Hindsight is always the perfect 20/20. You can clearly see how past events led to the current result. In this case, hindsight clearly shows us why team USA didn't get a medal. The reason, the teams they played are simply better.
Many to the untrained eye will immediate think that the team didn't show up, or someone choked. The team did show up (there were players either seated on the bench or skating), and you can't blame one single individual for this collapse. Sometimes, you simply need to just give credit where it is due. Canada is a better team. Finland is a better team. It's that simple. Canada just has pools of talent to pick from. And it's no accident Finland has medaled in the last 4 Olympics.
With that said, there is a positive to take from this. Do you remember a time in which US Hockey as an overall whole had as bright a future as it does now? Not that I can recall. The talent pool in the US is at an all time high. This will become more evident over time. You have great players like Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Zach Parise, and Jonathan Quick playing now. You have good young talent just starting out like Seth Jones, Jacob Trouba, and Alex Galchenyuk that will make an impact in 4 years. The future is bright.
Yes, no question, the last two days were very disappointing, given how Team USA started. But see this for what it is. This is an opportunity. Team USA will have the chance to address their team over the next 4 years. And they will have more talent to pull from. But for now, give credit to where it is due. I just hope you don't fall into the trap of playing the blame game, like so many already have.
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