World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team North America

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Gaudreau-McDavid-MacKinnon
Saad-Scheifele-Eichel
Huberdeau-Monahan-Larkin
Galchenyuk-Couturier-RNH
Miller

Rielly-Ekblad
Parayko-Jones
Gostisbehere-Hamilton
Murray

Murray
Gibson
Hellebuyck

 

[snipes]

No way can Chia and Bowman keep Matthews off this team.

He's been beasting at the WHC, doesn't look out of place at all. To my eyes he's actually looked like one of the better players at this tournament. Very special talent.

 

[spacemunky]

No way can Chia and Bowman keep Matthews off this team.

He's been beasting at the WHC, doesn't look out of place at all. To my eyes he's actually looked like one of the better players at this tournament. Very special talent.

I hope he makes it.

Would be awesome to see him, McDavid and Eichel on the same team.

 

[snipes]

I hope he makes it.

Would be awesome to see him, McDavid and Eichel on the same team.

I think Matthews will be there when the dust settles.

I'm thinking Eichel-McDavid-Gaudreau as the first line for the Young Gunz.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

No way can Chia and Bowman keep Matthews off this team.

He's been beasting at the WHC, doesn't look out of place at all. To my eyes he's actually looked like one of the better players at this tournament. Very special talent.

So who are you leaving off?

As good as Matthews is, the reality is that if you take Matthews, you are leaving a better player off the team. I'm all for taking Matthews if we didn't have anyone good for that last spot, but there's a situation where even if you don't count Matthews, you will be leaving 1st line NHL players off this team.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Gaudreau-McDavid-MacKinnon
Saad-Scheifele-Eichel
Huberdeau-Monahan-Larkin
Galchenyuk-Couturier-RNH
Miller

Rielly-Ekblad
Parayko-Jones
Gostisbehere-Hamilton
Murray

Murray
Gibson
Hellebuyck

At this point I don't think you can take Huberdeau over Matthews.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Huberdeau's a 59 point winger, first line production. Even if Matthews equals Eichel's production next season, he doesn't reach 59 points. Eichel only had 56 points in his first season.

I know people want to watch Matthews play, but its so hard to project a player to be a first line player before he plays his first NHL game, and thats what he'd have to be for him to make this roster based on being better than the other players.

 

[sportsdynasty]

No way can Chia and Bowman keep Matthews off this team.

He's been beasting at the WHC, doesn't look out of place at all. To my eyes he's actually looked like one of the better players at this tournament. Very special talent.

No way they pick Matthews. Matthews hasn't even played 1 game in nhl. They'd have to leave first line players off the team.

 

[snipes]

No way they pick Matthews. Matthews hasn't even played 1 game in nhl. They'd have to leave first line players off the team.

I am the furthest thing from a Leafs fan or Matthews homer, but it is my opinion based on my observations that Matthews is a better player right now than Huberdeau.

 

[slobbergob]

I am the furthest thing from a Leafs fan or Matthews homer, but it is my opinion based on my observations that Matthews is a better player right now than Huberdeau.

Based on what? You haven't seen Matthews play against NHL competition yet, where Huberdeau has put up over 50 pts the last two seasons.

I'm not arguing either is better than the other but it seems premature to say Matthews is better than Huberdeau before playing a single NHL game.

 

[snipes]

Based on what? You haven't seen Matthews play against NHL competition yet, where Huberdeau has put up over 50 pts the last two seasons.

I'm not arguing either is better than the other but it seems premature to say Matthews is better than Huberdeau before playing a single NHL game.

I just think Matthews is a better player than Huberdeau, more high opinion of Matthews than a shot at Huberdeau.

If you want me to be completely honest, I think Matthews is better than RNH as well. RNH could just as easily be left off this roster as Huberdeau.

Jenner will be there, those other spots will be tough competition for. If I'm forced to make a choice, I want Matthews there. I don't take joy saying it, I hate the Leafs. But, special talent is hard to ignore. Matthews is a special player. He should be on the Young Gunz team.

 

[1Gold Standard]

since this team is nothing more than a contrived marketing gimmick, who the better player is today and more deserving of a roster spot has nothing to do with...Matthews has the marketing hype wind behind his back and most likely gets picked over Huberdeau. If it gets a few more eyeballs tuning in to this preseason exhibition tournament, then that's what they will do.

Once the puck drops on this nonsense I won't waste a second of my time on this contrived preseason exhibition tournament... I'll be watching baseball instead. Go Jays.

 

[sportsdynasty]

I just think Matthews is a better player than Huberdeau, more high opinion of Matthews than a shot at Huberdeau.

If you want me to be completely honest, I think Matthews is better than RNH as well. RNH could just as easily be left off this roster as Huberdeau.

Jenner will be there, those other spots will be tough competition for. If I'm forced to make a choice, I want Matthews there. I don't take joy saying it, I hate the Leafs. But, special talent is hard to ignore. Matthews is a special player. He should be on the Young Gunz team.

RNH does not belong on the team. Neither does Matthews.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I really don't see RNH not making this team. His GM is picking the team. If he leaves him off, I could see it turning into a MSL/Yzerman situation. If RNH is playing for another team before the rest of the team is picked, maybe its not such a problem, otherwise it probably is. Besides, I'll take RNH at 23 over Matthews at 19. He's a better two way player, and has experience playing against these types of players.

 

[snipes]

Who comes out if Jenner and Matthtews are on the team? Here's my forward group. Bolded are already on the team.

