Pens GM Ray Shero Talks Assembly Of Team USA
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Penguins General Manager and one of Team USA's executives Ray Shero joined Starkey and Mueller to discuss what it was like putting the team together and what he thinks about some of his players not making their country's team.
When it comes to Team USA, Shero referenced a number of factors that went into who made the team and who didn't.
"We were fortunate because in 2010 it was really the changing of the guard, and there was a lot of first-timers, and we have the bulk of those guys back," Shero said.
At the same time, the bigger ice surface played a role in the decision making process as well.
"At the end, you're playing on a bigger ice surface as well, the international ice surface, and neither Canada nor the United States has had as much success recently playing over in the Olympic games. It's going to be an adjustment for everybody, and you're not going to have much time to do it," Shero said.
We also ask Shero if there's any upside to players like Marc-Andre Fleury not making their Olympic team.
"If you're truly the third guy where Marc was in Vancouver playing behind Brodeur and Luongo, he was practicing everyday taking 500 to 1,000 shots a day and I'm not sure if he was more tired coming back than when he first went," Shero told us. "I don''t believe his play was at the same level coming back in 2010 going through that process, so I'll take the positive spin that the rest will be good for him and refocus when he comes back."
Things wrapped up with Shero talking about James Neal being left off Team Canada, how the Pens will replace Pascal Dupuis on the top line and the level of play he expects out of Kris Letang.
