This is my final selection for the North American U24 Team, before the first roster is officially named:
First line
BRANDON SAAD - CONNOR MCDAVID - NATHAN MACKINNON
If they find chemistry together, look out. What I find the most promising here is that all of them are both good passers and good scorers, and none of them is shy of being a bit more physical. If this line works up to its potential, it will help the team extremely. MacKinon complements McDavid's speed and skills nicely, while Saad adds the needed experience and also solid defense.
Second line
JOHNNY GAUDREAU - SEAN MONAHAN - JACK EICHEL
If your team has a player that is currently #7 in NHL scoring in its second line, it's a good sign. The Flames' duo should provide some experience and instant chemistry, which will help a bit of an un-experienced, but very talented, player like Jack Eichel who fits here well as a RW.
Third line
AUSTON MATTHEWS - RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS - MARK SCHEIFELE
As an 18 year old playing with big boys, Matthews' 1.24 ppg (24g, 42pts in 35gms) is 2nd best in the elite Swiss league, only behind a well known former NHLer P-M. Bouchard. Auston Matthews is a generational talent and to not even consider him for this team is not that far from being as laughable as it would've been with McDavid a year ago. It will be interesting to see what he can do with the US team at the senior world championship in Moscow this May.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mark Scheifele give this primarily two-way line some defensiveness and experience (RNH is playing his 5th NHL season now). Matthews could potentially add TOP skill that would make this line that much more interesting.
Somehow "sheltering" Matthews in this third line seems the best thing for him if he's gonna make the team.
Fourt line
BOONE JENNER - SEAN COUTURIER - JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU
A pure shut-down line with energy, physicality, defensive effort, and players that can kill penalties. Pageau is the leader in shorthanded goals and by far the most used penalty-killer/forward in Ottawa. You won't find any other player in the NHL, available for this team, that is used by his team so much for this type of situation, besides maybe Bo Horvat in Vancouver. Jenner scored 22 goals so far this season, which is quite good, considering that players like Tarasenko, Stamkos, Crosby, Pavelski, or Duchene have 25-30. Couturier is a must. He proved himself in a shut-down role for Team Canada at the last year's golden WHC. His line did an awesome job when facing some Russian super-stars in the gold-medal game.
Defense
MORGAN RIELLY - AARON EKBLAD
An argument could be made that Ekblad is already an elite defenceman, or at least, near-elite. His exceptionally advanced game for a 19 year old will help this team big time. Morgan Rielly provides great puck movement and supporting cast for forwards.
RYAN MURRAY - SETH JONES
Both play more than 22 minutes per game and now they're together in Columbus. A good, balanced overall pair that should be solid at both ends.
COLTON PARAYKO - DOUGIE HAMILTON
Again, good overall pair that should complement each other well. I hope we see something more from Parayko in the playoffs, it would certainly give him, and therefore even this team, a good experience. Nothing is given here though. There is a lot of other options and one or both of them can easily be relegated to the 7th spot, or even out of the team.
Goaltenders
JOHN GIBSON - CONNOR HELLEBUYCK
What was a weak spot for this team has suddenly improved. John Gibson has the best statistics of all Ducks goalies (.917Sv%, 2.10 GAA, also 4 shutouts), while Anaheim has been spreading the time mainly among him (26 games), and Andersen (32). The perfect scenario would be Gibson somehow getting the nod when the playoffs starts. Hellebuyck has the most starts (26) of the three goalies that have played for the Jets this season with a .918Sv% and 2.34 GAA and 2 shutouts. Among Western Conference goalies that have played 20+ games, Hellebuyck is 5th in Sv%, Gibson 8th (from 22 goalies). With the same measures, Gibson is the best in the Western Conference in GAA, and third best in the NHL. Hellebuyck also provides some international experience - see Wikipedia:
Extra skaters
SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE - D
His offensive production can't be denied. He should make the team at least as a power-play expert. The sample-size here is nothing big though. It would help to see him play for the States at the World Championships.
DYLAN LARKIN - LW/C
There are always some tough decisions to be made when projecting such a talented team with many deserving players. I think, that out of all the young forwards in the NHL, including Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Sam Bennett, or Sam Reinhart; Dylan Larkin is the one who deserves to be on this team probably the most, and I also think that at least one of them should definitely be on the team. Larkin is the best to me right now and that's why I picked him. He can play in the 3rd line with Nugent-Hopkins. He adds speed and the young, hungry spirit.
MATT MURRAY - G
Last season, Murray had .941Sv% and 1.58 GAA with 12 shutouts in 40 games in the AHL. This season it's not much worse. With 2.11 GAA and .931Sv% he's second in the AHL in both categories.
Just missed:
JACOB TROUBA, CODY CECI, DARNELL NURSE, MATT DUMBA - ALEX GALCHENYUK, JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, MAX DOMI, SAM BENNETT, VINCENT TROCHECK, BO HORVAT, SAM REINHART
It's pretty clear to see that Huberdeau, the second leading scorer among the Panthers, Max Domi, the leading scorer of the Arizona Coyotes, and Galchenyuk, who had 26 points in first 39 games for Montreal, are the biggest omission. From various reasons, I chose basically Larkin over Huberdeau, Scheifele over Galchenyuk, and Matthews over Domi, but I can see the experience or current play weigh in and lean towards Huberdeau and Galchenyuk, or Domi. It's tough to make a team that has all the stuff needed for a win. Unfortunately, there is no room for all the mentioned forwards, and you can't just pick the 12 most skilled ones. But, let that speak for how strong this team will be.
In terms of defensemen, I find all of the mentioned above somewhat close to make the team. Trouba is experienced and kills penalties a lot in Winnipeg; Nurse adds some physicality, Ceci plays regularly the PK in Ottawa and deserves a look, and Dumba is getting really good in Minnesotta. If I had to guess, I would think that Ceci and Trouba are the closest of them to make the team.
My appreciation to everyone who read at least a part of this
