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Do Matthews/Eichel make the Olympic team

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Put Eichel on Matthews' wing. Matthews is better defensively and will do better to hound the puck in the defensive zone. Jack and Kane can cheat. That'd be a fun line.
 
Zip15 said:
Put Eichel on Matthews' wing. Matthews is better defensively and will do better to hound the puck in the defensive zone. Jack and Kane can cheat. That'd be a fun line.
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I don't think there is enough puck to go around on that line. Personally, I would put Matthews with one of Parise and Pavelski, with Wheeler on the wing. Its basically a superstar set-up of his current line. Then put the remainder of Parise/Pavelski with Eichel and Kane and use them in a pure offensive role like the Kane line is used in Chicago. Put a Larkin-Kesler-Saad line togeather to shut down the opponent and cause havoc. I'd say that is the spine of an elite team, USA has serious depth when you are trying to figure out how Gaudreau, Kessel, Galychenyuk, etc fit in.
 
Of course, Matthews should make the team, but this is the USA braintrust that we're talking about. We were also sure that Kessel would make the World Cup team and that players like Abdelkader would be nowhere near it. I'd like to believe that the same braintrust won't be back, but I wouldn't bet money on it, since we shouldn't underestimate the desire to give the old guard one more chance, especially if their experience dwarfs the other candidates. Maybe I'm just overly cynical, but I think that we've been given decent reason to be and I'd rather be cynical than naive.
 
Osprey said:
Of course, Matthews should make the team, but this is the USA braintrust that we're talking about. We were also sure that Kessel would make the World Cup team and that players like Abdelkader would be nowhere near it. I'd like to believe that the same braintrust won't be back, but I wouldn't bet money on it, since we shouldn't underestimate the desire to give the old guard one more chance, especially if their experience dwarfs the other candidates. Maybe I'm just overly cynical, but I think that we've been given decent reason to be and I'd rather be cynical than naive.
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Considering how Torts is doing with Columbus I wouldn't be surprised if he was back as HC. If Kessel was chosen for the team he wouldn't play much :laugh:
 
Wheeler-Matthews-Pavelski
Pacioretty-Eichel-Kane
Kreider-Larkin-Kessel
Parise-Stepan-Kesler

Would be a phenomenal forward corps imo.
 
Kane, Kessel, Oshie, Pavelski, Stepan, Kesler, Backes, Parise, Okposo

Matthews, Eichel and Larkin should make it. I would take Matthews and Eichel over some of the established guys.

Edit: maybe Trochek if he keeps playing like he has. Definitely no more Dubinsky, Callahan, Abdelkader crap.

Edit: forget Wheeler, Gaudreau, Saad and Paccioretty. Maybe Kreider. Doesn't change Matthews and Eichel making it though.
 
If the NHL allows it I say yes.

Gaudreau-Matthews-Kane
Pacioretty-Eichel-Wheeler
Saad-Larkin-Kessel
Trochek-Kesler-Okposo
Backes
 
It's run by morons who didn't take kessel last time and proceeded to struggle to score. Maybe they learn the lesson and take Mathews and eichel but I won't hold my breath
 
Center Ice Scrum said:
Matthews
Eichel
Larkin
Stepan


That's pretty decent center depth for team USA.

Imagine a line of Wheeler - Matthews - Pacioretty, they would be a nightmare for any team. That's a ton of size, skill and speed coming at you.
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Patches and Wheeler haven't played very well for Team USA unfortunately.

In any case the answer to this is of course they are. They are both really good hockey players. Assuming NHL guys go and I really don't think they should for the next Olympics but if they do the USA brain-trust will rightfully be hammered if barring injury these two guys aren't on the roster.

In fact this is really the angle people desperate for NHL Olympic hockey should be selling in terms of the NHL. I mean NBC is going to run the bit about a duel national from Arizona being the face of hockey ad-nauseam if they are there. It would be a good way to grow the game in all honesty as not only should Matthews and Eichel be there with all due respect to Kane (given his past history) they should probably be put forth as the featured players and face of the team.

Another young player who needs to be mentioned at this point is Werenski. He should have a legitimate chance if he keeps playing like this.

uTurris said:
If the NHL allows it I say yes.

Gaudreau-Matthews-Kane
Pacioretty-Eichel-Wheeler
Saad-Larkin-Kessel
Trochek-Kesler-Okposo
Backes
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Even as a Wings fan Larkin has some work to do and certainly has not done enough to pull down a center spot. He has struggled in that role.

Trochek/Kesler should center the third/fourth line. Larkin can be in consideration for a winger role and his speed on international ice is intriguing. But he needs to play at a higher level to be considered for the National team right now. Certainly he could make a strong case at the World Championships this year though. But right now he isn't doing enough and hasn't taken the progression this year we were hoping for.

Derek Stepan is likely on the roster too in terms of an omission. Also in what world is Pavelski already dropped off the National team? I see the argument for getting rid of Parise though I doubt they do it.
 
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Jaykay said:
There is a 0% chance Larkin makes the team over Pavelski.
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This I can't believe the amount of rosters I have seen without Pavelski all together. He is without a doubt the best US "Center". Whether he plays Center or not is another question but he is still a major part of team USA....

Patches Pavelski Kessel
Gaudreau Matthews Kane
Saad Eichel Atkinson
Kreider/Parise Stepan/Kesler Wheeler
 
matthews, Eichel, larkin, pavelski, kane,gaudreau. top 6? am i forgetting somebody? bobby ryan isn't 35 yet and kessel is still taking a nap.
 
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