World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team North America (Part II)

[End of Line]

It will be interesting to see how McLellan uses lines with so many centers..

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

Rielly - Ekblad
Gostisbehere - Parayko
Murray - Jones
Trouba

This seems best to me.

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

Rielly-Ekblad
Murray-Jones
Ghost-Parayko
Trouba

Murray

Other than the forward lines, our lineups seems very similar.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Prediction for the Young Gun pool:
1. Russia.................3-0
2. Sweden...............2-1 (loss to Russia)
3. Suomi.................0-2-1-0 (Overtime win over the Young Guns)
4. U24 Young Guns...0-2-0-1 (Overtime loss to Suomi)


Russia rolls through the group. Russian players will seize the energy of the Canadian crowd. Ovechkin is loved in Canada (except when he plays us). He will lead the Russian team to 1st in their group so they avoid Canada in the semis.

Semis:
Canada v Sweden
Russia v USA

Finals:
Canada v Russia. Canada wins 2 games to 0 to capture the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.



Post-Tournament:
Canada is in a party spirit and all fans, from all nations embrace the festive atmosphere. It is a party in Toronto, Canada shows our European and Northern neighbours a good time. The hockey world comes together and parties as equals. We enjoy sharing "our game" with each other, we see each other as at our core the same. No matter what is happening in the world, we will always share hockey together, ice hockey bonds our northern nations together.

Hockey belongs to Canada, Russia, Sweden, Suomi, Czechia, the USA, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, Germany, France, Latvia, Norway, Belarus, Austria, Kazakhstan, and Slovenia.

Honourable mention: Hungary. They were elevated to the elite level this year at the 2016 WHC and brought some of the best fans I have seen in a long time. Non-stop drumming, singing, and dancing. Sang their national anthem to their players after they lost. They deserve recognition, they soaked up the festive hockey atmosphere and supported their team start to finish.

How in the world is the U.S. going to lose to Russia?

 

[snipes]

How in the world is the U.S. going to lose to Russia?

Pool A:
1. Canada
2. USA

Pool B:
1. Russia
2. Sweden


1 v 2 and 1 v 2. Not complicated.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Pool A:
1. Canada
2. USA

Pool B:
1. Russia
2. Sweden


1 v 2 and 1 v 2. Not complicated.

..................okay.......since you are clearly being obtuse.....

What is your justification for Russia beating the U.S.?

 

[snipes]

..................okay.......

What is your justification for Russia beating the U.S.?

Just my bracket. I always go on instinct for it. I just see Ovi and Russia playing well in round robin play and into the final.

The truth is, it's unpredictable. The Young Guns could run the table. They have some very talented players. Eichel-McDavid-MacKinnon would be the fastest line at the tournament. I'm keep expectations and pressure low for the Young Guns though. They have a tough task ahead.

 

[JackSlater]

Just because you have called me out before.

Why couldn't they play the 'Star-Spangled Banner' and 'O Canada'? We do it before every NHL game featuring American and Canadian teams. The Young Guns represent only the USA and Canada.

This is one of your weaker arguments. I'm with you on some of your other arguments, but this is being petulant.

This team doesn't represent Canada and USA. Teams "Canada" and "USA" come closest to representing Canada and USA. That is obvious. This team apparently represents a continental age group. If all of the countries that are in North America are going to get their anthems played, it's going to take a while to get through Mexico, Jamaica and all of the other nations. This isn't team Canada and USA, like some apparently want to pretend.

what they do when Europe wins in Ryder Cup?

Team Europe for the Ryder Cup can select players from any European nation. Can team Euro Leftovers do this? No. It's not even the same thing.

 

[snipes]

This team doesn't represent Canada and USA. Teams "Canada" and "USA" come closest to representing Canada and USA. That is obvious. This team apparently represents a continental age group. If all of the countries that are in North America are going to get their anthems played, it's going to take a while to get through Mexico, Jamaica and all of the other nations. This isn't team Canada and USA, like some apparently want to pretend.

From which two countries are the entirety of the team made up from? Anyways, you make good points and are usually well reasoned regarding other critiques of this tournament. This isn't a hill to die on.

 

[JackSlater]

From which two countries are the entirety of the team made up from? Anyways, you make good points and are usually well reasoned regarding other critiques of this tournament. This isn't a hill to die on.

I know what two countries the players come from. The team doesn't represent Canada and USA though, since those countries already have teams. If it is supposed to represent North America, as has been suggested, then there are more countries in North America than just two. I do admit that it would be hilarious to see the Young Gunz beat Canada or USA, only to hear the Canadian or American anthem played afterward. Even the NHL knows how idiotic it would be to play national anthems for this team, hence the removal of national anthems from a supposedly international tournament.

Funny quote from Daly regarding the NHL's perspective on this team: "they don't love the idea of the North American stars beating one of their teams or competing against their flag."

 

[MNRube]

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

I think Scheifele is a good fit to move to W, whereas I can't see any of Eichel/RNH/Couturier being as capable on the wing. I like Larkin to win battles and keep up with McDavid. Keep the Flames duo together and add a dynamic RW like MacKinnon. Eichel gets a big strong winger in Saad and a great playmaker in Drouin. In these lines the top 3 RWs are basically interchangeable based on preference, but I like the LW/C combinations a lot. Maybe swap MacKinnon and Scheifele here and let teams try and keep up with a Larkin/McD/MacK line.

