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

[Sens of Anarchy]

gaudreau-scheifele-mackinnon
larkin-mcdavid-matthews
drouin-RNH-eichel
saad-couturier-trochek

rielly-ekblad
murray-jones
trouba-parayko

I like these too. Switch RNH with Scheifele would be oktoo.

 

[CanadianPantherFan]

I like the looks of that.

Top-6 is full-blown offense, and the Bottom-6 can cycle and handle defensive responsibilities, while remaining potent offensively.

You are against Tro in lineup in EVERY post. He'll be in the lineup more games than not, you'll see.

 

[Irishguy42]

You are against Tro in lineup in EVERY post. He'll be in the lineup more games than not, you'll see.

The difference between Tro/JT is small enough to make no difference on who is in and who is in the press box. Especially if they're just being used on the fourth line and not being sheltered with OZone starts.

I was more talking about the makeup of the lines as a whole. But okay, make my post into one with an agenda.

 

[MardyBum]

Any word on a lineup for todays game?

 

[td_ice]

Preview on nhl.com said McDavid likely to have MacKinnon and Drouin as linemates.

 

[stokes84]

Kind of think he needs to stop messing with the lines. These are players with unique skill sets that need to figure out how to play with each other. Sometimes, because they think the game differently, they can take time to gel.

 

[Scotty B]

Preview on nhl.com said McDavid likely to have MacKinnon and Drouin as linemates.

Doomed to failure/ dumb. Both MacD and Druoin need the puck on their stick. Put those Mooseheads back with RNH where they belong...

Give McD a guy who's good in the greasy areas, that can help create time and space for him, plus with a good one timer...

Druoin and MacD together...Pluhhhh...leeeeeeeezzzz???? Both will be trying to one up/ out dipsy do the other...Druoin looked great with the puck on his stick last game....but here his talents will be superfluous... McD was already turn over prone last game....Druoin may catch the same disease

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

Doomed to failure/ dumb. Both MacD and Druoin need the puck on their stick. Put those Mooseheads back with RNH where they belong...

Give McD a guy who's good in the greasy areas, that can help create time and space for him, plus with a good one timer...

Druoin and MacD together...Pluhhhh...leeeeeeeezzzz???? Both will be trying to one up/ out dipsy do the other...Druoin looked great with the puck on his stick last game....but here his talents will be superfluous... McD was already turn over prone last game....Druoin may catch the same disease

its Drouin btw

 

[Scotty B]

its Drouin btw

Yeah yeah I know...probably spelled it RITE in previous posts...sometimes my typing fingers have a will of they're there their won....own

 

[Draw Me a McElephant]

Doomed to failure/ dumb. Both MacD and Druoin need the puck on their stick. Put those Mooseheads back with RNH where they belong...

Give McD a guy who's good in the greasy areas, that can help create time and space for him, plus with a good one timer...

Druoin and MacD together...Pluhhhh...leeeeeeeezzzz???? Both will be trying to one up/ out dipsy do the other...Druoin looked great with the puck on his stick last game....but here his talents will be superfluous... McD was already turn over prone last game....Druoin may catch the same disease

Agreed 100%. With these lines I fully expect a weak game from McDavid and everyone will freak out.

As an Oiler fan it is scaring me that McLellan doesn't seem to get what type of player McDavid meshes best with. He played his worst hockey last year when paired with Hall, he had no chemistry with Duchene at the WHC, he didn't look good with Gaudreau and Eichel, but he absolutely tore it up with guys like Maroon and Pouliot. He needs to play with guys who can help him in the corners, get to the net, and shoot the puck. You need different skillsets on a line - playing him with Mack and Drouin is just redundant.

Even worse is the fact that he is breaking up the one line that actually has shown chemistry in Drouin-Nuge-Mack

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Agreed 100%. With these lines I fully expect a weak game from McDavid and everyone will freak out.

As an Oiler fan it is scaring me that McLellan doesn't seem to get what type of player McDavid meshes best with. He played his worst hockey last year when paired with Hall, he had no chemistry with Duchene at the WHC, he didn't look good with Gaudreau and Eichel, but he absolutely tore it up with guys like Maroon and Pouliot. He needs to play with guys who can help him in the corners, get to the net, and shoot the puck. You need different skillsets on a line - playing him with Mack and Drouin is just redundant.

Even worse is the fact that he is breaking up the one line that actually has shown chemistry in Drouin-Nuge-Mack

There certainly seems to be some impetus to try to get line mates for McDavid so he can succeed / shine... I agree he needs line mates with some speed but he doesn't necessarily need line mates that excel with the puck on their stick like Drouin and Gaudreau. I suggested Larkin on one side. Not sure who would be the winger on the other side. Maybe leave Eichel there. At any rate he should have players that can retrieve the puck, play without the puck, drive the net ...

It's odd that when you watch McDavid look phenomenal on the rush at a million miles an hour and how he can drive the puck into the Ozone that so many plays just seem to fizzle with lost possession or individual effort to get the puck to the net. His speed is incredible and he can go around you but he needs the garbage collectors to be able to drive in for those loose pucks and rebounds.

RNH is good with Drouin and Mack... Leave it ffs.

