World Cup: 2024 World Cup - rosters

[JackSlater]

Very true.

Plus, I had always been looking forward to McDavid and Crosby both playing on the same team while both were near their primes/peaks. Similar to Gretzky and Lemieux in 1987.

We will never get that though, since Crosby will be 37.5 years old by the time February 2025 comes.

Crosby and McDavid should have first played together when Crosby was 29 and McDavid was 19. At best McDavid will be 28 now. But at least McDavid got to play with.... Eichel, and didn't miss out on those memorable NHL games from February 2018.

 

[jcs0218]

Crosby and McDavid should have first played together when Crosby was 29 and McDavid was 19. At best McDavid will be 28 now. But at least McDavid got to play with.... Eichel, and didn't miss out on those memorable NHL games from February 2018.

The "Under 23 North American team" was one of the dumbest things I have ever seen in hockey.

So gimmicky!

You had Canadian players and American players not playing for their home nation, and instead were playing on some arbitrary fake team.

 

[Jumptheshark]

The "Under 23 North American team" was one of the dumbest things I have ever seen in hockey.

So gimmicky!

You had Canadian players and American players not playing for their home nation, and instead were playing on some arbitrary fake team.

It showed how stupid the NHL and NHLPA are

They do not understand how much money they lost by not having either Germany or the Swiss at the other games.

 

[jcs0218]

It showed how stupid the NHL and NHLPA are

They do not understand how much money they lost by not having either Germany or the Swiss at the other games.

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic, since I don't think excluding Germany and Switzerland cost them any money.

But it isn't about money. Or at least it shouldn't be. It is about having a true best-on-best tournament that has integrity.

Imagine if soccer/football did the same stupid thing with their World Cup that hockey did with its World Cup?

Imagine a "23-and-Under Team Europe" for the soccer/football World Cup, in which you had one of the best players in the world Kylian Mbappe playing for that fake gimmick team rather than playing for France where he belongs.

That would never happen, because the soccer/football World Cup tries to maintain integrity as a true best-on-best.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic, since I don't think excluding Germany and Switzerland cost them any money.

But it isn't about money. Or at least it shouldn't be. It is about having a true best-on-best tournament that has integrity.

Imagine if soccer/football did the same stupid thing with their World Cup that hockey did with its World Cup?

Imagine a "23-and-Under Team Europe" for the soccer/football World Cup, in which you had one of the best players in the world Kylian Mbappe playing for that fake gimmick team rather than playing for France where he belongs.

That would never happen, because the soccer/football World Cup tries to maintain integrity as a true best-on-best.

yeah it did. I go the worlds every year and from the business side of things, both the swiss and germans business are well represented and so are their fans. German fans barely paid attention the the joke of the last tourny. Actually--Europe in general not care--NHL only cared about how it look in north america and nowhere else

 

[varsaku]

I can't imagine thing return to normal by 2025 for countries to be okay with Russia being in the tournament. I won't be surprised if they either push it further or include gimmick teams.

 

[Czechboy]

But it isn't about money

I feel like it is always about the money.

I get this particular best on best was cancelled, most likely, due to war. But the last one was cancelled due to covid and 6 week waiting periods... I can't think of one Euroleague player that got covid or had to stay in China for 6 weeks. I can't even remember why 2020 World Cup and 2018 Olympic's didn't have NHLers? There is always a reason. Last legit one was 2014 and it's 2023 very soon with no tournament being planned to my knowledge.

A year ago we were all arguing about it being covid. Today we'll be arguing about it being the war. In 2025 we'll have another reason.

The NHL and IIHF just can't seem to get this right and are like an old divorced couple bickering.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Let's see.......

Crosby (C)
McDavid (A)
MacKinnon (A)
Marner
Stamkos
Point
Suzuki
Marchand
Barzal
Stone
Kadri
Vilardi
Tavares

Makar
Byram
Ekblad
Morrisey
Dobson
Theodore
Pietro

Hart
Thompson
Kuemper

Mix and match as you see fit

Owen Power and Connor Bedard will be on the radar I am guessing. Wyatt Johnson maybe too.

 

[jcs0218]

I feel like it is always about the money.

