World Cup rosters being announced

[hockeyfan1]

Is it okay to talk about the jerseys here? Because this is the first Team Canada jersey that I've been even remotely tempted to buy.

The website suggests they can't seem to decide on a red though.

Sweden has unfortunate Kronor placement. Team North America should've just gone with the logo we're all familiar with.

I like the red one.  The white one does have a bit of the bland look  Overall though, they're well-designed and pleasing.

 

[Redleaf]

Not much of a fan of these sweaters. Too cartoonish or something. So glad the Leafs didn't go this route with their maple leaf design. The retro look is way better.

 

[herman]

I like the minimalism the tournament went for as a whole with the logos. Hilariously, they accidentally broke a Czech Republic law with their initial pared down design and had to revert to the full (more complicated) crest.

 

[herman]

The only team I'm really interested in watching for this tournament is the TNA Squad. So I threw together a lineup, even though I only have passing familiarity with some of these names. There is a glut of LH Centers and a dearth of RH Wingers, so filling those holes was prioritized.

Feel free to pick this apart.

Goalies
Gibson
Murray

Hellebuyck drew the short stick here because a) Gibson has the most NHL experience; b) Murray has proven #1ness in the AHL and in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Defensemen
Gostisbehere-Ekblad
Murray-Jones
Rielly-Parayko
Trouba

For the defense, I checked out the handedness and playstyles. Ghost-Bear + Ekblad sounds pretty dangerous on paper. Murray-Jones for the CBJ familiarity and they have complementary styles. Rielly I paired with Parayko, because he sounds like an RH Marincin who can score a bit, vs Trouba who plays more like Rielly. For a bottom pairing, I prefer the safer route.

Forwards
Larkin-McDavid-MacKinnon
Drouin-Matthews-Eichel
Gaudreau-Monahan-Scheifele
Saad-Couturier-Miller
Nugent-Hopkins

Each line has two face-off takers and I built them favouring handedness and existing familiarity where possible.

Larkin was originally slated to play for the Erie Otters (with McDavid), but ended up going to college, so this is our chance to see what magic they could've made together. It's also pretty crazy when MacKinnon is the slowest member of your line, and his muckiness will be a welcome addition to a blisteringly fast playmaking line.

Matthews anchors the second line, flanked by speedy scoring wingers. Eichel could have centered as well, but he has the RH shot that is sorely lacking on this roster. Drouin draws into the top 6 because that's his game. You can't really give room to any of these three, and even when you take it away, they can make something happen.

Gaudreau and Monahan form the fiery core of the third line, which could conceivably be the sheltered scoring line thanks to their existing familiarity. Scheifele rounds this line out on the RW with veteran two-way play and adds more size to complement Gaudreau.

Saad-Couturier-Miller are solid two-way forwards and could play the shutdown role. Miller is a lefty, but I see he favours the RW so yay.

RNH sits as utility because I'm not sure what he provides over other centers.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If I had to guess I'd say that Saad will play higher up in the line-up, potentially even on that top line with McDavid and MacKinnon. Without double checking, I'm pretty sure he's their most experienced player (especially if your're counting playoffs too), and while he's not quite a Lucic-player he's probably the closest the team has to one. So McLellan will probably take a liking to him pretty quick.

I'd also be very curious to see how much playing time Matthews gets, especially with all the NHL centres on the roster. Even if the lines worked out how you have them I doubt he'd be getting playing time over the Gaudreau/Monahan line. I wouldn't be all that surprised to see him start as the 13th forward instead of RNH, and again the McLellan factor might come into play there too.

Also, Larkin often played right wing last season so that would help with that problem. So I'd guess something like:

Saad-McDavid-MacKinnon
Gaudreau-Monahan-Larkin
Drouin-RNH-Eichel
Miller-Couturier-Scheifele
Matthews

I've said this before, but I really do like the look of this team. On paper everybody pales in comparison to Canada, but after that they're right there. I'd imagine they'd be the fastest team in the tournament, and by a fair margin too.

 

[Kin]

I am looking forward to watching Team NA and excited to watch Matthews but if he never really saw the ice I wouldn't be too disappointed.

