World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team North America

[FiLe]

And once again Kopitar isn't going to play in this tournament unless their is a rest of Europe team, most of the young guys aren't playing on the US or Canadian team either.

Time for another newsflash: International competitions just are like that. If one is a top player in a country where the general level of the sport is not very high, then one's chances of making a major tournament is lower than in a country where player of similar level is a peer among his kind.

Similarly, some players may never make it because they're from a country where the level is higher, and are not considered good enough to make it into the best possible setup, at least at the time.

Kopitar's chances of being part of a team in a major tournament are lower than Crosby's, and those of winning one are even lower than that. But he is not alone with that fate, and all people involved in team sports accept the fact. C'est la vie.

And once again no one is taking away the Olympic experience or WHC, although almost 100% of NHL players would rather be playing in the playoffs then in the WHC anyways right?

I'd be far less vocal about my dislike this tournament if there was a way to be certain it nothing but adds to the current hockey landscape and does not detract from it. I mean, if one does not like it, one doesn't have to watch.

But if some of the things we hear are true and it will also make a handy excuse to pull out of the Olympics, then I will not be a happy camper. Let's keep in mind that trusting that won't happen is trusting the same dimwits who came up with this particular idea.

 

[Canuckistani]

1) I'm a bit of a rebel and love rocking the boat

2) I like competitive teams and new things.

What would be your reaction to the NHL playoffs featuring the top six teams in each conference plus four other teams made up of the best under-23s and over-23s from the teams that didn't make it?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I'm amped for this honestly. Love that they're not afraid to try something new. The U 23 team will be a showcase for young players that would otherwise never get the opportunity to play together, like McDavid and Eichel or MacKinnon and Gaudreau.

And for those thinking they'll have nothing to prove, think again. These are extremely competitive young people who want very badly to show the world that they, as a group, can compete with the best in the world.

 

[JackSlater]

I'm leaning towards rooting for the 2 "crazy" teams for 2 good reasons.

1) I'm a bit of a rebel and love rocking the boat

2) I like competitive teams and new things.

This is just laughable. Real rebellious to take the (incredibly idiotic) position the NHL uses to justify its gimmicks. It's always rocking the boat to buy completely into the opinions of the tournament organizer. I would also think that liking competitive teams would preclude you from supporting two teams that have no chance to win the tournament, but that's logic speaking as opposed to boat rocking. There is no reason to think that the two gimmick teams will be competitive. They still lack the talent of the top teams, and they do not have the cohesion between players or between players and the system that the weaker teams tend to have.

I'm amped for this honestly. Love that they're not afraid to try something new. The U 23 team will be a showcase for young players that would otherwise never get the opportunity to play together, like McDavid and Eichel or MacKinnon and Gaudreau.

And for those thinking they'll have nothing to prove, think again. These are extremely competitive young people who want very badly to show the world that they, as a group, can compete with the best in the world.

They can show everyone that they can compete in the NHL, where they already play the bet in the world. If they're in the NHL and pretty successful, any reasonable person already knows they can "compete". I highly doubt that they want to show the world that they as a group of players joined together by a random age and belonging to different countries can compete with their very own countries. That's idiotic.

 

[Hardyvan123]

What would be your reaction to the NHL playoffs featuring the top six teams in each conference plus four other teams made up of the best under-23s and over-23s from the teams that didn't make it?

Really? That reaching pretty low in the hypothetical and "are they even comparable" realm.

This is an exhibition tournament and the U23 and rest of Europe team is a one off.

If you really want to compare that to an established league that's fine but I'm not going down that ridiculous road with you.

 

[Hardyvan123]

This is just laughable. Real rebellious to take the (incredibly idiotic) position the NHL uses to justify its gimmicks. It's always rocking the boat to buy completely into the opinions of the tournament organizer. I would also think that liking competitive teams would preclude you from supporting two teams that have no chance to win the tournament, but that's logic speaking as opposed to boat rocking. There is no reason to think that the two gimmick teams will be competitive. They still lack the talent of the top teams, and they do not have the cohesion between players or between players and the system that the weaker teams tend to have.

aside from the Canda, who is in a clear tier of their own here, and Sweden, the next best team in the tournament is really wide open.

