Best World Junior lineup since 2006

[QnebO]

Kind of disingenuous to equate Puljujarvi and Gretzky, considering Gretzky was nearly 2 years younger when he played in his lone World Juniors, and was not eligible for the draft that year. And Laine scored more than Lemieux (7 to 5), but again, Lemieux was a year younger when he did that (he didn't play in his draft-eligible season). I mean the Finns are good, but to stretch facts like this to try and boost them is unnecessary.

I didin't really strect the facts, there was record for underaged players in WJC that I saw. It didin't tell that Gretzky was 16 when he made the record. I would like to check that out, too. Anyway, even with that being so it is impressive.

 

[mayfield7]

The Problem is you can t look in the future! This is the different between 2008 and maybe 2015 or 2016. You don know how good are the players from 2016 in future. But from 2008 you know more ! This is a logical problem.

I mentioned that but if you look historically at this tournament, the 08 team on paper was special. And in this time frame I'm comfortable saying that no other team will produce 5 superstars like: Tavares, Giroux, Stamkos, Doughty and Subban, plus countless other quality NHLers

Everyone seems to be making the case for the 13 U.S. D. And no doubt it's exceptional. But to me comparing them to (my belief) the best D man in the game Doughty, a Norris winner Subban, Alzner and 2 other NHL players is a lofty goal that the 13 U.S. D won't reach. Never mind the difference in forwards.

To me 13 U.S. vs 15 Canada is a decent debate that could go on for years, but I just don't see either matching (on paper) the 08 Canada team.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Puljujärvi, Aho, Laine, Rantanen, Juolevi and Kapanen may be stars in the future.

 

[Lataba76]

Puljujärvi, Aho, Laine, Rantanen, Juolevi and Kapanen may be stars in the future.

Yes a very good future!

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I think it's the U.S team too to be honest and I think it's just as you say,the goaltending puts them over.

Just can't see Fucale outdueling Gibson.


It would be a barn burner gold medal game, but I see that U.S team winning it.

Yea it would be tough to vote against Gibson, especially with that D in front of him.

So many great WJC rosters in the last decade. All time, you have to think the 2004 Canada team is the best. The 2003 draft + lockout year was good to them. That year was just such an awesome tournament overall.

 

[Keke]

I liked USA's 2013 team. It was a very fun team to watch.

Also a homer vote to our most recent team (Finland 2016).

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Absolutely Finland 2016 gold team in home world juniors.
That offence what we had that tournament was something unique.

 

[fredligh]

2012 Sweden. Dominated all games, maybe not on the scoresheet but Time in offensive zone and shot differentials, my god. 2013 Canada was sick on paper with RNH, Drouin, Huberdeau and Scheifele. But didnt convert

 

[fredligh]

Absolutely Finland 2016 gold team in home world juniors.
That offence what we had that tournament was something unique.

Also this!

 

[Beleafer4]

Absolutely Finland 2016 gold team in home world juniors.
That offence what we had that tournament was something unique.

I don't know if I would put 2016 Finland as the second best team since 2004 Canada but I will put Laine-Aho-Puljujarvi as one of the greatest lines of all time. Certainly the most dominant WJC line since I started watching the WJCs 7 years ago.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I don't know if I would put 2016 Finland as the second best team since 2004 Canada but I will put Laine-Aho-Puljujarvi as one of the greatest lines of all time. Certainly the most dominant WJC line since I started watching the WJCs 7 years ago.

That line could dominate international competitions.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

That line could dominate international competitions.

Pula-aho was once in lifetime line.
Of course they could play together next year also.

But in men's national team Finland's top line will be Laine Barkov Puljujärvi.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Pula-aho was once in lifetime line.
Of course they could play together next year also.

But in men's national team Finland's top line will be Laine Barkov Puljujärvi.

Finland will finally have the elite talent to push for Olympic gold.

 

[Kent Nilsson]

Epic homer thread.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finland will finally have the elite talent to push for Olympic gold.

Yep maybe not yet 2018 but 2022 is much realistic.
I don't say Finland cannot compete for Olympic Gold 2018 but 2022 is the year when Laine,Pulju,Aho,Teräväinen, Barkov, Rantanen, Kapanen etc.
Are really close their best years as NHL players

But lets wait does NHL players even come to winter Olympic games anymore.
We have to realize that next 2 winter Olympic hockey tournament will hosted in Asia ( South Korea and China).
And that might be too far for NHL owners.

 

[patnyrnyg]

2015 AINEC

They were never TRAILING.

All that means is they were the most dominant when compared to their competition that year, not necessarily the best line-up.

 

[NTDP]

All that means is they were the most dominant when compared to their competition that year, not necessarily the best line-up.

True, they had a good team but the only teams they had to go through that were good that year were Russia and the U.S. Finland's team didn't play that well and they didn't play top teams in the quarters and semi's

 

[Ukki]

It has to be Finland 2016

 

[Backami]

Russia 2005
Alex Ovechkin - Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP): 2008, 2009, 2013.
Lester B. Pearson Award/ Ted Lindsay Award* (Most Outstanding Player): 2008, 2009, 2010.
Art Ross Trophy (Scoring Leader): 2008 (112 points)
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (Most Goals): 2008 (65 goals), 2009 (56 goals), 2013 (32 goals; lockout shortened), 2014 (51 goals), 2015 (53 goals)

Evgeny Malkin- Art Ross Trophy 2009, 2012,
Conn Smythe Trophy 2009
Hart Memorial Trophy 2012
Ted Lindsay Award 2012

Alexander Radulov

Alexei Emelin

Anton Khudobin

 

[Backami]

Finland will finally have the elite talent to push for Olympic gold.

These young guys are still elite talents just on paper. Even Barkov with 46 points in 57 games is still far away from elite.

 

[Backami]

Agree with people who vote for Canada 2005

 

[McFlyingV]

Finland will finally have the elite talent to push for Olympic gold.

Not sure their backend will ever be good enough to push for gold.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Not sure their backend will ever be good enough to push for gold.

Their goalies are still going to have to play their best, but there are more and more defensemen coming on the road (määttä, ristolainen, lindell, juolevi, pokka, vaakanainen etc.) Vatanen and Jokipakka have 10 good seasons ahead of them, so it's not like they have reached their ceilings either.

 

[Yakushev72]

It has to be Finland 2016

Finland 2016 was an excellent team, but no way that team was the best since 2006! They lost a game to Russia, and their wins over Sweden, Canada and Russia in the Gold Medal game were razor-close, winning more on emotion fueled by frenzied crowds than talent. They are among the best, but no way the best.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Russia in '11 with Kuznetsov, Orlov, Panarin, and Tarasenko all on one roster is some nice high end talent.

The 2011 Russia team were a lot of fun to watch. Incredible comeback, that has to npbe taken under consideration. The 2008 Canada team was stacked but I don't see their goaltending holding up against anyone of the top teams listed.