustin Brown, who scores as much as he slams.

Lightning forward Ryan Malone, who put his "anything it takes" attitude on display during the 2008 playoffs with the Penguins, plays with heart. Likewise, the Rangers' Ryan Callahan is a sparkplug who isn't afraid of much. His 'A' for effort attitude made him a quick favorite of his coach, John Tortorella, who, along with Islanders coach Scott Gordon, was named a Team USA assistant yesterday. The undersized 5' 11", 188-pound winger doesn't mind throwing his body around, doling out 265 hits last season, and his speed and tenacity for loose pucks could win over the rest of the coaching staff next month.

Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik, who ranked second in hits last season, may have been left off some early lists, but like his teammate Rob Scuderi, he did a great job of making his case during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Scuderi, with his excellent defensive efforts in the Cup final, proved his worth with a leg save that helped the Penguins secure the silverware. With his savvy stick work in passing and shooting lanes, and down low near the crease, Scuderi can act a sort of second goaltender.

The role players are often the ones that make teams click, and that will be the case with a group as young and inexperienced as this. Veteran leadership from Modano, Rangers captain Drury, and Devils captain Langenbrunner won't be lost, but in order to contend against the Russians, Canadians and defending gold medalist Sweden, the kids will need to grow up fast.