Perhaps if you get past your bias and look at the teams with an open mind you will have to concede that U23 and "rest of Europe" are at least on par with the Czech and Finnish teams, if not better.

They can show everyone that they can compete in the NHL, where they already play the bet in the world. If they're in the NHL and pretty successful, any reasonable person already knows they can "compete". I highly doubt that they want to show the world that they as a group of players joined together by a random age and belonging to different countries can compete with their very own countries. That's idiotic.

You might think it's idiotic but the reality is that hockey for the longest time had a world championship without the best players in the world in it , and heck it goes on even now.

Each tournament and even league is different but instead of embracing diversity you are focusing on a one time event (the U23 and rest of Europe) and the reality is that the world cup is much more definitive of the best on best than the WHC ever have been.

Does that make the WHC wrong or irrelevant..no, it just makes it different.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Of all players eligible to make this roster, John Gaudreau had the most points in the NHL! what a bust.
Second was Sean Monahan with 62!!!
Next was Hopkins with 56.

First in defencemen scoring... Dougie Hamilton..

Damn it feels good to be a Flames fan.

 

[leafsfuture]

This team could surprise people.

There will be electrifying offensive talent and A LOT of speed. Then defensively you will have RNH, Couturier and Saad, who as older guys will insulate the McDavid's Mackinnons and Eichels from the bigger stronger NHLers.

They arent beating Canada or the USA, but they could beat a Czech, Finland or even a Sweden

 

[Canuckistani]

Really? That reaching pretty low in the hypothetical and "are they even comparable" realm.

It's the exact same idea only applied to the NHL playoffs, so how is the comparison far-fetched?

You would no doubt regard that as a horrible act of sabotage against the credibility of the NHL playoffs yet you have no problem with the same asinine format being used to turn the world cup into a laughing stock.

This is an exhibition tournament and the U23 and rest of Europe team is a one off.

According to the NHL it isn't an exhibition. This is supposed to be a "best-on-best" event which the league hopes will replace NHL participation at the Olympics, if it can only get enough people like you to sign on.

And why would such a great idea be a one off? It's almost as if the NHL is knowingly feeding us insulting garbage and thus feels the need to assure us that it won't be repeated. Strange behavior considering how "intriguing" and "exciting" this crap is supposed to be.

 

[Hardyvan123]

It's the exact same idea only applied to the NHL playoffs, so how is the comparison far-fetched?

You would no doubt regard that as a horrible act of sabotage against the credibility of the NHL playoffs yet you have no problem with the same asinine format being used to turn the world cup into a laughing stock.

really it was a poor question and comp by you, you need to get over it already.

the NHL playoffs already weed out the weaker teams and it's a team tournament with a history (quite long and consistent) since it was a SC challenge in the pre NHL days.

According to the NHL it isn't an exhibition. This is supposed to be a "best-on-best" event which the league hopes will replace NHL participation at the Olympics, if it can only get enough people like you to sign on.

And why would such a great idea be a one off? It's almost as if the NHL is knowingly feeding us insulting garbage and thus feels the need to assure us that it won't be repeated. Strange behavior considering how "intriguing" and "exciting" this crap is supposed to be.

It's still an exhibition ,not league play or an internationally sanctioned event (as far as I know).

And frankly I don't think that having the 7th or 8th best teams in the world by a qualifier is going to make for a better or more competitive tournament in 2020.

That being said I think the US will be able to challenge Canada and that will make for a more interesting tournament in 2020.

but no one is going to be saying, wow the Swiss and Slovaks are so much better than those U23 and "rest of Europe teams from the last tournament.

 

[Canuckistani]

really it was a poor question and comp by you, you need to get over it already.

It's the exact same idea applied to another event. Telling that you suddenly find it so absurd. So apparently your common sense is still in working order after all.

the NHL playoffs already weed out the weaker teams

Clearly they don't or else the #8 seed would have won more than one stanley cup (2012) in the past 20+ years.

