Does team North America have a chance to win the WCH?

[Gary Nylund]

No, no. In our group: Sweden, Team NA, Suomi, Russia.

Oops, didn't read your post carefully enough, my bad.

 

[snipes]

Oops, didn't read your post carefully enough, my bad.

All good, but yeah I would put Team NA 2nd for D in their group. Sweden obviously ahead, but Finland and Russia are weaker on D than this team.

 

[haveandare]

There is plenty of evidence that many do not comprehend what the tournament is. I agreed with your assessment of what it is, but that is not the consensus by any stretch.



It was the longest running best on best tournament in hockey. It meant plenty until the NHL announced the gimmick teams. I agree that this edition is meaningless.



Ah yes, are you still attempting to claim falsely that this tournament is not being presented as an international tournament? It was funny before, curious if you bothered to read or listen to the factual evidence to the contrary.

Also funny to see how much stock some put into an exhibition against a European Leftovers team. The Young Gunz may win this tournament, they may be the strongest team that as ever dreamed up by Bettman and crew, but I'm skeptical that an exhibition against The European Leftovers indicates much.

Huh? The Canada cup was 76-91, the IIHF World Championships hasn't included players in the NHL playoffs for a while, and the NHL World Cup happened in 1996 and 2004 before 2016.

Ice Hockey has been in the Olympics since 1924 and has been best on best with pros since 1998.

IMO, and it's just my opinion, any international tournament that isn't the Olympics is not the defining international tournament. The Olympics mean something and have meant something for nearly everyone in the world for decades, even longer with some sports.

This iteration with the "gimmick" teams is fun and its early access to quality hockey. Even without those teams, it still wouldn't be meaningful or anything close a replacement to the Olympics to me. Shame on the NHL if they want to stop sending people to the Olympics. This tournament doesn't effect the reaction to that in my eyes at all.

 

[JackSlater]

I can't deny that you are right it was a first exhibition game against what very well may be the weakest team in the tournament and may not count for much.

But what does count for something(with me at least) is HOW they played and the ability they showed, I don't think any of us could deny that either based on the showcase last evening. Speed and talent kills and they have got it. All through the game last night I was thinking how their play would have worked against the swedish and Finnish show of play in their game yesterday and I came away convinced they would have beaten both those teams.

But as you say, it is only a first exhibition game, I am not getting too far ahead of myself.

A lot of how well they do will come down to tactics. We see young, fast teams at the World Championships pretty often, and once someone slows the game down those teams are in trouble. Canada has sent plenty of very young, fast teams to that tournament that lose in the quarters to teams with far less talent. This team is of course better than young Canada/USA teams at the World Championship, but the level of competition is much higher also. I will say that McLellan showed the blueprint that they should follow in 2015. The forwards probably won't have any big problems as long as things are fast, but the defence is going to create headaches sometimes.

Huh? The Canada cup was 76-91, the IIHF World Championships hasn't included players in the NHL playoffs for a while, and the NHL World Cup happened in 1996 and 2004 before 2016.

Ice Hockey has been in the Olympics since 1924 and has been best on best with pros since 1998.

IMO, and it's just my opinion, any international tournament that isn't the Olympics is not the defining international tournament. The Olympics mean something and have meant something for nearly everyone in the world for decades, even longer with some sports.

This iteration with the "gimmick" teams is fun and its early access to quality hockey. Even without those teams, it still wouldn't be meaningful or anything close a replacement to the Olympics to me. Shame on the NHL if they want to stop sending people to the Olympics. This tournament doesn't effect the reaction to that in my eyes at all.

If you didn't value the Canada/World Cups before, which I don't really understand, then that is a different matter. Most did as they were the first and longest running best on best tournament. I suppose that history is fairly irrelevant now though.

 

[xxxx]

That's the only marketing message you are receiving because it fits your tired narrative. The point of the tournament is pretty clear. If it is entertaining (and it has been so far) then who cares? The only point of watching sports is to be entertained.

Exactly this.

But there's a very good chance no team will play an overly physical game, because at the end of the day the tournament doesn't really mean anything.