Ghostisbehere-Ekblad
Rielly-Jones
Murray-Parayko
Trouba

I like separating Ekblad and Rielly here as I feel they are your two best overall Dmen. Ghost would have plenty of protection in Ekblad to do his thing and Jones and Rielly would make a good shutdown pair with their speed.

 

[jj cale]

..................okay.......since you are clearly being obtuse.....

What is your justification for Russia beating the U.S.?

You don't think Russia is capable of beating the U.S at this thing?

I will give you that the U.S will be rightly favored but incapable of beating them?

 

[xxxx]

Apparently this teams beats Finland and Russia. I don't believe that for one second.

If I was the coach of this team I would read this quote to all the players in the locker room.

 

[xxxx]

What do you think this tournament is about and why do you think Team North America was created?

Certainly not because of one player.

 

[Spawn]

I would think the guy who has 2 cup rings plus the experience (Saad) makes the most sense, but we'll see.

Saad or Ekblad make a lot of sense to me.

But a part of me wonders if there is going to be some Oiler bias by Chiarelli/McLellan and they test drive McDavid as a captain in this tournament before naming him the Oilers captain at the start of the upcoming season.

 

[xxxx]

Saad or Ekblad make a lot of sense to me.

But a part of me wonders if there is going to be some Oiler bias by Chiarelli/McLellan and they test drive McDavid as a captain in this tournament before naming him the Oilers captain at the start of the upcoming season.

you can't seriously think they will "test" something in such an important tournament, or that there will be any bias, for the same reason.

Other than that I agree, even Ekblad, it seems to make sense to give one defenseman a letter, at least.

 

[JackSlater]

you can't seriously think they will "test" something in such an important tournament, or that there will be any bias, for the same reason.

Other than that I agree, even Ekblad, it seems to make sense to give one defenseman a letter, at least.

Hockey Canada and USA Hockey are already treating this as a test by allowing the Young Gunz to exist. Obviously it's not viewed as a must win tournament. I certainly doubt that McDavid would be made captain, but it's certainly not because all involved view this event as so important.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

imagine a line of:

Larkin — McDavid — MacKinnon

so much speed!!

 

[illone84]

If I was the coach of this team I would read this quote to all the players in the locker room.

I would read the same to team Finland. Keep the underdogs spirit alive

Everyone thinks we are s$$it, let's prove them wrong boys!

 

[illone84]

You don't think Russia is capable of beating the U.S at this thing?

I will give you that the U.S will be rightly favored but incapable of beating them?

How about the last time they met best on best.
It was a very close game, shoot out win for Gringolandia.

 

[illone84]

imagine a line of:

Larkin — McDavid — MacKinnon

so much speed!!

Wow. That would be intense!

 

[jj cale]

How about the last time they met best on best.
It was a very close game, shoot out win for Gringolandia.

Certainly capable of beating them.

 

[JackSlater]

I will say this about this team, in a rare positive note - the defence is significantly better than it would have been had the same team existed under the same rules one year ago. Not as good as the three best defences, but talent wise it's a good group. They are going to learn to love Couturier though.

 

[snipes]

I will say this about this team, in a rare positive note - the defence is significantly better than it would have been had the same team existed under the same rules one year ago. Not as good as the three best defences, but talent wise it's a good group. They are going to learn to love Couturier though.

Agreed. That's also a reason I'm watching, I want to see the next generation of young players who otherwise wouldn't get this opportunity.

Ekblad and Parayko look to be the next elite Canadian defenders. Rielly and Murray should also be fighting for spots on the 2022 Olympic team.

 

[illone84]

Agreed. That's also a reason I'm watching, I want to see the next generation of young players who otherwise wouldn't get this opportunity.

Ekblad and Parayko look to be the next elite Canadian defenders. Rielly and Murray should also be fighting for spots on the 2022 Olympic team.

Win or lose, they'll definitely be fun to watch!

 

[xxxx]

I'm sure that many people will get excited for this team immediately from the first pre-tournament game with Team Europe.

It's exciting to just go through the roster and name the players, let alone watch them on the ice all TOGETHER. Eichel, McDavid, Matthews together. Sweet holy potato.

I'm pretty curious about Matthews, I think he won't be just a 12th/13th forward and will give those people doubting his selection a big reason to question themself.



On a more interesting note: there is five #1 overall draft picks (Nugent-Hopkins, MacKinnon, Ekblad, McDavid, and Matthews) + another 5 picks in top5 overall (Drouin, Jones, Eichel, Rielly, Murray), and another 4 players from top9 overall (Trouba, Monahan, Scheifele, Couturier). Also 5 of the 7 defensemen on the roster were picked among first 9 in their drafts.

They could theoretically form this line with Matthews - McDavid - MacKinnon - Murray - Ekblad, feauturing four players that were selected as the #1, and one players that was selected as #2.

 

[BigWilly]

...

And finally you have Matthews who did not even play a single professional game, but gets taken (LOL).

I would definitely take Galchenyuk over these last 6 players. And also Galchenyuk is versatile, he can play left wing, center, or even right wing (He played most of his games in the nhl on the left, he is a natural center and plays best there, and he scored most of his goals on the right).

He's played 40.
He's a better player than Galchenyuk curently.

Matthews generational talent... Okay his projection is top 10-20 Centre in NHL and atm he is maybe average 2-3rd liner. I wouldnt trade him if only for this autumn's World Cup even for Jori Lehterä or Erik Haula.

You are horribly misinformed.