Bobby Ryan Had A Nice Backhanded Criticism Of Team USA In Response To Phil Kessel's Tweet

Just sitting around the house tonight w my dog. Felt like I should be doing something important, but couldn't put my finger on it.

— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) September 21, 2016

@dipduncs nah..kill USA hockey with kindness and maybe they'll let me play over 35 adult worlds if I'm not a defensive liability by then.

— Bobby Ryan (@b_ryan9) September 21, 2016

It's too easy. It's literally too easy. Even those snubbed that didn't feel the need to immediately take pot shots at the offensively impotent team that omitted them from international competition couldn't respond to a request to do so without critiquing the selection process. This has to feel like Team USA's worst nightmare became a reality. The concerns that everyone not associated with constructing the roster had about the roster's construction? All proven valid.

This team had an antiquated game plan that's gotten the coach that instituted it canned by half the NHL. I would imagine that the words that would have come out of Hope Solo's mouth had she been forced to compete against this overly conservative, intentionally castrated abomination of a hockey team would have gotten her a lifetime ban form organized athletics. They had a scarcity of high end skill and displayed a lack of creativity that was a direct product of it. They had potentially their best netminder in street clothes. They had some of the best goal scorers their country has to offer watching from home.

And what was the reason for it? They weren't defensive minded enough? Funny how little that seems to matter now that they've been eliminated after putting up 2 goals in 2 games with neither of them being particularly well executed. Whatever mentality this team was built to embrace was not only a complete failure, but it was a complete failure waiting to happen. As predictable as a downright disaster can be. Leaving guys like Phil Kessel and Bobby Ryan at home when they are already without all the U23 talent that's lacing them up for North America? Ironically enough, trading in a couple offensive anchors for a defensive liability or two is just one of many things that this team - that's supposed to be "on the rise" - could have benefited from.