So you didn't watch any of those 3 first pre-touranament games? That was higher pace than the majority of PLAYOFF world championships games, with so much pysical contact you wouldn't see in the gold-medal game there.

 

[JohnnyJacket13]

I think that they are the second best team in this tournament. USA is honestly pretty meh, and I think that although they are unproven, they are slightly better than SWE.

1) Canada
2) NA
3) SWE
4) USA/RUS

 

[haseoke39]

Absolutely they can win this thing. They have the talent.

 

[haveandare]

A lot of how well they do will come down to tactics. We see young, fast teams at the World Championships pretty often, and once someone slows the game down those teams are in trouble. Canada has sent plenty of very young, fast teams to that tournament that lose in the quarters to teams with far less talent. This team is of course better than young Canada/USA teams at the World Championship, but the level of competition is much higher also. I will say that McLellan showed the blueprint that they should follow in 2015. The forwards probably won't have any big problems as long as things are fast, but the defence is going to create headaches sometimes.



If you didn't value the Canada/World Cups before, which I don't really understand, then that is a different matter. Most did as they were the first and longest running best on best tournament. I suppose that history is fairly irrelevant now though.

I wasn't old enough or interested enough in hockey for most of them honestly. However, at this point, the Olympics has been best on best for longer than the Canada Cup went on. And, if we look at pre-pro hockey players times, the Olympics have had ice hockey for over 90 years. What that counts for depends on what value you place on those times compared to the times pros played.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Does Matt Murray have the capability to stand on his head and shut down an elite offensive team? Can guys like McDavid, MacKinnon, Eichel, Gaudreau, etc. provide some heroics to overcome an elite defense/goalie?

I think the answer to both is yes. It would be unlikely, but the pieces are there.

See his work in the Washington series. Pens don't win that series without him imo.

I don't think they're not going to be able to handle Canada, but it would not surprise me if they finished ahead of Sweden, Russia, Finland, or US. Crazy amount of talent on this team.

 

[ulvvf]

They have a legit chance to win for many reason. The main reason is that they have a pretty good players. Then they have everything to win and nothing to loss. Then they have home-ice, home biased refs, home-rules. I would not be surprise at all if they would win, i think NHL even want it, it would be good for the hype and have a new "miracle on the ice". But it would be a travisty if a none national team wins a "internationally" team

 

[Scotty B]

I think it depends on part on how seriously everyone takes the tournament.

If other teams - especially Canada and the U.S. - use their size and play a physical game on the NA-size rinks, I think Team North America will have a tough time. They've got a lot of younger, skilled guys who haven't physically matured yet and could get pushed around.

But there's a very good chance no team will play an overly physical game, because at the end of the day the tournament doesn't really mean anything.

I guess we can throw that prediction out the window, after the way Yanks played last nite in an exhibition game

 

[Scotty B]

I could see North America pushing teams like Finland and Sweden around.

That's NOT gonna happen. Suomi ( a young team themselves, but disciplined ) will do the trapping ( in hopes of punishing NA's youthful over exuberance ) AND 3Kr's, with the size and skill of their D, will do the PUSHING. That's why I think Sweden may be ' A Bridge Too Far' for YG's. Nothing's written in stone...should be interesting, But you gotta think superior strength and tactics will most likely trump superior speed.

 

[Scotty B]

Because this isn't the Olympics. A country winning this means nothing. Oh, USA or Canada won a tournament that didn't even exist last year. Go team!

It's not like if NA wins they're stopping their country from winning some prestigious title with meaning. In the context of this tournament, I'm sure NA wants to win no matter who they play against. It's about their pride as a group and as individuals. You don't make it to the top level of NHL athletes at their age because you don't absolutely love to win.

Can they win? Absolutely. As long as Murray stays healthy and can play each game, they've got a great chance IMO.

Of course, if everybody's anointed number one falters, it's a problem for YG's. But Gibson and Helebucyk ( damn that name, and no I'm NOT looking it up ) are both excellent, EXCELLENT, goalies in their own right. Some People ( not many ) saying pre-tourney that goaltending is a weakness for T-NA...that's so-oooo far from the truth, it's funny...

