World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team North America

[krt88]

We'll see how McDavid and Eichel do after their first season. I'm not sure if 18 year olds will be as mature as kids 5 years older than them.

People I'd add to your team: Forsberg, Landeskog (who will still be 23 in september next year)

The NHL is going to want to use this tournament to promote their up and coming young stars. Guys like McDavid and Eickel will be given priority chances along with the other high 2013-2015 draft picks. Sam Reinhart is another name who'll get considered because again, promote the game. Reinhart along with the others might not be physically ready.

I do not like the rule that if you are 23 and under you must play on this team and not team Canada or Team USA but it's there tournament.

I do not think this under 23 team will have any illusions about winning.

 

[The Legend]

The biggest issue for me is - as a Canadian - who do I cheer for? And if I am unsure on who to cheer for - as many are I'm sure - it will make me lukewarm overall to the tournament.

 

[cagney]

Yeah those teams are really hurting for talent. And they probably would keep the kids off because of their age.

You're kidding yourself if you don't think some of those U23 players could be difference makers for their true national teams. Canada can probably handle it better with their depth but this could sink the tournament for the US team.

Having Canadians and Americans on the same team cheapens the growing hockey rivalry between the two nations. There should be zero motivation for the fans to root for this team or for the players to compete on it. It's an affront to the concept of international sports and I hope it ends up being a failure on every level.

The NHL and NHLPA execs should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Ralphy*]

I for one am very interested in the idea of the North American U23 team playing in this tournament. They would be a great underdog against the US and Canada for obvious reasons, so it would be really cool to see them win.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

We'll see how McDavid and Eichel do after their first season. I'm not sure if 18 year olds will be as mature as kids 5 years older than them.

People I'd add to your team: Forsberg, Landeskog (who will still be 23 in september next year)

Uhh, They are European? Right?

 

[cagney]

I for one am very interested in the idea of the North American U23 team playing in this tournament. They would be a great underdog against the US and Canada for obvious reasons, so it would be really cool to see them win.

Why not just invite the Swiss if that's what you're looking for? You can root for them if you like an underdog and it maintains the integrity of the international game.

This is basically like taking all the U23 players from the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins and putting them on a team together to play against their club teams. Who would be happy to see that? The players would be indifferent at best and the fans would hate it.

 

[penguins2946*]

A lot of teams are lacking Saad on these rosters. He's eligible for this team, he's 23 on the cutoff day.

 

[Canuckistani]

Yeah those teams are really hurting for talent. And they probably would keep the kids off because of their age.

In Vancouver Crosby, Toews and Doughty would all have been on the U-23 kiddie team had these stupid new rules been in affect.

 

[Canuckistani]

What U-23 players would actually have a chance at making team Canada or USA if Bettman and company hadn't ruined the tournament?

MacKinnon for Canada, obviously. Galchenyuk and Jones for USA.

Who else?

 

[SenzZen]

Something tells me people would be complaining that there wasn't a couple of gimmicky teams if they'd named Slovakia and Switzerland as part of the tournament.

Olli Maatta

Interesting...

 

[cagney]

What U-23 players would actually have a chance at making team Canada or USA if Bettman and company hadn't ruined the tournament?

MacKinnon for Canada, obviously. Galchenyuk and Jones for USA.

Who else?

For the US it could be Saad, Gaudreau, Trouba, Gibson and Jack Eichel.

 

[Easton Modano Curve]

A lot of teams are lacking Saad on these rosters. He's eligible for this team, he's 23 on the cutoff day.

Honestly depends what they're looking for. This U23 team honestly seems like a sideshow to show off super skilled young guys. They can field 4 lines of guys who can flash some nice hands in the offensive zone and let the opposing superstars light them up with highlight goals on the defensive end. Would look cool for the highlights. If the U23s are actually interested in competing Saad would definitely be on the team. One of the most physically mature forwards on any of the lists posted.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Honestly depends what they're looking for. This U23 team honestly seems like a sideshow to show off super skilled young guys. They can field 4 lines of guys who can flash some nice hands in the offensive zone and let the opposing superstars light them up with highlight goals on the defensive end. Would look cool for the highlights. If the U23s are actually interested in competing Saad would definitely be on the team. One of the most physically mature forwards on any of the lists posted.

Saad would/will be on the roster regardless.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Not going to propose a roster. I'm just going to mock and ridicule this contrived concept for a year and a half until puck drop; at which time I'll completely ignore the whole sad affair.

 

[PecnoTrunk]

If you can be 23, Jaden Schwartz will certainly be on the team. If it's only under 23, he'd be too old at that point.

You are correct about Jaden Schwartz, he will be 23 in 2015...24 in 2016

Huberdeau will be 23 in June of 2016

Since this is a 23 AND under, Huberdeau will be available...

Saad birthday is October and will be 23 in September 2016 (he will turn 24 in October 2016)

Johansen is 22 now...no way he plays on the U23

They need to be 23 on September 1 2016

 

[Panteras]

so which IIHF federation controls this u23 team? what if they call me and I say "screw you" I don't want to participate?

similarly who controls the pan European team? this idea is so stupid

 

[Karlsson2Turris*]

Any chance Stone/Ceci make it?