 

[McGarnagle]

I'll watch it and all, cause hockey, but if TC has to flame out at some point in an international, it wouldn't bother me much if this was it.

 

[Kin]

Jeff Carter out for TC, Corey Perry in.

 

[Bates]

Monahan out with "back strain".

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yeesh, dropping like flies now.

 

[princedpw]

I am out of the loop.  Why is there a team Canada and a team North America?  Do the bad Canadians go on team North America?  How are the team rosters constructed?

 

[Kin]

I am out of the loop.  Why is there a team Canada and a team North America?  Do the bad Canadians go on team North America?  How are the team rosters constructed?

I think the idea that the 7th and 8th best national teams tend to be drags on the tournament/bad draws so the NHL, who is running the tournament, replaced them with a Team Europe comprised of the best players from any European country not already in the tournament and Team North America which is made up of the best American and Canadian players under the age of 23.

The national teams are, I think, run by their respective hockey federations and so rosters are selected as usual. Team Europe and Team North America got assigned GMs who made their selections.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Brief interview with Auston Mathews on Team North America's chances In the upcoming World Cup of Hockey Tournament:


https://www.nhl.com/news/auston-matthews-likes-team-north-americas-chances/c-281514240?tid=278386054

 

[princedpw]

I am out of the loop.  Why is there a team Canada and a team North America?  Do the bad Canadians go on team North America?  How are the team rosters constructed?

I think the idea that the 7th and 8th best national teams tend to be drags on the tournament/bad draws so the NHL, who is running the tournament, replaced them with a Team Europe comprised of the best players from any European country not already in the tournament and Team North America which is made up of the best American and Canadian players under the age of 23.

The national teams are, I think, run by their respective hockey federations and so rosters are selected as usual. Team Europe and Team North America got assigned GMs who made their selections.

thx!

 

[Kin]

An important question that will probably be kicked around before and during the World Cup:

If World Cup players don't care, should you?

The level of play, and particularly intensity, of the World Cup will be very interesting to see. The NHL/PA look at it as hopefully being a money making alternative to the Olympics that doesn't disrupt the schedule. But if players dog it then we could be left without a high-intensity best on best international competition if the NHL decides not to send players to the Olympics.

 

[Redleaf]

An important question that will probably be kicked around before and during the World Cup:

If World Cup players don't care, should you?

The level of play, and particularly intensity, of the World Cup will be very interesting to see. The NHL/PA look at it as hopefully being a money making alternative to the Olympics that doesn't disrupt the schedule. But if players dog it then we could be left without a high-intensity best on best international competition if the NHL decides not to send players to the Olympics.

I don't think intensity will be an issue. I think it will be a pretty big success when all is said and done. Best of three final is a nice touch too.

 

[Kin]

I don't think intensity will be an issue. I think it will be a pretty big success when all is said and done. Best of three final is a nice touch too.

I think intensity was an issue at the last World Cup. Those games looked half-speed and very exhibition-y.

All the same it raises the follow-up which is that if we're fans of NHL players in the Olympics, should we want the World Cup to succeed?

 

[Kin]

Team Europe will not have a National anthem obviously but apparently they'll still have some piece of orchestral music that people will have to stand for.

1. I think the EU's official song is Beethoven's Ode to Joy, seems like a pretty easy call

2. While there are some neat ideas at work, this tournament is still just a big garbage bag full of nonsense.

 

[herman]

Sounds like Auston Matthews rotating in at right wing on @TeamNA_WCH's 4th line with JT Miller, Sean Couturier and Vincent Trocheck
? Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) September 5, 2016

 

[Redleaf]

I don't think intensity will be an issue. I think it will be a pretty big success when all is said and done. Best of three final is a nice touch too.

I think intensity was an issue at the last World Cup. Those games looked half-speed and very exhibition-y.

All the same it raises the follow-up which is that if we're fans of NHL players in the Olympics, should we want the World Cup to succeed?

I was at all of Team Canada's games at the last WC of hockey. I can't speak for the other teams, but intensity was NOT an issue at the Canadian games. Everyone in attendance were more than a little excited about the calibre of hockey, fans and players alike.