 

[CanadianPantherFan]

The difference between Tro/JT is small enough to make no difference on who is in and who is in the press box. Especially if they're just being used on the fourth line and not being sheltered with OZone starts.

I was more talking about the makeup of the lines as a whole. But okay, make my post into one with an agenda.

Sheltered Tro taking faceoffs last game (his natural position). Way better option to take Dzone draws over say McDavid. Also Tro PK work will be desperately needed at this point. JT so far has not impressed me.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I have a dentist's appointment. Hope I be back on time.

Who's starting the GDT?

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Agreed 100%. With these lines I fully expect a weak game from McDavid and everyone will freak out.

As an Oiler fan it is scaring me that McLellan doesn't seem to get what type of player McDavid meshes best with. He played his worst hockey last year when paired with Hall, he had no chemistry with Duchene at the WHC, he didn't look good with Gaudreau and Eichel, but he absolutely tore it up with guys like Maroon and Pouliot. He needs to play with guys who can help him in the corners, get to the net, and shoot the puck. You need different skillsets on a line - playing him with Mack and Drouin is just redundant.

Even worse is the fact that he is breaking up the one line that actually has shown chemistry in Drouin-Nuge-Mack

Actually McDavid and Duchene were really good together at the WC. Every Canadian fan out there loved the combination other than Oiler fans because it resulted in McDavid not having the puck the entire shift.

I think adding Mackinnon to McDavid's wing will definitely lead to McDavid's success. McDavid is obviously the best player on this team. Unfortunately I think McDavid will find that success anyway regardless of who he plays with and the break up of RNH/Mack isn't needed.

Here's what I'd like to see.

Drouin RNH Mackinnon
Gaudreau McDavid Trochek
Larkin Scheifele Matthews
Saad Couturier Eichel

 

[ijuka]

I'm very interested in seeing what Team North America is going to be able to accomplish against a much more defensively sound Czechia.

 

[ijuka]

There certainly seems to be some impetus to try to get line mates for McDavid so he can succeed / shine... I agree he needs line mates with some speed but he doesn't necessarily need line mates that excel with the puck on their stick like Drouin and Gaudreau. I suggested Larkin on one side. Not sure who would be the winger on the other side. Maybe leave Eichel there. At any rate he should have players that can retrieve the puck, play without the puck, drive the net ...

Larkin, McDavid, Scheifele was my suggestion.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Larkin, McDavid, Scheifele was my suggestion.

I like it

 

[embracedbias]

anyone know where to find TOI?

 

[Auzzie19]

anyone know where to find TOI?

https://www.wch2016.com/scores-schedule

just go to boxscores for whatever game.

 

[Runner77]

I'm very interested in seeing what Team North America is going to be able to accomplish against a much more defensively sound Czechia.

Lines not optimal for Team NA vs Czech defensive ability, sounds like an overtime result in the making ... but for who?

 

[ijuka]

I like it

It's kind of a limited pool of good choices with McDavid. They really would need someone like Loui Eriksson who enjoys being invisible the entire match until he gets open and then one time snap shots the puck in. Someone who doesn't want the puck on their stick for even a second, with the only time they want to touch the puck being when they one time it in.

Then just a big body who can be physical and brute force in front of the net, it's a great recipe.

Team u-23 NA doesn't have great options overall for McDavid IMO. Were mistakes made with roster selection?

 

[Draw Me a McElephant]

It's odd that when you watch McDavid look phenomenal on the rush at a million miles an hour and how he can drive the puck into the Ozone that so many plays just seem to fizzle with lost possession or individual effort to get the puck to the net. His speed is incredible and he can go around you but he needs the garbage collectors to be able to drive in for those loose pucks and rebounds.

This is definitely something Connor can improve. He is so used to being able to beat the opposition with his speed he tries to go wide too often imo, but against NHL defenders it is very hard to do. He is often able to get a step, but not enough distance to get a great chance so it ends up in a weak shot from the outside. I think he needs to learn to mix it up and instead of always going wide occasionally try to back up the defender and cut to middle or do a quick Gretzky-esque button hook and find an open teammate. It is actually a testament to his skill that he has been able to make "junior moves" work as often as he has, but it is still something he needs to work on.

 

[Redline]

I'd like the following D pairings to remain intact barring injury.

Reilly-Ekblad (easily the best pairing)
Murray-Jones
Gostibehere-Parayko( a little more time together and they will gel nicely)

Can keep shuffling forwards but need to settle the lines soon, like after the next game.

 

[Dbrownss]

It's kind of a limited pool of good choices with McDavid. They really would need someone like Loui Eriksson who enjoys being invisible the entire match until he gets open and then one time snap shots the puck in. Someone who doesn't want the puck on their stick for even a second, with the only time they want to touch the puck being when they one time it in.

Then just a big body who can be physical and brute force in front of the net, it's a great recipe.

Team u-23 NA doesn't have great options overall for McDavid IMO. Were mistakes made with roster selection?

Connor McDavid's friend....Robby Fabbri

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Am I the only person who though Gaudreau and McDavid actually looked really good together? It didn't materialize on the score sheet, but they generated a ton of chances.