 

[Crosbyfan]

Hypothetical

U23 playing US or Canada in the preliminary round. U23 will not make the next round. The team they are playing must win to advance, but if they advance the other North American Team will not.

How motivated or divided is the U23 team as to pulling an upset?

 

[usahockey22flyers]

As an American, I wouldn't want to play against the crest if I were any of these U23 kids... I wonder if players will decline

 

[Canuckistani]

U23 playing US or Canada in the preliminary round. U23 will not make the next round. The team they are playing must win to advance, but if they advance the other North American Team will not.

How motivated or divided is the U23 team as to pulling an upset?

If the NHL has any decency left they'll put the U-23 joke team in with real European teams in one pool, and the Euro joke team in with Canada, USA and Russia in the other pool.

But if the U-23s find themselves playing Canada or USA I can't see them playing hard. No Canadian or US player wants to have "eliminated own country" on his hockey resume.

Bloody ridiculous that the NHL is even putting them in this position.

 

[BlueBratislava]

so which IIHF federation controls this u23 team? what if they call me and I say "screw you" I don't want to participate?

similarly who controls the pan European team? this idea is so stupid

This exactly is the discussion amongst Slovak hockey fans I know. If they went for this extremely stupid format, they should have set the rules in the beginning to make it clear. The NA U23 team I can imagine somehow, at least it's only 2 countries. But team Europe? Forget it, you're talking about at least 8 countries, how will you pick players and coaches? Also with coaches you have another problem, a good amount of European national team coaches are not that great with English and they speak in the locker room in their native languages obviously. I mean there were occasions when foreigners, mostly Canadians, had the job, but how will it work when reversed? And if they do online voting I am skeptical again, because you can have a thing like with Girgensons this year (he is good, but is he objectively all star good?)...theoretically: next year there can be some borderline AHL/NHL player from some non-hockey country and the entire country would vote for him which would result in having a player like Chara, Hossa, Streit or Zuccareloo not getting a spot which he deserves by performance. Again this team Europe idea is stupid in theorey and even more stupid in execution.

 

[cagney]

so which IIHF federation controls this u23 team? what if they call me and I say "screw you" I don't want to participate?

similarly who controls the pan European team? this idea is so stupid

It seems USA Hockey and Hockey Canada will be expected to collaborate on the Yungstarzzzâ„¢ roster. The leftover team will be picked/managed by "NHL alumni" from the various nations that h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶w̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ will comprise the team.

I think they should just leave it up to online voting from the fans.

U23 playing US or Canada in the preliminary round. U23 will not make the next round. The team they are playing must win to advance, but if they advance the other North American Team will not.

How motivated or divided is the U23 team as to pulling an upset?

From what I've seen, they'll probably put the US and Canada in the same group with the Yungstarzzzâ„¢ in the other. I'm sure that pride will win out in the end and the kids will just spend the whole game scoring on their own net if they have to face their national team in the playoff round.

As an American, I wouldn't want to play against the crest if I were any of these U23 kids... I wonder if players will decline

I would love it if the entire team that's picked simply doesn't show up on game night. Send Bettman/Collins/Daly out on the ice to explain the situation to the fans.

 

[Big Phil]

You're giving the swelled-head suits at NHL HQ too much credit. Golden Boy John Collins, whose idea this is, is believed to only have to snap his fingers and the money will flow. And their own polling suggests 80-90% of fans view this as the best of whatever other cockamamie idea(s) they floated out there in their "marketing".

I'd be shocked if the NHL changed course on this midstream. The only thing NHL executives have more of than stupidity? Arrogance.

Yeah, but the NHL does check message boards. And from what I see there are 80-90% of fans that think this is the worst idea since New Coke. They'll scrap it. I can't see even Bettman and Co. being this dumb.

I for one am very interested in the idea of the North American U23 team playing in this tournament. They would be a great underdog against the US and Canada for obvious reasons, so it would be really cool to see them win.

Great. Have it for a gimmick at the all-star game. This is real hockey against real countries. Our history in international hockey is rich. Lots of great moments there, do you know why? Each country wanted to win against the other. Not anymore. Thanks Gary. And thanks Donald Fehr. Who knew being the guy responsible for floods of work stoppages in baseball would be such a hockey expert.

Something tells me people would be complaining that there wasn't a couple of gimmicky teams if they'd named Slovakia and Switzerland as part of the tournament.

In the 12 years I have been on these boards I have never, ever, ever, ever, heard one person say "Gee, I wonder what a Canada Jr. team would look like?" Never. Nor did anyone say Slovakia was just a gimmick. You know, Slovakia gave us quite the scare in 2010 coming a goal away from beating us in the semis. Now they aren't good enough?

 

[JackSlater]

It's an atrocious idea, and I hope eligible players weigh in on not wanting to play against their own country.

 

[Pandaman11]

Only thing I look forward from this team is McDavid and Eichel playing together.

I couldn't agree more. But...

The talent is there to compete but perhaps not the experience? And of course it a gimmick team, how much will they care?

...more than anything it's a money team. Promoting McDavid & Eichel.


Also, I think it's moronic that U23 player are not allowed to play for the "adult" teams. This entire tournament is moronic.