So why do we have the lower seeds in the NHL playoffs? Replacing them with two amalgamated squads would clearly make for more competitive hockey if you to be believed.

Or does the idea of non-NHL teams in the NHL playoffs strike you as being a little crazy? Sort of like non-national teams in an international event...

 

[Hardyvan123]

It's the exact same idea applied to another event. Telling that you suddenly find it so absurd. So apparently your common sense is still in working order after all.

No the NHL playoffs isn't another event it an established league set up with teams and owners (which make revenue from home playoff dates).

It's a silly comp plain and simple.

Clearly they don't or else the #8 seed would have won more than one stanley cup (2012) in the past 20+ years.

So why do we have the lower seeds in the NHL playoffs? Replacing them with two amalgamated squads would clearly make for more competitive hockey if you to be believed.

Actually lower seeds make the semi finals more often than teams outside of the top 6 (in international tournaments) ever do.

Even if your example one team ahs won a SC in the last 20 outings.

The 7th and 8th place teams, Slovaks and Swiss for arguments sake have never won a "best on best" tournament for what it is worth.

Or does the idea of non-NHL teams in the NHL playoffs strike you as being a little crazy? Sort of like non-national teams in an international event...

The tournament is being played in a single city with the revenue being split by the NHL and the NHLPA, in your NHL playoff example the non traditional teams are going to play where exactly?

When you actually sit down and think about it the comp doesn't work, no matter how much you might wish it weren't so.

 

[Canuckistani]

The tournament is being played in a single city with the revenue being split by the NHL and the NHLPA, in your NHL playoff example the non traditional teams are going to play where exactly?

And in the "world cup" the Kiddie Squad and Leftovers will represent who exactly?

 

[Hardyvan123]

And in the "world cup" the Kiddie Squad and Leftovers will represent who exactly?

that's kind of my point, the 8 teams are being made for the tournament but since it is different from say the WHC or Olympics in the composition of the last 2 teams, ie teams outside of the "big 6" you are jumping up and down for exactly what reason again?

To be literal the NA U23 team is being made up of the best NA players under the age criteria as per the management of that team.

Rest of Europe team same principle.

Look if the Swiss, Slovaks or heck even Germans of Chinese ice hockey federations are upset post it up on the locker room wall and build from it.

 

[Canuckistani]

that's kind of my point, the 8 teams are being made for the tournament but since it is different from say the WHC or Olympics in the composition of the last 2 teams, ie teams outside of the "big 6" you are jumping up and down for exactly what reason again?

Because the NHL claims this is an "international tournament" (which it isn't) and that it might replace the NHL Olympics (which it mustn't). That's why.

If we were still going to have a legitimate best-on-best event then I wouldn't care if the NHL put a pee-wee team on the ice for their pathetic "world cup." The fact that the NHL wants this abomination to replace the Olympics is what has me and most other fans so horrified.

 

[JackSlater]

aside from the Canda, who is in a clear tier of their own here, and Sweden, the next best team in the tournament is really wide open.

Perhaps if you get past your bias and look at the teams with an open mind you will have to concede that U23 and "rest of Europe" are at least on par with the Czech and Finnish teams, if not better.

USA is clearly significantly better, and Russia is better even without quality defencemen. Those teams likely have more talent than the Finns and Czechs, but as has already been explained multiple times they lack motivation, cohesion or a system, which is the key to Finn and Czech success.

You might think it's idiotic but the reality is that hockey for the longest time had a world championship without the best players in the world in it , and heck it goes on even now.

Each tournament and even league is different but instead of embracing diversity you are focusing on a one time event (the U23 and rest of Europe) and the reality is that the world cup is much more definitive of the best on best than the WHC ever have been.

Does that make the WHC wrong or irrelevant..no, it just makes it different.

What does the WHC have to do with this? That tournament is largely irrelevant and isn't close to a best on best. I already explained what the problem is, and it isn't that the best players are missing. It's that the change is idiotic.

