Answers to questions about U. S. Olympic hockey team

ARLINGTON, VA. USA TODAY Sports hockey columnist Kevin Allen was at the 2014 U. S. Olympic men’s hockey team’s orientation camp. His take on some of the questions about the team:

1. WHAT WILL BE THE STRENGTHS OF THIS TEAM?

The Americans will be fast up front, with mobile defensemen and exceptional goaltending. The top players have swagger. Leaders Dustin Brown ( Los Angeles Kings), Zach Parise and Ryan Suter ( Minnesota Wild), Jack Johnson ( Columbus Blue Jackets) and David Backes ( St. Louis Blues) will show up expecting to win.

2. WHAT IS ITS BIGGEST CONCERN?

On paper, it’s the center position. When you compare the USA’s centers ( Derek Stepan, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Ryan Kesler, Backes) to Canada’s ( Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, etc.), it seems as if the Americans are at a major disadvantage.

The Americans don’t have a highprofile center such as Russia’s Evgeni Malkin or Pavel Datsyuk or Sweden’s Henrik Sedin. But the USA had the same center group in Vancouver in the 2010 Games ( minus Stepan) and

won the silver medal.

3. WHO WILL BE THE USA’S THREE GOALIES?

Jonathan Quick ( Kings) is likely the No. 1, based on how well he has played over the last two seasons. But nothing is settled. It will all come down to how well they play in the first three months of the NHL season. The selection committee won’t make its goalie decisions until late December.

Quick, Ryan Miller ( Buffalo Sabres), Jimmy Howard ( Detroit Red Wings), Craig Anderson ( Ottawa Senators), Cory Schneider ( New Jersey Devils) and Anaheim Ducks pros- pect John Gibson are candidates. Miller perhaps comes in with extra credit earned with his strong play in the 2010 Games. But Miller is in a major battle to make the team. Anderson and Howard have played at a higher level than Miller for the last two seasons. Gibson helped the USA win the bronze medal in the world championships last spring.

4. IS THERE A SLEEPER PICK TO MAKE THE TEAM?

Alex Galchenyuk ( Montreal Canadiens) is 19, but he could make this team if he plays well in October, November and December.