Gaudreau-McDavid-MacKinnon
Saad-Scheifele-Eichel
Huberdeau-Monahan-Larkin
Galchenyuk-Couturier-RNH
Miller

Couturier is there already too isn't he?

Probably RNH and Huberdeau. I'm obviously an Oilers fan and I like RNH, but I think Jenner and Matthews help us win more.

 

[snizzbone*]

No way they pick Matthews. Matthews hasn't even played 1 game in nhl. They'd have to leave first line players off the team.

Well the GM of the team said he's being watched very closely. I think he's a lock at this point based on his WC performance.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Couturier is there already too isn't he?

Probably RNH and Huberdeau. I'm obviously an Oilers fan and I like RNH, but I think Jenner and Matthews help us win more.

Damn, that was a quick response, before my edit. I saw your previous comments, so edited to give my opinion on RNH.

You are right about Couturier, missed his name on wikipedia. I really just don't think RNH will be left off this team with Chia picking it.

FWIW, as a Rangers fan, there's no way JT Miller deserves to be on this team after evaluating the options, but I'm not exactly complaining. I don't know how they actually decided he and Couturier deserved to be on the team, initially. At best for them, they should've been considered among the last few selections, not the first ones.

 

[snipes]

^ I just read it now. I don't think Chia should take RNH because he's an Oiler, that would be a mistake for any GM to do.

The thing with Chia is he likes size and guys who can play a heavy game. I think him and Bowman add: Jenner, Matthews, Scheifele, and Galchenyuk up front.

 

[Archangel]

How about USA naming Eichel and Matthews to their main team and Canada naming McDavid and Ekblad? Personally I think the whole thing is a vanity play by the NHL. and they do not realise they have insulted: Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and the other countries that will make up team Europe. In games like these you play for your flag. Is team Europe's flag the flag of the UN?

 

[duul]

since this team is nothing more than a contrived marketing gimmick, who the better player is today and more deserving of a roster spot has nothing to do with...Matthews has the marketing hype wind behind his back and most likely gets picked over Huberdeau. If it gets a few more eyeballs tuning in to this preseason exhibition tournament, then that's what they will do.

Once the puck drops on this nonsense I won't waste a second of my time on this contrived preseason exhibition tournament... I'll be watching baseball instead. Go Jays.

Come on, you'll be watching it. How could you pass up watching McDavid regardless of who it's for or against?

 

[BB88]

At this point I don't think you can take Huberdeau over Matthews.

I was a huge fan of Hubs game this year, he's an easy 1st liner in the NHL with good overall game and thanks to Barkov he was playing against the best,
+has been improving all the time.

I don't know how they could drop Hubs.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Come on, you'll be watching it. How could you pass up watching McDavid regardless of who it's for or against?

Because I am a person of principles. And I am making a principle stand. I will not watch this contrived marketing gimmicky preseason exhibition tournament. Not 1 second of it.

If the NHL drops the gimmicks in 2020 and includes real National Teams. I'm onboard. Until that happens, Go Jays.

Are you willing to buy into Bettman's line of BS that the gimmicks are a one off? That the gimmicky teams are just a result of no time to do qualifiers? LOL. I still laugh at people who buy in to that nonsense...

so lend your eyeballs to this farce...get yourself included in the ratings and watch Gary Bettman trot out those ratings numbers the day after the conclusion of this nonsense and he'll say, "We have a hit ladies and Gentleman. The numbers don't lie. Let's see what other gimmicky teams we can up with for 2020. Oh, and ya, IOC and the IIHF, forget it. We are done with the Olympics".

I don't trust that band of NY City grifters...not for a second. Therefore I won't be included in the ratings numbers.

 

[CanadianPantherFan]

Monahan and Huby together would be close to Barkov , perfect cycle line. But who's the other winger ?? That will be tricky part. Larkin might work or not at all with his play style.

 

[CanadianPantherFan]

I am the furthest thing from a Leafs fan or Matthews homer, but it is my opinion based on my observations that Matthews is a better player right now than Huberdeau.

Huberdeau over last season and half is on par or slightly better than T Hall now. Huberdeau will be top 10-15 assists leader in NHL his vision and puck control has improved that much. Matthews is C. Huby LW ; he should be there on LW and can play on ANY four lines vs best in world. That's how adaptable his game has become. Huby proved me wrong this past season as a doubter of his game. He's no longer a soft to the outside perimeter based player with average skating. His skating, shot, size and puck control improved so much last off season. This kid already is bonafide high end Left winger in NHL today.

 

[snipes]

Huberdeau over last season and half is on par or slightly better than T Hall now. Huberdeau will be top 10-15 assists leader in NHL his vision and puck control has improved that much. Matthews is C. Huby LW ; he should be there on LW and can play on ANY four lines vs best in world. That's how adaptable his game has become. Huby proved me wrong this past season as a doubter of his game. He's no longer a soft to the outside perimeter based player with average skating. His skating, shot, size and puck control improved so much last off season. This kid already is bonafide high end Left winger in NHL today.

Huberdeau is definitely among the final candidates. There's a handful of guys in the running and some good players won't make it.

The only lock is likely Scheifele. Jenner is also a guy I would for sure take, he's tough and can play on the PK.

Then you have 2 spots remaining. Two of Galchenyuk, Huberdeau, RNH, and Matthews won't make the team. Some tough choices ahead, definitely open for debate.