It isn't diversity to put two non-national teams against national teams - it's stupid. Why not a team of all the players whose names start with M? Why not a team of players who are all 6 feet tall? Team left handed? Team Catholic? Change can be good, but idiotic change is clearly bad. This is an idiotic change.

really it was a poor question and comp by you, you need to get over it already.

the NHL playoffs already weed out the weaker teams and it's a team tournament with a history (quite long and consistent) since it was a SC challenge in the pre NHL days.

The Canada/World Cup is the first best on best tournament, and will be 40 years old in 2016. The weakest teams have always been weeded out since they limited the number of teams to 8. The comparison to the NHL allowing eliminated players to form an all star team and compete in the playoffs is appropriate, and if you can see why one is ridiculous you can understand why the other is as well.

 

[SB164]

Is Brendan Gallagher eligible for the U23 team?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I really want to see this line, just to see the speed:
MacKinnon - Eichel - McDavid
Could you imagine defending that line? The speed and skill oh my . . .


But really, I'd like to see a forward group that's not afraid to take a few younger guys. The 2011 and 2012 drafts weren't great for forwards . .

Gaudreau - Monahan - McDavid
MacKinnon - Eichel - Drouin
Galchenyuk - RNH - Saad
Bennett - Couturier - Huberdeau
Marner

Keeps chemistry from Gaudreau / Monahan and MacKinnon / Drouin, and they each get one of the top 2 from 2015.

 

[leafsfuture]

I really want to see this line, just to see the speed:
MacKinnon - Eichel - McDavid
Could you imagine defending that line? The speed and skill oh my . . .


But really, I'd like to see a forward group that's not afraid to take a few younger guys. The 2011 and 2012 drafts weren't great for forwards . .

Gaudreau - Monahan - McDavid
MacKinnon - Eichel - Drouin
Galchenyuk - RNH - Saad
Bennett - Couturier - Huberdeau
Marner

Keeps chemistry from Gaudreau / Monahan and MacKinnon / Drouin, and they each get one of the top 2 from 2015.

Your lineup isnt bad, but ultimately you cannot discount NHL experience.

For example, Ryan Strome HAS to be on this team. He has the experience, and the skill to be effective. I would take Strome before I take Drouin or Bennett or Marner. Also as a leaf fan, Marner has no place on this team.

Drouin obviously has amazing skill, but based on what I saw late last year, he isnt near ready for this level of high speed hockey. Now he could make big strides this year, I wouldnt bet against that, but I think its a bit early for him

In short I would replace Drouin and Marner with Strome & Schiefele.

 

[HabsQC]

They should give them Carey Price to make it even

 

[Hardyvan123]

Your lineup isnt bad, but ultimately you cannot discount NHL experience.

For example, Ryan Strome HAS to be on this team. He has the experience, and the skill to be effective. I would take Strome before I take Drouin or Bennett or Marner. Also as a leaf fan, Marner has no place on this team.

Drouin obviously has amazing skill, but based on what I saw late last year, he isnt near ready for this level of high speed hockey. Now he could make big strides this year, I wouldnt bet against that, but I think its a bit early for him

In short I would replace Drouin and Marner with Strome & Schiefele.

I agree and would do the same right now but a year is a very long time in the life of a young NHL player and at least a couple of breakouts are going to occur.

 

[Ainec]

who is that on the guy on the far right? Can recognize everyone except him

looks kinda like Cam Atkinson tbh

pls someone tell me

 

[JackSlater]

who is that on the guy on the far right? Can recognize everyone except him

looks kinda like Cam Atkinson tbh

pls someone tell me

That is David Pastrnak, the representative for the Czechs, R'hllor.

 

[Yarborough]

From the flames I could see

Monahan, Gaudreau and Bennett for forwards

Hamilton, Morrison for defence

Gillies for goalie

But that is just who I could see making it from the flames.

 

[Tomas W]

I think the tournament is a joke too, but a pretty amusing joke. The 'unique' Euro all stars and U23 NA team makes for an interesting situation. Though I dont get why they claim they 'had to' have it like this and piss on the Slovaks and Swiss. Dont give me that **** that there was no time for having them aboard. The NHL WANT to have it like this, and the reason is that they see this as extra all star games.

There is going to be a lot of good hockey still so Im going to watch!