I get this particular best on best was cancelled, most likely, due to war. But the last one was cancelled due to covid and 6 week waiting periods... I can't think of one Euroleague player that got covid or had to stay in China for 6 weeks. I can't even remember why 2020 World Cup and 2018 Olympic's didn't have NHLers? There is always a reason. Last legit one was 2014 and it's 2023 very soon with no tournament being planned to my knowledge.

A year ago we were all arguing about it being covid. Today we'll be arguing about it being the war. In 2025 we'll have another reason.

The NHL and IIHF just can't seem to get this right and are like an old divorced couple bickering.

Truth be told, the last thing the NHL wants is any kind of best-on-best tournament.

They have been fighting NHL players participation in best-on-best tournaments for about 20 years.

If they 100% had their way, then NHL players participating in the Olympics would have ended after the 2002 Olympics.

There is always going to be some excuse that the NHL uses for not staging a best-on-best tournament.

They think people would rather watch random NHL games in February, such as Arizona vs. Columbus or Buffalo vs. Seattle, rather than watch a best-on-best tournament.

* (Nothing against the NHL teams I mentioned; I was just using them to demonstrate what I meant by a random game.) *

 

[JackSlater]

Truth be told, the last thing the NHL wants is any kind of best-on-best tournament.

They have been fighting NHL players participation in best-on-best tournaments for about 20 years.

If they 100% had their way, then NHL players participating in the Olympics would have ended after the 2002 Olympics.

There is always going to be some excuse that the NHL uses for not staging a best-on-best tournament.

They think people would rather watch random NHL games in February, such as Arizona vs. Columbus or Buffalo vs. Seattle, rather than watch a best-on-best tournament.

* (Nothing against the NHL teams I mentioned; I was just using them to demonstrate what I meant by a random game.) *

The NHL's stance is pretty clear. They want to go to the Olympics in North America, not really anywhere else, and they want the World Cup to be a best on best tournament. It just so happens that the NHL is stupid though.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Mcdavid and Mackinnon would destroy that line or any other line in the tournament. lets see the Us win a actual best on best tournament or even make a final before crowing them. Didn't even win a game at the 2016 world cup lol. Evander Kane is not making team Canada

Its an extremely small sample we are talking about here. The top 6 teams are capable of beating each other in the RR for certaiǹ.
If I'm a coach of the US I tell Larkin his job is to shadow McDavid and nothing more.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I 100% agree Canada would still be a heavy favourite but the speed and skill up front for USA will be an extremely tough matchup. I disagree though in that Kane has a decent shot at making TC. 2 years down the road though maybe you’re right.

Oettinger is a lot better than any Canadian goalie and the US D is every bit as good as Canada's. Also its going to be interesting
to watch the development of Thompson and Hughes for center ice depth beyond Matthews -Eichel-Larkin.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

The clear advantage Canada has over other countries is center depth. It's just one stud after the other and if they want to can have certain centers play on the wng with seeming little drop off. A country like the U.S. doesn't have as much depth, but we can ice the likes of:

* Matthews
* Eichel
* Larkin
* Jack Hughes
* Zegras
* Tage Thompson
* J.T. Miller

Again, not as good as Canada but credible. Add in a quality goaltender like Hellebucyk, a strong defense, and an abudance of natural scoring wingers and it's a good team capable of winning gold.

Right now, Thompson is more impactful than Hughes but almost over another NHL season things can change. Regardless a guy like JT Miller and\or Thompson will switch to wing.

 

[Czechboy]

Oettinger is a lot better than any Canadian goalie and the US D is every bit as good as Canada's. Also its going to be interesting
to watch the development of Thompson and Hughes for center ice depth beyond Matthews -Eichel-Larkin.

86 games and .916 is a LOT better than any Canadian goalie?

 

[Czechboy]

Right now, Thompson is more impactful than Hughes but almost over another NHL season things can change. Regardless a guy like JT Miller and\or Thompson will switch to wing.

The American C depth is getting very good. Hughes as a 4C is obscene. Or Thompson going to wing.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

86 games and .916 is a LOT better than any Canadian goalie?

He is a stud and Philly and Washington would trade their goalies for him in a heartbeat.

 

[Czechboy]

He is a stud and Philly and Washington would trade their goalies for him in a heartbeat.

He is awesome.. but I'm not sure he's better than Hellebyuck or Swayman off the top of my head. Spencer Knight too.

