The Deke Squad – Issue No. 4: Thomas Vanek’s Leaving, Andrew MacDonald, & Isles vs. USA

Jan 7, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) skates on the ice during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Islanders won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

RE: Sochi: Canada-USA gold medal game. The game goes to overtime. John Tavares heads in on a breakaway towards Ryan Miller. Who do you root for?! 

CT: An unbelievably tough question. I want to say Miller. I feel like I would be cheering for Miller in that moment. USA all the way during the Olympics. In that spot, though…..man. A part of me screams Tavares. What about you guys?

EB: Yeah, even though I love JT, I want to see the US win. Actually, to be honest , I would rather see Canada lose than the US win. Meaning that I just find it very hard to root for a team full of Rangers. Especially when Callahan and Stepan don’t belong there. The team that they put together was a joke and the fact that they have continually sidestepped the real reasoning behind it says a lot. Sure, I will root for the US, but I will hope Stepan and Callahan look foolish and embarrass themselves. Truth be told, I bleed blue and orange when it comes to hockey more than I bleed red,white and blue. However, I still go with the USA on this one.

RDR: Sorry, Johnny. USA all the way.

Rich Dias-Rodrigues (@RDNHL)

Chris Triantafilis (@christriants)

Eric Bordin (@EJONEverything)