GDT: Exhibition • North America vs. Europe

[snipes]

Can't wait. Go Team NA!!

 

[nhlfan9191]

Just resting Larkin for the games that matter, kinda how Lundqvist isn't playing for the swedes today.

Larkin is 20 and just had the summer off. These players are playing to shake off rust, not rest. Lol

 

[Leafidelity]

Here's hoping Team NA wins this tourney and turns everything and every naysayer on their heads.

 

[Hictor Vedman*]

Looking forward to seeing Drouin play with McDavid.

 

[fouba]

i cant see how this is anything but +3 goal win for na..that speed..

this
34 Auston Matthews

93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

29 Nathan MacKinnon

 

[mrkolice]

Should have put Gaborik/Kopitar together.

i guess they will have to, sooner or later. plus i suspect kopitar and hossa could make a great pair, one-click chemistry, as they've played a lot one against another.

it should be a fun game to watch, looking forward.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Resting? Lol. Larkin is 20. Lundqvist is like 35.

Why don't they rest McDavid? He's obv more important to the team. Shouldn't they rest him?

Larkin also isn't on either of the powerplay units. Is it because PPs are very draining? They need to protect him from all the harsh minutes on the PP?

No. It's because they aren't resting Larkin. He's just the worst player of the bunch at the moment.

Sorry should have put a sarcasm emoticon I guess. He's just not a lock to be in the lineup. I'd expect him to fight his way into being one of that team's best players in the end though.

 

[Little Psycho]

i guess they will have to, sooner or later. plus i suspect kopitar and hossa could make a great pair, one-click chemistry, as they've played a lot one against another.

it should be a fun game to watch, looking forward.

Would like to see all three paired together but then the other lines would look thin. Some ice time together would be fun.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Sorry should have put a sarcasm emoticon I guess. He's just not a lock to be in the lineup. I'd expect him to fight his way into being one of that team's best players in the end though.

My guess is some of the guys on Team NA will look rather...adventurous in their own end, and that'll bring Larkin into the lineup. Running 3 pure scoring lines is fine when guys are older and have had a chance to round out. With these guys, it might not be a smart move.

 

[snipes]

Looking forward to seeing Drouin play with McDavid.

Me too, Schiefele will be good on their line to give them some size down low to win puck battles and control the cycle as well.

 

[The Gongshow]

Can't wait to see how Drouin does with McDavid

 

[LeafsNation149]

Are these the actual lineups? Got 3Cs on the 3rd line

 

[Mestaruus]

Will be an interesting match. I'm going to say Young Guns are the favorite. I read that 2 days ago Team Europe had only 2 lines practicing and many still traveling from the Olympic qualifiers.

 

[ijuka]

I'm really looking forward to watching this.

Team Young Guns has the potential to outspeed anyone.

 

[duul]

McDavid named captain.

 

[snipes]

I'm really looking forward to watching this.

Team Young Guns has the potential to outspeed anyone.

McDavid, Eichel, Larkin, MacKinnon, Drouin, et al. Yeah, they are the fastest team.

These kids seem to be coming together and have an "us against the world" mentality. If they come together here and fight for each other, in a short tournament format like this they could surprise some people.

The D for Team NA is also being underrated. Those guys can all skate and move the puck.

I have a feeling these guys will be the darlings of the tournament and end up getting a lot of support from around the hockey world.

 

[TheBigThree]

I'm hoping matthews stands out so that he at least gets some decent playing time when the real thing starts.

 

[X66]

I'm hoping matthews stands out so that he at least gets some decent playing time when the real thing starts.

He will, no doubt about it.

 

[Mr Tadakichi]

why aren't they playing this as the national anthem for team europe?

If it is Eurovision, then it has to be epic sax guy.

 

[snipes]

I'm hoping matthews stands out so that he at least gets some decent playing time when the real thing starts.

He will, no doubt about it.

The coaches and his teammates seem to think very highly of him. He's already climbed up the depth chart to the 3rd line.

 

[X66]

The coaches and his teammates seem to think very highly of him. He's already climbed up the depth chart to the 3rd line.

It'll be similar to the WHC IMO.

Yes he has never played an NHL game or against this level of competition, but his physical tools with his hockey IQ will make it very hard for him to not make an impact IMO.

 

[snipes]

It'll be similar to the WHC IMO.

Yes he has never played an NHL game or against this level of competition, but his physical tools with his hockey IQ will make it very hard for him to not make an impact IMO.

Agreed. Plus his 200 foot game will be valuable, he's solid in all 3 zones.

 

[Alerion]

I'm excited to see McDavid back in action because duh. As a Leafs fan I can't wait to get a glimpse of Matthews for the first time since last year's WJCs, and as a Mooseheads fan I really hope McLellan reunites MacKinnon and Drouin for a few shifts because that would be really neat. Team NA may be gimmicky but it's a great way to create a little excitement about the young guns and begin marketing some of them to a wider audience for the first time.

 

[Cubs2024wildcard]

Panarin steals the show in his game.

Up to McDavid to keep better pace then in Calder voting...mm

 

[snipes]

If the quality of hockey is high and this team is exciting I think the "gimmick teams hate" will start to die down a bit.

Only a few more hours to go