 

[pigpen65]

The way team USA dummied Canada last night, i don't think so. Same game from US vs NA would probably land some of those boys in the hospital.

 

[Scotty B]

The way team USA dummied Canada last night, i don't think so. Same game from US vs NA would probably land some of those boys in the hospital.

Eichel and Matthews are pretty big boyz and can take it. Still I can't see Team USA taking too many liberties with those golden boyz, the Stars and Stripes anointed heir apparents. Sure they'll rough them up some, but they won't be driving their heads into the boards, the way they did to Weber and Couture ( he looked dazed/concussed to me, but then he was back on ice? ).

In similar fashion, they won't run lightweight McD, the future face of the league, just rough him up some...

USA ( A-, B+, but with BAD ATTITUDE! ) has a real Hate-On for Canada's A ( or as close to A as makes no never mind ) Team and it really showed last night.

Maybe they throw a heavy hit on a guy like Ekblad, whose solid and tough as nails, just to the show kiddies who's boss and that they really mean business...A few face washes and jostling after the whistle as well, but nowhere near the intensity and unbridled anger on display last night...again in exhibition no less...

Team USA has already sent a message to every team...and T-YG's , don't kid yourselves, will already feel some trepidation going into a
game against Big Boyz like Buff...if, IF they make semis ( a Tall Order! ) some of those kidz, still in their teens less we forget, Will shy away from initiating contact...as have many Euro Men's teams historically

Team USA will own the greasy areas, they'll park themselves in front of Murray's Blue Ice, and there won't be much YG's can do about it.

It won't be necessary to put YG's in the infirmary...to prove some misguided point...For many of those boyz, the implied threat will be enough....

...cause , at the end of the day, (insanely fast and insanely talented or not ) it's still Boyz vs Men, a physical mismatch!

 

[PG Canuck]

The way team USA dummied Canada last night, i don't think so. Same game from US vs NA would probably land some of those boys in the hospital.

You act like this teams players have never played an NHL game in their lives.

 

[Avsblitzkrieg]

As long as Mackinnon and Matthews are not on the same line. I don't think I can take the whineing

 

[Mad Brills*]

Same game from US vs NA would probably land some of those boys in the hospital.

The future team USA leaders in eichel/matthews/larkin?

 

[jj cale]

The way team USA dummied Canada last night, i don't think so. Same game from US vs NA would probably land some of those boys in the hospital.

Hmmm.

The U.S (and Canada) was a hell of a lot more sloppy last night then team N.A. was. I honestly think the U.S would have lost to them in an initial exhibition game.

I don't think they could have dealt with them in the first game, Quick would have had to save them IMO.

In a game in the actual tournament I think the U.S would be ready and beat them but not the first prelim game IMO.

 

[satbank]

Don't see it. The physical game will bring them down.

 

[flaneur]

Yes.

That is why I'm confused about this whole 'underdog' thing.

 

[Brock Radunske]

When do the young bucks play again?

Edit: nvm...tmw at 5:30 Eastern time

 

[sportsdynasty]

Yes.

That is why I'm confused about this whole 'underdog' thing.

Underdog thing? Team NA is a heavy favorite..

 

[Perfect_Drug]

I hope they win. I'm rooting for them.

Canada is beatable. Their Defense is sloppy and slow. Already lost to the US. Their roster makeup screams 'overthinking it'.



NA might have the fastest team ever assembled. It might not count for much, but who knows, maybe it will.



I think Sweden has the best chance of winning tbh.

 

[jason2020]

I hope they win. I'm rooting for them.

Canada is beatable. Their Defense is sloppy and slow. Already lost to the US. Their roster makeup screams 'overthinking it'.



NA might have the fastest team ever assembled. It might not count for much, but who knows, maybe it will.



I think Sweden has the best chance of winning tbh.

Going into this the key to the States was there d giving up 7 goals in 2 games will be really concerning to the coaches.