Getting To Know Your 2010 U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team: Jonathan Quick

We made it, kids. It's the final installment of this get-to-know series, and we can now move to next Tuesday's first American Winter Olympic hockey contest with a bit more confidence in just who's representing the ol' red, white, and blue. We're proud of all of you for sticking through this cram session, but mostly, we're proud of the porn-site commenter that dropped by yesterday. You stay classy, Asian robot. Some quick tidbits on our third and final goaltender after the jump.

Jonathan Quick turned 24 last month. In 2005, he was taken in the third round of the NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. His home town is Milford, Connecticut, and he played his college stick at the University of Massachusetts, where his squad found themselves in the college national championship.

In three seasons at the pro level, Quick has seen action in 101 games, posting a 56-37 record, with a career goals-against average of 2.56, and a save percentage of .908. Just last season, quick led the league in wins with 34, and goals against with an impressive 134 through 54 contests. He has five career shutouts, and I imagine he will, regardless of recent successes, see only limited action in the upcoming Winter Games in Vancouver.
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Getting To Know Your 2010 U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team: Tim Thomas

And, BAM! Only one goalie entry left after this, and we've made it through all of your potential starters in Vancouver. The time to get busy is near. Very few eyes are on the United States as a team that could compete, which is just why they will.

Tim Thomas will turn 36 this spring, which, by account of the average age on this 2010 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, is old. He was taken in the ninth round of the NHL Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, if that clues you in. As in, before the Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche, and before the Avalanche won any Stanley Cups. Thomas comes from Flint, Michigan, he matriculated at the University of Vermont, and just so happens to be last year's winner of the Vezina Trophy (best regular-season goalie) , and is a co-holder of last year's William M. Jenning's Trophy (goalie -- with a 25-game minimum -- to allow the fewest goals).

The interesting thing about Thomas is that he spent a number of his early post-college years playing at the semi-pro level, as well as overseas, not making his NHL debut until the 2002 season. In six years at the pro level, Thomas has posted a 122-88 record, a 2.60 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage, and 16 shutouts. Through 18 post-season games, Thomas is 10-8, with a 2.16 G.A.A., and a .926 save percentage. He's been selected to two All-Star Games, and led the league in G.A.A. and save percentage during the 2008-09 campaign.

The stellar recent play of Thomas makes it hard on the Team USA coaching staff, in that, if the theme of the club is youth and potential, you go with Ryan Miller. The flip side of that is that Thomas, a late bloomer, if you will, might actually be the better netminder, the veteran with the experience and confidence. My angle would be this: Start Miller for all games in the early round, and if he's letting in should-be saves, you make the switch to Thomas, and stick with him. I'd opt out of this one game, rest, two games, rest sort of thing the U.S. has done in the last two Olympics.
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Getting To Know Your 2010 U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team: Ryan Miller

And just like that, we're into the goalie segment. The numbers might not be the easiest to comprehend, but we have faith in you, precious reader. Suffice to say that you want a low goals-against average, a high save percentage, more wins than losses, and, uh, shutouts are a good thing.

Ryan Miller will turn 30 this summer. He calls East Lansing, Michigan home, and he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1999 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Miller, his brother, and three cousins all attended Michigan State University. It was Miller, however, who set an NCAA record with career shutouts (26) in 2001, and in that same season, he became only the second goaltender in history to win the Hobey Baker Award (top college player), doing so by way of the aforementioned shutouts, as well as leading the nation in wins, winning percentage, save percentage, and goals-against average.

Through seven professional seasons Miller has gone 175-100, with a career 2.58 GAA, a .914 save percentage, and wrangled 17 shutouts for the Sabres. He's 20-14 in the post-season, with a 2.40 GAA, and a .915 save percentage. He has been to one All-Star Game, led the league in 2007-08 with fewest goals against, and again led the league last year with a .931 save percentage.

The thing to know about olympic goaltending, at least in recent years, is that platooning has proved not to work. Were I the U.S. bench boss, I'd pick one guy, stick with him in all key games, and that guy would be Miller.
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