World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[Nucks2001]

As much as we think about our crap goaltending or the Americans finally catching up to us in the blueline department, this might be the best-skating team we’ve ever seen.

McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar, Point, an Barzal. I mean outside of the Hughes brothers and Larkin, who is stopping that? I know the Americans have really good shutdown defencemen, but how are they gonna defend that speed? Just sit back and let the Canadians win up with one-Ts?

Then you add in the edgework in Crosby, Marchand and Marner. I mean everyone on this team can skate really really well except for Zach Hyman, who has actually really picked up his hustle since playing alongside McDavid the past few seasons

 

[BHawk21]

Hyman-McDavid-Mckinnon
Marchand-Crosby-Marner
Stamkos-Point-Johnston
Barzal-Suzuki-Reinhart
Bedard/Thomas

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Bouchard
Reilly-Dobson
Doughty

Hill
Binnington
Skinner

 

[Nucks2001]

Hyman-McDavid-Mckinnon
Marchand-Crosby-Marner
Stamkos-Point-Johnston
Barzal-Suzuki-Reinhart
Bedard/Thomas

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Bouchard
Reilly-Dobson
Doughty

Hill
Binnington
Skinner

Solid forward selections. Good group of vets and youngsters. I don't think Reilly makes it on the backend and while I personally had Doughty pencilled in, I am more suspect with his injury timeline. Pietrangelo might be that veteran presence for Canada if has a strong start to the season.

 

[HFpapi]

Nate Mack was on Spittin' Chiclets today. End of the interview 4 Nations/Olympics came up and had some interesting things to say.

Was asked about the Nova Scotia line being a thing and he said not only would he enjoy playing with Marchand and Crosby because of the friendship/training buddies aspect but thinks it's a line that makes sense and whose play styles blend well.

Crucially, he said he's played a lot of RW in his day and feels very comfortable on RW. Marchand is a natural LW and Crosby of course a C.

Furthermore, Nate was asked about Marner (since he's been at a training camp with him) and said he's looked great and has been playing great as a pairing with McDavid. Hate Marner all you want but his play making, defence, and natural winger position makes him IMO a must have on this team.

A top 6 of:

Hyman - McDavid - Marner
Marchand - Crosby - Mackinnon

makes perfect sense to me and only guy out of position is Nate Dawg who already said he likes RW and has experience there.

McDavid & Hyman play 82 games a year together and fit like a glove on each others line. McDavid & Marner have apparently looked great together in a summer, player-led, training camp and Marchand/Crosby/Mack have trained together for years. You won't convince me that's not our perfect top 6.

With maybe some line combo changes, I really like the @BHawk21 bottom 6 + extras.

A combo of Johnston, Bedard, Reinhart, Point, Thomas, Suzuki, Barzal, Stamkos, seems perfect. Maybe Stamkos subbed out for a young gun like Laf or Byfield depending on how they play.