Also, NHL trades have cap implications.. no cap in international hockey.

My point isn't to knock Oetinger.. US goalie depth is probably second to Russia.

However, I serioiusly doubt many NHL goalies with less than 100 NHL games have many best on best gold medals.

Eg. I recall after a covid series that Thatcher Demko was the next big thing. Or Alex Nejdelkovic. Both guys I think are awesome.. but their stats this year are not so great.

Or, if you want a Canuck example, how about Carter Hart?

Next great Czech goalie was Mrazek... I'm sure you know how it ends.lol

 

[PecnoTrunk]

Let's see.......

Crosby (C)
McDavid (A)
MacKinnon (A)
Marner
Stamkos
Point
Suzuki
Marchand
Barzal
Stone
Kadri
Vilardi
Tavares

Makar
Byram
Ekblad
Morrisey
Dobson
Theodore
Pietro

Hart
Thompson
Kuemper

Mix and match as you see fit

I think there will be better then pietro

I also think Bedard , Suzuki , I would like to see Dach progression

As defence I see Power , chabot , Reilly maybe even Bouchard and Nurse get a look

I would like to see how Guhl develops in 2 years

 

[Vakarte]

What's the point of having a World Cup when we all know Canada is going to win no matter who they put on their roster?

 

[jonlin]

What's the point of having a World Cup when we all know Canada is going to win no matter who they put on their roster?

And if they dont - "In a best of 7 series, we would win all day long" or "Referees were biased" or "Its only one game" or " Theese games mean nothing and our players were just on vacation" or "Only Stanley Cup matters"

 

[jj cale]

And if they dont - "In a best of 7 series, we would win all day long" or "Referees were biased" or "Its only one game" or " Theese games mean nothing and our players were just on vacation" or "Only Stanley Cup matters"

The usual standard fare with some adjustments depending on which nation fans are from. The tournament being in North America with refs favouring Canada and the U.S will be front and centre from the Euro fans when their teams flame out.


That's just as sure as the sun coming up for the baby fans from El Europa which count in prodigious numbers. Hopefully the mature fans wherever their loyalties reside be it Europe or North America can for once outnumber those that always reside in a crib.

Not counting on it here however, scant chance.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Once again the NHL robbing its fans of a best on best

Going on 10 years now.

Bettman gonna Bettman.

 

[JackSlater]

And if they dont - "In a best of 7 series, we would win all day long" or "Referees were biased" or "Its only one game" or " Theese games mean nothing and our players were just on vacation" or "Only Stanley Cup matters"

Whining about most of that is in play I guess, though not at the best on best level where Canada takes it more seriously than any other country, but crying about referee bias? Ineptitude sure, that's a regular complaint, but Europe is the centre of the hockey world when it comes to crying about referee bias, even if the bias is theoretical and not evident in the game.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Another year pushed out means another year passes without a World Cup which further compounds to this farce and joke of a tournament.

The NHL has certainly done a piss poor job trying to make this a thing. 8 years between the first and second one. 12 years after that for the third. And this future one will be at least 9 years after that. So in almost 30 years, the NHL would have held a whopping four World Cups. Yeah, way to build that brand.

Nuke this stupid idea once and for all since everyone knows there is nothing "world" about it, and is solely a money grab for the league that the last one in the end wasn't even worthwhile for the players (Team Canada players taking home a mere $75K each for being on the winning team).

Don’t forget gimmick teams last time out to invalidate the World Cup as a best on best tournament.

 

[Czechboy]

Whining about most of that is in play I guess, though not at the best on best level where Canada takes it more seriously than any other country, but crying about referee bias? Ineptitude sure, that's a regular complaint, but Europe is the centre of the hockey world when it comes to crying about referee bias, even if the bias is theoretical and not evident in the game.

I will disagree a little...

Bitching about refs is an inherit online fan thing to do.

For PROOF.. without even looking. I see 3 NHL teams lost last night...

Sabres, Hawks and my Oilers

I'm willing to bet if you go to their team section here on HF and find the Game Day Threads for those 3 teams... the last 3 pages will be about the refs not being good.lol

My take has always been that reffing is an impossible job.. if you do a perfect job, nobody says a thing. If you make one mistake, you get lit up. However, I expect every single hockey game from house league to a best on best final to a Stanley Cup final to have people complaining about the refs.lol